Machinist Burrs - What Are They For?

[Morgan RedHawk]

I recently bought a tooling lot off of fleabay and it included a burr (like a giant dremel bit for my fellow newbs). I realized that I had not seen one used or really ever heard anyone talk about them before.

What are they for, and how does one use them?
Any information or pics of work done with them would be appreciated!

Here is a pic of some for any other newbs that may not have heard of them:

 

[randyc]

They are used in die grinders to de-burr, chamfer, round-over and other contouring operations that can be done by hand. They are especially useful on hard materials - sometimes even for some light weld prepping.

 

[JimDawson]

Those are junk, just send them to me for safe disposal

Seriously, they are normally used in a die grinder or even an electric drill for hand shaping and deburing. They will cut reasonably hard steel, aluminum and many materials. It looks like you might have about $100 or so worth of carbide burrs there. Good find.

 

[planeflyer21]

In one shop where I worked, we would fight over the flame-shaped burrs. Ours were typically 1/8" shank and used for deburring.

Takes some practice to become proficient...in each material. You can scrap a part in the fraction of a second.

 

[randyc]

...Takes some practice to become proficient...in each material. You can scrap a part in the fraction of a second.

Ain't it the truth ! It's a two-hand operation for me, one hand holding the die grinder body and the other hand as close to the nose as I can safely grip, to help guide the cutter ! As you allude, going from steel to aluminum with a burr can be <ahem> an "interesting" experience.

("Interesting" used in the context as the ancient Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times".)

 

[great white]

I use them (along with stones) to port cast iron and aluminum (no stones on Al) engine cylinder heads.

 

[Morgan RedHawk]

Thanks, yall!

Unfortunately, those burrs in the picture are not mine, it was just an internet picture I found for reference. I only got one cylindrical burr with the tooling, but it feels nice and sharp.

Any special precautions I should know about?

 

[JimDawson]

Any special precautions I should know about?

Just don't let it get away from you, they tend to grab. A little practice will give you a more steady hand when using this type of cutter. And they generate nasty little slivers. Eye protection is an absolute must.

 

[OldMachinist]

Like Jim said they make the nastiest little slivers that go everywhere. Try to use them in a spot that's easy to vacuum after your done or you'll be picking them out of your hands for months.
If you use them on aluminum use some type of lube or the teeth will get clogged.

 

[davidh]

and gloves, don't forget the gloves. the double-cut burrs pictured on the left are less burr creating than the single cut ones on the right. often the die grinder you use has a front exhaust and then you are literally blowing these little nasty in places you will find at another time, when you do not wear gloves like grabbing a wrench that has a bit of oil on the handle. . . it will also have a family of ittybitty slivers just waiting for your hand.