Buy Reamers Online in Australia
Reamer Selection — Quick Reference
Reamers finish pre-drilled/bored holes to PRECISE diameter + surface finish. Where drill leaves rough hole with variable diameter, reamer brings bore to TIGHT TOLERANCE + surface quality needed for press fits + bearing housings + pin locations.
| Reamer Type | Best For |
|---|---|
| Hand Reamer (Square Drive) | Manual reaming with tap wrench — toolroom + fitting |
| Adjustable Hand Reamer | Variable size reaming — see adjustable hand reamers |
| Chucking Reamer (Machine) | Drill press + lathe + machine spindle — see chucking reamers |
| Taper Pin Reamer | Tapered hole for taper pins — see taper pin reamers |
| Bridge Reamer (Structural) | Structural steel hole alignment — see bridge reamers |
| Adjustable Reamer (Bushed) | Variable diameter via expanding blades |
| Straight Flute Reamer | General purpose — all-around use |
| Spiral Flute Reamer (Helical) | Cleaner finish + chip evacuation |
| HSS Standard | Mild + low-alloy steel + aluminium |
| HSS Cobalt (M35/M42) | Stainless + tough alloys + extended life |
| Carbide-Tipped | Hardened materials + production work |
Critical: Drill hole UNDERSIZE — typically 0.1-0.4mm less than reamed diameter. Too small = excess material to remove + reamer overload; too large = no material to cut + poor finish. Use cutting fluid + slow speed (60-100 RPM hand reaming; 100-300 RPM machine). NEVER reverse reamer in hole — damages cutting edges. Brands: Sutton Tools, Bordo. Companion: chucking reamers, adjustable hand reamers, drilling.
Reamers for Precision Bore Finishing in Australian Industry
A reamer finishes a pre-drilled or bored hole to a precise diameter and surface finish. Where a drill leaves a rough hole with variable diameter, a reamer brings the bore to the tight tolerance and surface quality needed for press fits, bearing housings, pin locations, and other precision engineering applications. AIMS Industrial stocks reamers from Sutton Tools and Bordo for Australian engineering, toolmaking, and maintenance customers.
Reamer types stocked
- Hand reamers — driven by a tap wrench; for finishing to size in the fitting, not the machine tool. Slight taper at entry for self-starting in a drilled hole. Used when machine access is limited or for final fitting of assembled components
- Chucking reamers (machine reamers) — held in a drill chuck or collet and driven by a drill press, mill, or lathe. Straight or spiral flute; spiral flute handles interrupted cuts and through-holes better. The standard choice for production and machine shop work
- Adjustable hand reamers — blades adjust over a small range (typically ±0.5mm) allowing one tool to cover a range of sizes; useful for workshop situations where the exact size needed isn't known until fitting
- Taper pin reamers — taper from entry to exit to produce the tapered bore for standard taper pins (Morse taper, 1:48 taper); essential for pin-and-hole assemblies in power transmission and shaft-coupling work
- Reamer sets — assorted sizes in a case; economical way to cover the common size range from 3mm to 13mm for workshop and maintenance applications
Material and grades
Reamers for general workshop use are manufactured from HSS (high speed steel). Carbide-tipped or solid carbide reamers are available for abrasive materials or production volumes where HSS tool life isn't acceptable — enquire directly. For most Australian workshop and maintenance applications, HSS reamers are the standard choice.
Reaming allowance
A reamer removes only a small amount of material — typically 0.1mm to 0.3mm on diameter for hand reaming, 0.2mm to 0.5mm for machine reaming in steel. Always drill undersize to leave sufficient material for the reamer to cut cleanly. A reamer asked to remove too much material deflects, produces an oversize or tapered hole, and wears rapidly. Drill to size with a correctly sized drill bit, then ream.
Related cutting tools
See also: jobber drill bit sets for pre-drilling before reaming, taps and threading tools for threaded holes, and end mills for milled bores.
For specific sizes, materials, or tolerance requirements, contact our team.
People Also Ask — Reamers
Q: Why does a chucking reamer use a spiral flute instead of a straight flute?
A spiral (helical) flute chucking reamer handles interrupted cuts and through-holes better than a straight flute reamer, giving a cleaner finish and better chip evacuation. Straight flute reamers are the general-purpose, all-around choice; step up to spiral flute when reaming through-holes or where the cut isn't continuous.
Q: How much material should I leave for reaming?
Drill the hole undersize — typically 0.1mm to 0.3mm less than the reamed diameter for hand reaming, or 0.2mm to 0.5mm for machine reaming in steel. Too little material left for the reamer to cut produces poor finish and rapid wear from deflection; too much overloads the reamer and produces an oversize or tapered hole. Drill to the correct undersize with a properly sized drill bit, then ream.
Q: What speed should I run a reamer at?
Run a reamer slower than the equivalent drilling speed, using cutting fluid throughout — around 60-100 RPM for hand reaming and 100-300 RPM for machine reaming. Never reverse a reamer in the hole, as this damages the cutting edges.