What To Use Instead Of A 1 Inch Chucking Reamer

[Pmedic828]

I have a hobby project that would call for a 0.750 and a 1.0 chucking reamer. These reamers would be cutting a mid grade steel mystery metal about 2 inches in length. Wanted to use these reamers to cut a bore used as a cylinder wall for a piston on a toy steam engine. Both reamers seem rather expensive as I am a beginning hobbyist. Could anyone suggest an alternative to a $55 each reamer? Thanks!

 

[LEEQ]

Maybe bore it close and use a home built D reamer out of drill rod? Just a thought. I'm pretty sure I saw the D reamers in Machinists bedside reader.

 

[Rick Leslie]

Shop the usual on-line auction sites. I've purchased the majority of my tooling from ebay and the like. Great deals can be had.

Or use an end mill.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hertel-1-in...371306?hash=item41a5ca46ea:g:cLEAAOSwv0tVbOYq
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-inch-full...520419?hash=item33b31046a3:g:M68AAOSwZ8ZW339d
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PRO-CUT-1-I...985272?hash=item3f5dc2c578:g:h3UAAOSwu1VW2OyI
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ball-Endmil...687879?hash=item3abf021507:g:~AwAAOSwfZ1WZgzP

 

[Bob Korves]

If you are making, or at least finish machining the piston and the bore it is not too difficult. You can bore the hole and then make the piston fit the bore. A hobby steam engine does not require interchangeable parts.

 

[TomS]

You can bore it .001 to .0015 undersize then hone it to size.

Tom S.

 

[mikey]

Do you have any boring bars? This is exactly the type of job they are good for, especially if the bore is a blind bore.

 

[fixit]

Use a boring bar then a hone ( buy a BRAKE hone @ auto parts store) it yo size & desired finish.

fixit

 

[TommyD]

+1on the boring bar

Boring bar came to mind for me, very versitile tool.

 

[Rick Leslie]

Doh! I should really pay attention to the whole OP. I would go with the boring bar and hone as well in this case. You will need a good fit and sneaking up on the final ID is easier with a bar and hone for the final polish.

Again, back to the usual suspects for the bars. I've seen them for as little as $20 shipped for a cheap set. Or you can roll your own. They're easy enough to make and you'll use them over and over.

As a self proclaimed beginner, I would suggest watching Tubalcain's videos on the subject. (Or all his videos for that matter.) Great instructionals. Just search Youtube for "Tubalcain or Mr. Pete 222 I believe..

Found him. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mr.+pete+222

 

[David VanNorman]

And the honed bore will have a better finish.