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- Feb 17, 2008
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Many of my reamers are quite old. Although I take care of them, the engraved sizes have faded and my eyes have gotten worse so the sizes are hard to see. So I periodically get out the magnifier and micrometer and mark them with a Sharpie marker. Next year the marking has worn off from handling and cutting oils and I repeat the process.
Now my procedure is to clean the shank where I am going to mark with acetone or other degreaser and mark as before with an industrial Sharpie that I found at the office supply store. Same as a regular Sharpie, but it is a little more permanent around oil. Then I cover the mark with clear heat shrink tubing. It would be rare that the tubing would get in the way of using the reamer as the shanks are quite long. Shrink the with a hot air gun. If you ever do need to change or remove it, the tubing can be cut off. Next time around I am going to add a short band of colored heat shrink next to the mark with red indicating it is an oversize reamer and blue indicating an under size reamer and black or no band for an correct reamer.
Edit: Another thought. Print the size on a slip of paper and put that under the heat shrink. Probably be more legible than writing directly on the shank.
Now my procedure is to clean the shank where I am going to mark with acetone or other degreaser and mark as before with an industrial Sharpie that I found at the office supply store. Same as a regular Sharpie, but it is a little more permanent around oil. Then I cover the mark with clear heat shrink tubing. It would be rare that the tubing would get in the way of using the reamer as the shanks are quite long. Shrink the with a hot air gun. If you ever do need to change or remove it, the tubing can be cut off. Next time around I am going to add a short band of colored heat shrink next to the mark with red indicating it is an oversize reamer and blue indicating an under size reamer and black or no band for an correct reamer.
Edit: Another thought. Print the size on a slip of paper and put that under the heat shrink. Probably be more legible than writing directly on the shank.