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Just can't find a reamer I like. Anyone got a good one.

I use one from Stewmac and love it. I believe its a 3*
Its pricy but well worth it. I seem to remember a thread about reamers a year or so ago, maybe check out the archives?LanceK38716.9296412037

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I have the LMII 3 deg bridge pin hole reamer. It seems to do a good job. Costs about 33.00. I use with my cordless drill rather then have a handle on it.

John, here's the archive on the toppic.

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The Stew Mac reamers are great, and they come in 3 and 5 degrees. Most
plastic pins are 5 and most wood and bone pins are tapered at 3. This is
only a general rule, and I've certainly seen them otherwise. I
have the Stew Mac 5, 3 and 2 degree reamers (the 2 degree mostly
intended for friction pegs) and like them all.

If you had to choose one, 5 degrees is by far the most common.David Collins38717.1158449074

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

John

I'm the same as Lance I have the Stewmac one, and have had it for some time, it is very good, I also have a cheap one that cuts hexagonal hole, its not suppose to just

3 degree one that used to be my grandfather's, old Sheffield tool steel, cuts like butter. I think that most plastic pins being 5 degree is a very good reason only to have a 3 degree reamer!

Colin

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I take it you don't use plastic pins then Colin

The reamer I definately don't want is the one for Brass Pins RussellR38717.267337963

   I had a grizzly and it worked ok for 3 bridges then went dull. The end pin reamer is ok, I think the order for stew mac is on the way.
    Thanks for the info. I appritiate your info sharing
John Hall

John, Is the Martin reamer among the ones you don't care for? I also had one made by Grizzly and returned it because it was a tapered piece of $*&T.

   I see that Martin has one also. The taper Martin uses is 1/8 to 1/2. That is about a 5 degree. Being a machinist I am going to look at the tooling suppliers there.
   Stew mack is the same as I can get at Enco and MSC for 1/2 thier price.
   Grizzlies is nothing to look at and I am a good fan of Grizzly but every once in a while they have a boo boo to
john

John,
Do you know the part number for the reamer at MSC that is the same as Stew Mac's?   Thanks in advance!

[QUOTE=RussellR] I take it you don't use plastic pins then Colin

The reamer I definately don't want is the one for Brass Pins [/QUOTE]

Martin Carthy uses brass pins on the top three strings, as does Martin in its 000 MC, I tried some once and I agree with you!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

They have a different handle but the same cutting design
Pg 178
PN 02058758
   02058774

They also have a screw driver like handled one
   02059301
   02059319

Those don't have the same cutting design, or the right taper. The StewMac
reamer is only half-fluted so it will self-center, and those repairman reamers
are both greater than 5?. And they cost just as much for the made in USA
one, so what's the point?

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Howard is right, the cutting design is quite different. I've searched around
Grainger, MSC, McMaster Carr, Production Tool Supply, etc., and haven't
been able to find a comparable reamer. The reamers Stew Mac and
Luthiers Merc sell are specifically made for our industry, although I'm not
sure where.

Those reamers are handy for grinding down for banjo 5th string tuners,
but that's the only good use I've found.David Collins38718.7701273148

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

    Thanks again
   I appritiate the input. I will order the stew Mac set
john

   ..For what it's worth : LMI Carbide 3*. Expensive? Maybe, but it's the last one I'll ever own. I'm too poor to buy cheap tools...

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