5 Degree Reamer/Clamps
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5 Degree Reamer/Clamps
For those of you doing a Martin build, you'll need a 5 degree wood reamer for the bridge pins. Harbor Freight Tools may not be the place to buy electrical tools that will be used extensively, but for small hand tools, it can't be beat. They have a 5 degree reamer that will work for Martin style bridge pins for $2.99: http://www.harborfreight.com/t-handle-reamer-66938.html
BTW, they also have decent clamps that are reasonably priced; you can NEVER have too many clamps. These clamps are by far my favorite. Made of all metal, they come in a range of sizes. Not only do I use them for general clamping, but I decided to use one to set the fret wires in the fretboard. The 6" bar clamp actually opens to 6", so it's deep enough for almost all guitar applications: http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-bar ... 96210.html
BTW, they also have decent clamps that are reasonably priced; you can NEVER have too many clamps. These clamps are by far my favorite. Made of all metal, they come in a range of sizes. Not only do I use them for general clamping, but I decided to use one to set the fret wires in the fretboard. The 6" bar clamp actually opens to 6", so it's deep enough for almost all guitar applications: http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-bar ... 96210.html
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Re: 5 Degree Reamer/Clamps
that should do the job and I do use a lot of the HF clamps
I buy them when they are on sale
I buy them when they are on sale
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
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Re: 5 Degree Reamer/Clamps
That certainly is a good price.
An alternative I've used is a tapered end mill from McMaster-Carr (www.mcmaster.com). They come in a range of tapers. Although not as convenient as a purpose-made reamer, they will work.
One caveat: the taper is specified as x degrees per side, while the reamers are generally specified as included angle. Thus, for a 5 degree taper you'd want 2.5 degrees per side.
Another caveat is that you need to make sure the small end is small enough to fit the hole you're reaming.
All in all...buy a reamer if you can, but a tapered end mill might give you another option.
Edit: I just checked, the don't have 2.5 degrees per side, anyway.
An alternative I've used is a tapered end mill from McMaster-Carr (www.mcmaster.com). They come in a range of tapers. Although not as convenient as a purpose-made reamer, they will work.
One caveat: the taper is specified as x degrees per side, while the reamers are generally specified as included angle. Thus, for a 5 degree taper you'd want 2.5 degrees per side.
Another caveat is that you need to make sure the small end is small enough to fit the hole you're reaming.
All in all...buy a reamer if you can, but a tapered end mill might give you another option.
Edit: I just checked, the don't have 2.5 degrees per side, anyway.
Don't believe everything you know.
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
When things are bad, try not to make them any worse, because it is quite likely they are bad enough already. - French Foreign Legion
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
When things are bad, try not to make them any worse, because it is quite likely they are bad enough already. - French Foreign Legion
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Re: 5 Degree Reamer/Clamps
FYI. I just got back from Harbor freight tools. The Reamer is item #66936 and was in the PLUMBING department, which I found rather strange. The end of the taper is 1/8", so it will require a pilot hole of that size. I'll get a scrap piece of wood and drill a hole and ream it out for a bridge pin. I'll let everyone know how it fits.
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Re: 5 Degree Reamer/Clamps
You might be able to save a bit of reaming using a 3/16 drill bit instead of an 1/8th.Diane Kauffmds wrote:FYI. I just got back from Harbor freight tools. The Reamer is item #66936 and was in the PLUMBING department, which I found rather strange. The end of the taper is 1/8", so it will require a pilot hole of that size. I'll get a scrap piece of wood and drill a hole and ream it out for a bridge pin. I'll let everyone know how it fits.
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Re: 5 Degree Reamer/Clamps
Yes -- 5/32", anyway. Maybe 3/16". A good part of the bridge pin is down below the top and doesn't make contact with anything. See what the o.d. of a bridge pin is about mid-way along its length.
Don't believe everything you know.
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
When things are bad, try not to make them any worse, because it is quite likely they are bad enough already. - French Foreign Legion
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
When things are bad, try not to make them any worse, because it is quite likely they are bad enough already. - French Foreign Legion