Reamers: To sharpen or not to sharpen

[hoz53]

Yes, I pre-bore.
When I sharpen the reamer, it is set up between centers and I indicate each cutting edge with a .0001 indicator and keep diameter reduction to a minimum. If an edge is seriously dulled to where the diameter would have to be reduced too much, I'll send it back for re-grinding. WH

thanks for all that good info

 

[hogpatrol]

Back in the day the only time we hit a cutting edge with a piece of copper was on HSS or forged tools to remove the burr after grinding/sharpening. I learned that back in the '60s from the WW2 guys from both sides that were still working. The copper didn't do anything for making it sharper.

 

[shortgrass]

In the first job shop I worked in, 1974-1986, there was an 8", brass bristled wire wheel, about an inch wide, that was used to remove the little burr left from grinding. Everything was HS then. I think if push come to shove I could still advance a set of chasers (for collapsible die head) on their blocks and put an edge on 'um. Taps too. Dovetail form tools, chucking reamers, cut-off blades, turning tools (for a holder called a "box mill") and drill bits. Everything came from the tool room. We didn't do much milling there, only to make jig/fixtures for the 'secondary' dept.

 

[hammerjack]

Here is a photo of two 6MMBR reamers ; the top one is a PTG re-sharpen by JGS.
The bottom is a nearly new JGS ; both are .060 FB.