Speed, feed and sharpness all play a role, but on 99 percent of the reamers I have that exhibit a tendency to chatter, I find if I alter the lead angle slightly on the shoulder portion of the reamer, the chatter disappears. I have done everything from wrapping the reamer in pork soaked corn husks, to hopping on one leg while pissing into a Mason jar, but for me, nothing works faster than altering the attack angle of the cutter. And usually by reducing the angle a touch so it isn't as aggressive. Sometimes the other way. There's no hard and fast rule.
Once chatter is present, you sometimes have to carefully hand feed the reamer to get past the damage. But it works provided you caught it in time.
And for what it's worth, I have Dave Manson's reamers, and if one produced a little chatter, I certainly would not be ready to throw it away, or, publicly trash the company on an internet forum. I would contact Dave and talk with him. He's as anxious for your success as you are.
Exactly.. And part of the reason a reamer can chatter is simply the selected chambering.. The .300H&H is famous for chattering reamers.. And yet the .375 rarely does..
I never go higher than 60 rpm when chambering..
Redneck You need to read it again. No where did I say this is my first barrel job. I have been chambering barrels for 28 years and this is the first POS reamer I ever received. I have reamers made by Keith Francis, JGS, and PTG never a problem before now. One more thing I use a floating reamer holder.
In 28 years this is your FIRST chattering experience??? Wow.. You should buy Lotto tix every week..
Ok, so you've done this a while. Fine, but I find it amazing you've never had one chatter before.... Nearly unheard of.
I gave up on any floating reamer holder.. I've got one - and used it from time to time early on in this biz but haven't touched it in 6-7 years.. If the barrel's set up properly in the lathe a floater's not needed. (IMVHO, of course)...
I remember talking to Dave Manson about the .300HH a couple years ago and asked him why this particular round is such a pita to chamber.. I asked what he might be doing differently and he said he did the .300HH only if he had to - his experience was that it was a pita also... I got a good laugh outta that one..