HONE?

[Doc Brown.]

If you could only have one hone for a CR1018 1.25" bore what would it be? Max depth 9" Im about to order one and don't want to buy a whole bunch of grits if I don't need to. For a thunder mug so it doesn't need to be a mirror finish. Recommendations on type of hone and grit. Thanks

[armorer77]

I use a 120 grit ball hone .

[Doc Brown.]

Thank you.

[Victor3]

 It's hard to beat a $10 brake cylinder hone for what you want to do.


http://www.amazon.com/Powerbuilt-648401-Brake-Cylinder-2-25-Inch/dp/B001G7RB2G


 220 grit might be a little light but you can smear the bore with a coarser compound if you need something more aggressive.

[buzz36]

Brake cyl hone with valve grinding compound  is what i use

[Doc Brown.]

Brake cyl hone with valve grinding compound  is what i use

I like the idea of grinding compound. Can that be used with a Flex Hone?

[armorer77]

Grinding compound works best if the hone is soft enough to hold onto the grit .

[GGaskill]

A flex hone seems to be made from grinding compound made into balls on the ends of the bristles and hardened.

[Doc Brown.]

I got my 1.25" flex hone today. 120 grit. I don't like how quickly the globulars wear down after just a few uses. I think I have to get a 1. 1/4" reamer.  So I have another question. Lets say I want to make a 1.25" bore cannon barrel. Would it be best to get a 1.25" expandable reamer so I can ream out a 1.25" bore slightly more than 1.25" for windage.

 

[Double D]

Get a fixed reamer.  The expendables do not work that well for blind holes and are difficult but to set up for accurate dimension.

[GGaskill]

Keep in mind that a hone, and especially a flex hone, is intended to remove protruding surface irregularities and generally make the surface the same roughness.  It will not take off a lot of stock.

Drill the rough hole, bore for position and roundness, and ream for size.  Honing is for finish.