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Author: Subject: Drill or ream, what is the difference?
Steve Lovelock

posted on 22/8/10 at 07:35 AM Reply With Quote
Drill or ream, what is the difference?

Hello,

The chassis for my next project has been galvanised. I need to remove the coating from areas where some of the bushes and foot pedal bar etc. attach to it. Is there a difference between drilling these bores out or reaming them out? The pedal bar bore needs to be accurate to avoid play. I have a feeling that this question will expose a high degree of ignorance on my part so go easy on me please.

Steve

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rusty nuts

posted on 22/8/10 at 07:40 AM Reply With Quote
Try drilling a hole in a piece of metal similar to what you will be using and check the shape of the hole , it will be trapezodial (not sure of spelling) in other words a rounded triangle. Reaming should make the hole circular. HTH, Mel
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NigeEss

posted on 22/8/10 at 07:42 AM Reply With Quote
Drilling is far less accurate and especially on larger holes can produce non round holes.
But as you are only removing soft zinc over a pre- formed hole a drill should be fine if you use the same size drill as hole.





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Wheels244

posted on 22/8/10 at 07:44 AM Reply With Quote
Rusty is right.
Always use a reamer where accuracy is required.

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Steve Lovelock

posted on 22/8/10 at 08:31 AM Reply With Quote
Thanks,

Can I use a reamer in a drill or hand tool?

Any idea of good places to buy them?

Steve

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40inches

posted on 22/8/10 at 08:34 AM Reply With Quote
If you are simply drilling out pre drilled holes, just run a drill down them.
Reamers are precision ground and are expensive, and used to finish a pre bored hole to an exact size, usually for bores in bushes.

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omega 24 v6

posted on 22/8/10 at 08:36 AM Reply With Quote
Drill a 1/2 inch hole in a piece of tin and just before the drill goes all the way through look at the hole shape. ( like rusty says).
A reamer has many lands ( edges) and as such keeps itself centred to the hole. Also it only cuts off a small amount of material and as such it is only used to finish off a hole size. It is very accurate.

[Edited on 22/8/10 by omega 24 v6]





If it looks wrong it probably is wrong.

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madteg

posted on 22/8/10 at 08:54 AM Reply With Quote
Just a note do not turn a reamer backwards or try to take to much of as it will jam up, i would not use in a drill if it jams it will snap.
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omega 24 v6

posted on 22/8/10 at 08:55 AM Reply With Quote
And use cutting oil





If it looks wrong it probably is wrong.

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David Jenkins

posted on 22/8/10 at 10:16 AM Reply With Quote
If you're just clearing a hole so that you can put a bolt through, use a drill bit. Don't use a reamer as they are quite expensive, easily spoiled and don't cut much material.

As said above - the reamer is used to finish off a drilled hole, to make it perfectly round (e.g. to take a shaft). If you have lots of different-sized holes to deal with, then drill bits will be much cheaper than a range of reamers!






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Alan B

posted on 30/8/10 at 01:56 PM Reply With Quote
What may not be clear is that you can't use JUST a reamer...I know everyone says they are for enlarging an existing hole, but that is ALL they do...they have no ability to start a hole.
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Confused but excited.

posted on 1/9/10 at 06:42 PM Reply With Quote
If your drill bits produce trapezoidal holes, try sharpening them properly.





Tell them about the bent treacle edges!

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omega 24 v6

posted on 1/9/10 at 10:10 PM Reply With Quote
quote:

If your drill bits produce trapezoidal holes, try sharpening them properly.



By using this logic there would be no need for reamers as all drill would cut perfectly round holes.





If it looks wrong it probably is wrong.

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omega 24 v6

posted on 1/9/10 at 10:10 PM Reply With Quote
quote:

If your drill bits produce trapezoidal holes, try sharpening them properly.



By using this logic there would be no need for reamers as all drill would cut perfectly round holes.





If it looks wrong it probably is wrong.

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