Boring

Boring is a lathe operation for forming internal holes in a workpiece using a tool designed specifically for that task. Here's an example of a shallow hole bored into the end of a piece of 3/4" aluminum stock:

Compared with drilling, boring has the following attributes:

• Bored holes are typically more perfectly symmetrical than drilled holes
• Bored holes can be finished to any desired internal diameter greater than about 1/4" rather than being constrained by specific drill bit diameters
• Bored holes can be made to diameters much larger than is practical for drilled holes
• Bored holes can easily be formed with a flat bottom rather than the cone-shaped bottom typical of drilled holes

You will learn how to:

• Bore nice clean holes to a specified internal diameter and depth
• Use power feed to bore deep holes
• Deal with chatter
• Make a tool holder for commercial boring tools    
• grind your own boring tools.

Skill Level:  Intermediate

Topic Length: approximately 12 pages

Tools Needed

• Commercial or home-ground boring tools
• Bench grinder and tool blanks to grind your own tools
• #2 or #3 Center drills
• Drill set
• Tailstock chuck
• Dial calipers (optional, but recommended)