8deco Shank Reamers: Thoughts and Review

[PLANofMAN]

I picked up the 4.0 and 3.5mm shank reamers from smoking pipes in a recent sale. Let's talk about the good, bad, and ugly.

This type of drill bit is called an "airplane bit," and they can be up to 14" long. 8deco used titanium nitride coated bits, and I can see "HSS" (high speed steel) stamped on one of the bits, so these are decent quality bits.

The ferrules are stamped with "8deco" and the size, a nice touch.

The tips are left with the factory grind. I would probably prefer to see a 'bullet' shaped tip, rather than a wedge point, but that's a minor quibble, and easily rectified with stones or a grinder. There's a guy on YouTube that does high end repair and restoration and he says a rounded tip is less likely to tear out the airway's entrance to the bowl, or gouge the bottom of the bowl.

The handles are colorful acrylic, and compliment each other. The color isn't pickable, so you won't get a matchy matchy set.

If you need them, these are a rather elegant solution, but an ordinary drill bit will work as well and cost half as much. These are not customized for pipes specifically, so I wouldn't say these are necessary. Hope this helps anyone looking at these as an option.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I have both and use them on occasion.

 

[Briarcutter]

Here's one I made many years ago from a standard drill bit. The handle is a piece of acrylic rod, but just about anything will work for a handle. I re-ground the 59 deg. point to a ball or radius. These are not one size fits all tools. This was made for a specific pipe brand. It's surprising how much these tools come in handy. Without realizing it, the draft hole can really become restricted especially where is meets the chamber, and that restriction changes the taste drastically, to me anyway.Care must be used! While plunging through, you can easily damage the chamber bottom.

 

[Briarcutter]

Here's one I made many years ago from a standard drill bit. The handle is a piece of acrylic rod, but just about anything will work for a handle. I re-ground the 59 deg. point to a ball or radius. These are not one size fits all tools. This was made for a specific pipe brand. It's surprising how much these tools come in handy. Without realizing it, the draft hole can really become restricted especially where is meets the chamber, and that restriction changes the taste drastically, to me anyway.Care must be used! While plunging through, you can easily damage the chamber bottom.View attachment 353928

I also ground a flat on the drill bit and added a set screw, without it there's a good chance you'll trist the handle off the drill bit.

 

[georged]

Another handle option is a small, cheapie drill chuck.

I hate garbage tools more than anyone alive, but exceptions prove the rule, eh? Used as a HAND tool, a little pot metal drill chuck like this one will work just fine.