Hello to all,
I’m desperately seeking for various gundrills for my pipes, flutes and whistles.
Too bad, because I missed a post a few days ago selling those.
So I’m calling upon the forum to seek if anyone has some for sale.
Many thanks
Ebay is the best source I’ve found. Prices vary widely, depending on the seller & the dimensions of the drill, so pay attention to the details.
–Mick
I’d be cautious about eBay gun drills. Some folks use eBay as a dumping ground for drills that need resharpening. Also, you don’t necessarily get the cutter shape you need (optimized for timber) or the airline connection fitting type that makes sense. You also should consider the implications of drills that are shorter or longer than necessary…
I’ve been very happy with Sterling Gun Drills in the USA, and have heard very good feedback regarding Hammond in the UK.
Thank you for your replies.
I bought some on ebay some time ago, and tried them.
Must say they work pretty good, but indeed Bill : better be cautious.
The thing is I don’t know the price of new ones. Some people already told me they’re really expensive.
My main investment went in machines and wood, and so investing too much in tools is not an option.
That’s why I have no other choice than seek for used drills.
As said before I already bought some in Germany (by ebay), but I’m having a hard time finding long reamers that I can use for the chanters.
They are being made to order. The price for a new one will be between 100 - 120 Euro depending on size and length. If you buy two, the price will be approx. 20 % less for each, for three another 10 % off.
A friend of mine will be ordering gun drills soon, I’ll ask him which sizes, if you are interested.
You can not readily buy chanter reamers anywhere, you will have to get them made. I know of a company in Germany that make them to order, at a price of approx. 600 - 800 Euros per piece, if my memory serves me right.
Hi Michael,
Thanks for your reply. Sure I’m interested for the gundrills. I’ll have to look up the specs I need/want.
For the reamers, I’m making them myself using silversteel rods. As said before, it’s just too much of an investment I can’t afford right now.
These expensive reamers are multi-fluted spiral reamers.
What type of reamers do you make, D-profile, I guess?
And would you consider making reamers to order?
Yes, D-profile is what I’m making at the moment.
What do you mean by making reamers to order?
The D reamers are superior to multi-fluted spiral reamers for pipe bores anyway. The multi-flute reamers are prone to chatter, are hard to sharpen, and tend to clog.
Reaming should be done at very low speed, around 100 RPM. David Quinn wrote excellent articles on the topic for the Pipers’ Review around 2008 or 2009 and covered the various issues very thoroughly.
I’ve gotten excellent newly-made, custom gun drills for less than 80 US dollars each. It was a few years ago but they are still not totally out of reach.
If money is really the issue, you’d be as well making D boring bits and using them carefully, rather than gun drills. With patience you can get a very good finish and straight bore that way, it’s just very slow if you’re planning to make more than one or two instruments.
Thanks for the help Bill.
Any documents or information on making good D-bits.
I’m not giving up the gundrills though.
You will also need a compressor
Chris Bayley’s website has ‘D’ bit information http://www.bagpipeworld.co.uk/bagpipe/making/drill.html
Used to live just round corner from him (well about a mile away) and have watched him bore out his barrel drone/regulator thingys with them so they definately work and run true
Check your pm’s
John
Pipers’ Review, Vol XXII No 1 Winter - 2003 – 33 PAGES:“Simple Boring & Reaming Tools – D. M. Quinn”
Also available on David Quinn’s “Pipes and Pipemaking” CD-ROM.
- Bill
Mike Nelson also gives an instruction how to make D-Bits: http://www.machineconcepts.co.uk/smallpipes/tools.htm
What I mean is, would you make a reamer to my specification for me if I paid you for it? I don’t have access to a metal lathe, besides I’m a lousy metal worker.
Don’t know much about pipemaking but is Martin’s website any use to you:
@ MichaelLoos : I’m willing to give it a shot.
Please send me your specs by PM, I’ll keep you informed on the progress.
Look on the Wayback Machine for Davy Stephensons old website (http://www.bagpipeworks.co.uk). He wrote an informative article on fabricating and using D bits. I don’t know if it is still to be found.
I purchased a few application specific gun-drills in mm sizes from Sterling in the US and they work very well. They cost about $100 apiece.
Here is where I get my gun drills: http://www.dmetool.com/
Also I use professionally made diamond hardened reamers with 4 flutes. I now have a new one to replace my old one that I bought in 1975. I have made several hundred chanters with that one old reamer.
Pat Sky