Violin Forum/Message Board

terryc · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:09 am Post subject: Peg Reamers

Interested in purchasing a peg reamer and wanted to know if anyone has an opinion on blade type.
Seems to be the spiral type, and then there are those of a more straight veined blade. Also noticed a modified version of the straight veined style with 1/3 of the shaft flat with no cutting blade. They claim it provides a more accurate cut.
Any advise or observations would be appreciated.
Terryc

Mikes · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:38 am Post subject:

Hi Terry,
Go with the straight blade type. The spiral reamers tend make the hole not round. Good luck!
Mike Spencer

Michael Darnton · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 10:52 am Post subject:

Agreeing with that.

Where did you see the kind with a flat side, that I've never seen before?
_________________
new blog at my site! http://darntonviolins.com/blog
my work sites: http://darntonviolins.com and http://darntonhersh.com

terryc · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 1:13 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys for getting back and happy we have a consensus on the straight blade type.

I saw it on but can now only locate the link for a cello but the one I was looking at was for a violin.
Here is the link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CELLO-PEG-HOLE-REAMER-FOR-VIOLIN-MAKER-/400586619418?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item5d44d2ba1a

Thanks again,
Terryc

L P Reedy · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:12 pm Post subject:

That reamer is not flat-sided. It does not have cutting edges all the way around and is what you want if you desire round holes. I have made a few flat-sided reamers that work pretty well. One advantage is that they will cut both ways. That is sometimes also a disadvantage. But you can't buy one, you have to make your own or get a machinist to do it.

I have both spiral and straight and prefer the spiral for most holes. It certainly DOES make round holes. There are a few places where straight works better and they are a little cheaper.

terryc · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 8:27 pm Post subject:

Cliff Green · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 8:24 am Post subject:

The non cutting segment of the reamer allows you to shift the hole laterally with somewhat better control than a reamer with 360 blades. I agree with LP's comparison of straight and spiral reamers. If I only had one it would be straight but the spirals do cut nicely.

terryc · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 1:37 pm Post subject:

Cliff,
Appreciate the explanation on the reamer with the smooth side.
Thanks
Terryc

Michael Darnton · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 2:40 pm Post subject:

My objection to the spiral reamer wasn't about round holes, but the tendency for it to suck itself in under certain circumstances. But I used a very early one, one of the first run, and Herdim's tools in that era weren't always useable.
_________________
new blog at my site! http://darntonviolins.com/blog
my work sites: http://darntonviolins.com and http://darntonhersh.com

L P Reedy · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 5:43 pm Post subject:

Mikes · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 10:34 am Post subject:

[quote="L P Reedy"]
In addition, a reamer with evenly spaced cutting edges all the way around will chatter and not cut a smooth hole. Countersinks do the same thing. My best countersink has only one cutting edge.

Ok LP Reedy nailed the issue that I was thinking of which as he correctly states is associated with reamers that have cutting edges all the way around. Sorry for the memory lapse!
Either way good luck reaming is not a difficult procedure, go slow and keep an eye out that the reamer isn't drifting out of alignment.
Mike Spencer

L P Reedy · Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 7:37 pm Post subject:

I just encountered an interesting situation. I have a horribly-treated old fiddle in for repair. It had a set of totally non-functioning Casperi pegs. When I got them out I found that it had previously been equipped with bass-style geared tuners. All of this had resulted in holes that were oversized and two of them "doubled." I found, in reaming for bushings, that the spiral reamer DID NOT work. I don't know why, but all it would do was grab. The straight reamer had trouble but was much better. Two of the holes were so bad that I used a cello reamer.

There are other problems almost as bad, but we won't get into them.

Mat Roop · Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 9:27 pm Post subject:

LP... Interseting.... I am curious how you dealt with the double holes.
... But I'll start a new topic on this... Cheers, Mat