MetalworkingFun Forum

Forgot to add: holding the temp too long will result in scale. (Ask how I found that out!) You'll notice the scale on the pilot in the pic above.

Nice writeup Rick! One of these days I'll have to make my first home-made reamer. I need a 7.62x25 reamer and I think I have the 'knowledge' to do it now, I just need the nerve to start cutting metal. (heat would be nice too... cold shop)

So, I really like those soft jaws in one of the pics above. Did you make those? They look really useful.

Rick,
Excellent write up and photos a job well done

DaveH

Thanks guys. Ken, those are old barrel jaws for an AR. I can't remember where I got them, but places like Midway and Brownell's still carry them. Not bad on an AR in a bench vise, but great on most round stock in the milling machine!

I have read that coating in liquid soap will prevent scale build up. Haven't tried it myself though, so could be total crap!

I've not heard that. I may try it on a piece of drop. just any type of liquid soap?

Honestly I cannot remember. Best to Google it...

Thanks Rick, I think I'll take some of my aluminum drops and make a pair of jaws for my larger vise.

Nice job on the reamer Rick and a great write-up.

The way to prevent scale is to keep oxygen away from the part as it's heated. If you have a furnace, you can fashion an air tight box for the part or use a stainless steel envelope which you can purchase just for that purpose. Since you are using a torch, you might try putting the reamer in a pipe nipple with capped ends. An old timers way to consume any oxygen in the heating receptacle is to place a piece of paper in with the part. As the paper burns, it will consume any oxygen that is present and keep scale from building on the part.

Tom

Thanks Tom. I seem to remember the paper in the crucible trick mentioned sometime long ago. I think I actually moved the torch too close to the reamer. A friend of mine swears by the "bean can" furnace for things like this. I may have to try that one next. He uses a Mapp torch and gets things plenty hot. No scale.
Ken, if I had some drop of suitable size, I would make another pair like these. I have a pair of jaws made from plain old aluminum angle that I use a lot too.