Mystery reamer - what is it?

I have had this for many years and bought it to enlarge holes in rough woodwork. Of course it has never been used! Has anybody any idea as to what it actually is for and what it is called? Size is 4" long for the reamer bit and 2" diameter at the big end. The square taper fits into a brace and bit.

My best guess is it might have been for making holes in lead before joining different sizes of pipe. I am sure someone will be able to enlighten me. Thanks, Bob

De-burring reamer for pipe.

Pete

As Pete says a pipe reamer, some had straight flutes.

MichaelR

Hi there, Bob,

I wasgoing to suggest that it might be for sharpening the sort of mortice chisel that mounts in a pillar drill and has a twist drill down the middle. But then I noticed the shank, more likely for a prace and bit so more likely for woodwork than actuall metalwork.

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

How about for making holes for chair legs, though the taper looks a bit sharp. Obviously the shank is for a carpenter's brace.

Hi, may even be for making tapered holes in wooden hubs and wheel rims for round wooden spokes perhaps. The square on the shank suggests it's for a carpenters brace.

Regards Nick.

The square shank suggests that it was intended to driven by a Carpenters Brace, so most likely intended for use on woo.

probably too steep a taper to be making wooden taps for barrels, just opening holes, or just deburring?

Howard.

The included angle looks about right for a Cooper's reamer, for the tut and shive holes in a barrel.
Early ones were a plain open augur with a single cutting edge, but I have seen these described as cooper's tools before. (Those descriptions may have been erroneous of course).

I'm thinking for aluminium barrels, rather than oak, or stainless ones.

Bill

Edited By peak4 on 12/12/2021 21:51:37

I have seen these type of reamer used by a plumber to open out holes in loft mounted cold water tanks, used in a brace gives better control of depth to size the hole correctly.
In a similar era you also have to think of the adjustable radius trepanning cutter used with a brace for larger holes.

No doubt made before the advent of any size of hole cutter available days.

Emgee

Known as a deburring, pipe or repair man's reamer.

Just because it was used in a brace does not mean it is for wood, my Dad often mentions using a hand brace to drill holes is steel tanks with a single point hole cutter, electric drills have not always been around.

Chair leg ones are a much shallower taper and often single flute and the ones for chisel morticers tend to have a pilot

Edited By JasonB on 13/12/2021 07:47:52

We have a set in the electronics workshop at the Lab, left over from the old days. We used them for deburring large holes in panels. There are a number of shallower angle versions which even now get used for enlarging panel holes.

regards Martin

Used to de burr steel conduit when the conduit is cut with a hacksaw, it will fit into an electrician brace which has a much smaller sweep than a joiners. If the burrs are not removed they can damage or remove the insulation from the wires inside the conduit. These reamers can also used to open up outlet holes in press steel boxes as used by industrial electricians, and in switch panels. mine is 50+ years old. Slightly smaller size ones are available.John

Hi, a pipe burring reamer is what it seems to be and they came in various sizes, but doesn't suggest that they are dedicated for any particular type of pipe.

Buck & Hickman Ltd. 1964 catalogue.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 13/12/2021 11:12:36

Thank you to everyone who has replied - It's nice to know at long last what it is called and what it is actually used for. 62 shillings in 1964 + inflation - it feels like winning the lottery! It's great to have such a well informed forum of people who are willing to share their knowledge. With something like this, it's far better than Mr Google! Many thanks to you all and have as good a Christmas as our "great leader" allows. Bob