Expanding reamers

[Gordon R]

Acquired a box load of these and in the process of cleaning them up. The bottom reamer is how they were and the top five, I have now cleaned up. They come up surprisingly well - largest is about a foot long. The one next to the bottom has unusual blades which I have never come across. Instead of a straight edge, they have a wavy pattern. Looking at them, I wondered if it was to achieve a smoother cut.

Does anyone know if this is the actual purpose?

Edited March 30, 2021 by Gordon R

[ditchman]

the 5th one down looks serratted.............maybe to leave a cut that retains grease channels maybe ?

[Vince Green]

Coolant?

[Velocette]

Is the fluting to reduce chattering on soft metal, brass or aluminium ? 

[Gordon R]

The grease sounds sense to me.

Got seven decent ones, but a few where the adjusters and blades are stuck. They are in a bucket of Coca Cola, to see if it really works.

Velocette - that too makes sense. Out of twenty, only one has the serrated blades.

Edited March 30, 2021 by Gordon R

[Gordon R]

The Coca Cola worked for two adjustables, but another six remain solid. I am beginning to regret starting cleaning them up. Got nine decent reamers now. 

If Cola doesn't work, where do I go to unseize the rest? Heat, diesel? It is the large ones that are really stuck.

[webber]

Gordon

The wavey edge is to improve lubrication and finish on certain materials.

If you you can get them into a sonic cleaner that would be great.  Sadly mine is bust and not big enough.

Soak them in red diesel for a week or so, then apply heat from a heat gun.

That should do the trick.

 

webber

[DUNKS]

10 hours ago, Gordon R said:

The Coca Cola worked for two adjustables, but another six remain solid. I am beginning to regret starting cleaning them up. Got nine decent reamers now. 

If Cola doesn't work, where do I go to unseize the rest? Heat, diesel? It is the large ones that are really stuck.

mixture of ATF and Paraffin or turps always works for me! Half and half.

[Ratlegs]

I've used Harpic 10x toilet cleaner many times to free rusted bits

managed to get cast iron wheels off an axle and get the split pins out

also rust off a barn find Lincoln Jefferies 177

Hope this helps

[Gordon R]

Thanks - a few things to try there. I held a couple in the big vice and used an adjustable on the other end. I was getting a bit twitchy about the spanner coming off and damaging my hands yet again.

[amateur]

4 hours ago, Gordon R said:

Thanks - a few things to try there. I held a couple in the big vice and used an adjustable on the other end. I was getting a bit twitchy about the spanner coming off and damaging my hands yet again.

Don't force it, soak it for a week or more

[manton]

I have used Brunox in my workshop for some time  and think it is the bees knees for freeing rusted items .Recently a car parts dealer told me that, encouraged by a sales agent he had conducted tests and found to his surprise that brunox was superior to many other release oils .

[Gordon R]

I had freed up about 10 and soaked four of them in coke for four days. The soaking came to an abrupt end when my youngest paid us a visit and knocked over the container. That said, three have freed up with just one now seized. I had sprayed it with penetrating oil and will try again. It has become a bit of a challenge as I haven't used a reamer in 45 years, but will stick at it.