Think I've gotten freak boring down

[KMDPB]

This is game changing for my cheaper pumps that I dont want to buy a $100 freak barrel for!

[OpusX]

Oooo yes! Have you tried stainless...do you want too?

[KMDPB]

Oooo yes! Have you tried stainless...do you want too?

I have not, and idk I've had bad luck machining stainless in the past

[Cdn_Cuda]

I really need to get my lathe up and running. I have a collection of barrels to practice on as well. Have to look and see what attachments I need to do this.

[KMDPB]

I really need to get my lathe up and running. I have a collection of barrels to practice on as well. Have to look and see what attachments I need to do this.

If your spindle bore is big enough to slip the barrel through it'll be a cake walk. Mine is just barely too small, so I have to use a steady rest, kinda a pain.

[Super Nova]

Awesome good work. I’d love to be able to do this but I have zero space for that kind of machinery.

[XEMON]

Dam, i didnt thought you could get away with a steady rest ...
2questions 😁
- How do you not scratch the crap out of the parts with the rest? Ive had really bad results every time i use mine ...
- Did you make the reamer or did you bought it? what size are you using?

[Breakdown]

Lathe dependent, you get get fingers for your stead rest that have bearings instead of solid bronze

[BrickHaus]

I doubt I can achieve this on my little mini lathe. How many barrels did you end up scrapping?

[KMDPB]

You may be able to if you do a shorter barrel or a 2 piece. I only screwed up the first one I did, but it was just an old spyder barrel

[KMDPB]

XEMON I screwed up one barrel buy melting it with friction where it touched the rest. Then I put thick gear lube on the fingers of the steady rest. Reapplied 3 times or so whenever it looked dry. That worked out great

For the reamer I used an chinese 18.8 mm. Absolutely perfect fit. Here is the link on ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/302456203754?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ualaBsfrQuC&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=DhP9OR0_TOm&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[netsurferdude2]

Thank for the heads up. I just bought one and cant wait to try it out. I bored out one barrel with just a boring but want to see how this reamer works.

[XEMON]

Awesome thanks for the info, I'll try keeping my steady rest more lubricated 👍

Also bought a reamer so I can scrap some barrels too 😜

Thanks for the info

[jetenginekyle]

can you do xl inserts? if so id be interested in having you do some work

[KMDPB]

Nope. My reamer is only long enough for the standard freak inserts

[XEMON]

A piece of scrap and some duck tape and we'll get you an extension 😁

[markdem]

So i ordered the exact same reamer from the ebay link. There seems to be some variation in accuracy because my 18.8mm reamer is cutting a 0.738" hole. Just a tad too small for freaks which measure around 0.740". I had to finish up with my trusty old boring bar

Not saying this technique doesnt work, just saying that you cant expect all that much accuracy from a $20 reamer. Your experience may be different

[KMDPB]

So i ordered the exact same reamer from the ebay link. There seems to be some variation in accuracy because my 18.8mm reamer is cutting a 0.738" hole. Just a tad too small for freaks which measure around 0.740". I had to finish up with my trusty old boring bar

Not saying this technique doesnt work, just saying that you cant expect all that much accuracy from a $20 reamer. Your experience may be different

That reamer looks different than mine, maybe they changed suppliers or design

[XEMON]

How's the wobble with that much stickout out of the 3 jaws?

I've been meaning to spruce up my steady rest before starting freaking ...

[markdem]

I find this type of boring is pretty stable. Its self centering. No need for a steady rest

[Breakdown]

I just finished up my first freak bore on an old 2piece CP barrel. I turned down a cheap 3/4 drill bit and managed to drill out .7475. I was shooting for .7450 with the intent to use a ball hole to dress out and open up the last couple of thou, but out well... good enough for now!

That Chinese reamer is probably a much better approach, my surface finish is certainly what I would expect of a crappy drill bit especially since my tailstock only has 2.5" of travel so I had to move it multiple times (part of why my bore was a bit sloppy!)