Do Prop reamers wear out?? When do I replace ?

Prop reamers wear out? I seriously doubt that. They, at least the four that I have, are made of hardened tool steel and reaming a plastic or wood prop just isn't going to wear them or even dull them one bit.

CGr.

Where do we buy prop reamers ?  I never noticed them for sale and am not a good shopper when looking for things like this.

Yes they do after you ream a dozen or so APC props. Those props have fiberglass in it and it's very abrasive to cheap and easy to machine 4140 heat-treatable steel (non- M-2 or drill blank) which the prop reamer is most likely made of. If you know what you are doing and have good hands, you can give them a new edge a few times with a dremel /cutting wheel or a diamond hand hone.

When using a prop reamer, hold the tool stationary, turn the prop and always start from the back or engine side.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXK248&P=RF

Yes, they do wear out. I have had a couple that have gone dull. The cheaper ones are made from a softer steel that doesn't hole an edge as well as harder steel will.

This is the cheaper one that I have dulled out.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...LXK248&P=7

These are made from a harder steel and doesn't wear out as quickly.
Standard
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...LXEGH7&P=7

Metric
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...LXEGH6&P=7

One thing to remember when using a reamer. Never ever turn it backwards. While reaming it out you turn in one direction to cut with. But when it's time to remove the reamer keep turning it in the same direction as you pull it back out.

Hope this helps

Ken

Well, that is certainly interesting considering I've had the same prop reamers now since I started in RC flight, have reamed dozens of props, and not once did I ever have to hone in an edge.

I must be lucky.

CGr.

Hey ,Thanks!   I have one from Tower,  and it is getting hard to ream, after 4 years have gone by.

Todays glass filled props are abrasive in nature and will indeed dull a lower grade tool steel reamer.

In machining glass filled materials such as G2 or Nylatron it is always advised to use carbide tooling as even the best
quality high speed cutters wear out rapidly due to the abrasive nature of these materials.

After 4 years and probably many props it is likely that your reamer has lost it's edge. Some times stoning the edge without
rounding it will help although it may reduce the diameter slightly.

Happy flying, Oscar

Or you got a good old prop reamer or you haven't reamed too many glass filed props.

I have used the Fox brand reamers for many years and they keep their edge very well but will eventually become dull. The GP reamers seem to be a recent copy of the Fox reamers.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...SM&C=QBZ&V=FOX

Bruce