some "new to me" tools and questions

[jcs0001]

Gentlemen:

I went to a friend's today where he had a bunch of odds and ends for a garage sale to be held in the next couple of weeks.  Everything was priced but I had my choice.   He was asking very little for these and I could not refuse. Here are a few things I picked up along with the odd question:



An old but good binocular.  Optics are really nice and I couldn't pass it up.



I assume this is a bore gauge although it may have a more specific use.  Once piece (shown) below, has a micrometer vernier scale.  I think I know how it works (set to a specific length and then use the micrometer setting to sneak up on the final reading?).  Any other ideas appreciated.  This is old - made by Central Tool Company of Auburn R.I.





Three of a bunch of reamers.  The long tapered one has cutting teeth length of 7.5 in., the large diameter is about 0.985 in. and the small end about 0.678 in.  Any idea as to what this is/was used for?

The other two reamers have a floating collar (not threaded inside) - seen on the right side of the reamer - any idea what the collar is used for?

Finally:



A set of adjustable reamers and a couple of fixed size small reamers.  I believe that these should always be used by hand and turned only in the cutting direction.    One is missing one blade - I doubt they can be found now but it would be nice to repair it.  Any further ideas or thoughts would be welcome.

I've never had the inclination to buy a bunch of new reamers as they are costly and I've been able to make do otherwise.  However having this bunch together should be indispensable at times.

Thanks for your help.

John.

[websterz]

The "bore gauge" is actually an inside micrometer set. It is used just as you describe. An interesting addition is the handle at the top of the pic. That makes checking a deep hole easier. Nice old set and quite handy!

[andyf]

Zooming my screen so that the fat end of the taper reamer is about actual size, a 3MT centre held up against the pic looks a reasonable match, so perhaps it's for finishing machine tapers to 3MT or some other standard similar to 3MT. But if that's what it is, there's no reason why it should be 7.5" long.

Andy

[Bogstandard]

What looks to be tapered reamer has a heavy spiralled flute, so that suggests it is for opening up holes in thin materials, like an early version of a straight tapered cone drill. In other words, a 'bodgers drill'.

Drill down until say the bolt you want to fit drops thru the hole.


Bogs

[mklotz]

I think you'll find that your "binocular" is, in reality, a monocular - a tool much beloved of pirates who wear eyepatches.

[DaveH]

Me thinks pirates used a spyglass "me hearty mates"

DaveH

[loply]

What looks to be tapered reamer has a heavy spiralled flute, so that suggests it is for opening up holes in thin materials, like an early version of a straight tapered cone drill. In other words, a 'bodgers drill'.

Drill down until say the bolt you want to fit drops thru the hole.


Bogs

Seems a bit odd though because it starts at 0.6" (which is quite large for said purpose) and only goes up to about 1" thereby not offering much of a 'range'. Also the degree of taper is very gentle for the purpose you mentioned.

All in all I'd say if that is what it is, then it's a pretty useless attempt at it?

[Bogstandard]

You will find, that certain features on a bit of tooling will usually tell you what it is designed for doing and how it should be used.

When you see a spiral on a reamer, it is usually associated with cutting thinner materials (more of the flute in contact to give support and prevent 'snatching'), not carved in stone, but sort of normal. Usually used on hand reamers but sometimes on machine reamers as well, depending on circumstances.

So why would they make such a long 'reamer' with such a harsh spiral to go into a deep hole? The cutting and friction forces alone, going down such a deep hole, would almost guarantee the shank would be broken off. Plus the drive end looks to have been turned down so that it could be held in a normal drill chuck.

Another good example are the reamers on the same picture, straight flutes, so designed for going into relatively deep holes, and because of the square machined ends, should not be used in a machine to turn, but by hand only, using a standard tap wrench.

So I would stick with my original assumption, a tapered bodgers drill, for materials say up to about 1/2" thick.

But if anyone knows better, I would be more than willing to listen.


Bogs

[jcs0001]

Websterz - thanks for the info on the inside micrometer - that was my suspicion but the wrong name. 

Marv and DaveH - must have had a brain seizure when I called it a binocular - looks like half a binocular (yielding two monoculars!!).  I've always wanted a long expanding brass monocular but this will have to do.  I was just watching a hawk with it and it works well.

Bogs and AndyF - thanks for the info about the reamer.  Not sure if I have a use for it but it is quite a heavy piece of metal and very impressive looking.

Any ideas about the collars on the two reamers below the tapered one?

Thanks,

John.

[John Stevenson]

They are for line reaming two bore that have to be in line with one another, the tapered collar locates in one whilst you ream the other, they swap round to do it's mate.

Handy for king pins on older vehicles and swing arm bushed on bikes.

John S.

[jcs0001]

John:

Thanks, makes a lot of sense.

John.