I am working on a bunch of projects nearly all of which involve 1-1/2"x.120 wall square steel tube. After I cut it on the abrasive chop saw, it's easy to whip off the external burrs with a flap disk. But on some of these pieces I also need to do an internal deburr, and I don't have time to use a file, it would take way too long. What are some tools/procedures to do this?
GWE
Greetings Grant, The folks I know who work at the boat yard use carbide burrs mounted in electric die grinders. The burrs work well and fast. They also shoot out tiny slivers that stick into everything. These burrs also work well in air powered tools. Sometimes what works really well are the air grinders with front exhaust. These blow the slivers away from you. If it's OK to leave the slivers inside the tube this may work the best. ERS
I have good success cleaning up after sawing with a 6" knotted wire brush in a stationary grinder. Never tried it with a side grinder, but it would probably work. It deburs and can round the edge just a bit, taking off the sharpness.
Make sure it doesn't get away from you.
Steve
Grant Erw> I am working on a bunch of projects nearly all of which involve
--Three come to mind: -Wire wheel on your grinder will, if not totally eliminate the burrs, blunt them so that you won't cut yourself on them -Dynabrade (HF sells a cheapy knock-off; not sure of utility tho..) -Rout-a-Burr hand tool. Works fine, but a little labor intensive.
If this is a production thing you might want to think about getting a better saw that leaves little or no burr.
If there is enough volume to make a custom fixture, I'm thinking something like a fairly small diameter x 1-1/4 wide grinding wheel and a fixture that allows you to press the end of the tube against the wheel while limiting the depth and providing alignment with the wheel and just a little wiggle room side to side to allow you to get the full inside width. Four quick applications with wiggles and you should have the tube neatly deburred inside. You could build the unit with two wheels so it gets the outside at the same time. Heck, go all out with four grinding wheels and do the full operation in only two passes.
Pete C.
Standard issue hand deburring tool. Shaviv, Twist-a-Burr, Roto-reamer...
Bandfile
Bob
Try a knot-type wire brush. .020" wire on 6 or 8" bench grinder or 4" on angle grinder. Wire size is key here.
Royal deburring tool (many clones)
Works great, less filling
Gunner
Rule #35 "That which does not kill you, has made a huge tactical error"
Grant, I fabricate with square/rectangular steel often. I use a pneumatic
1/4" die grinder with a carbide burr. Usually 1/2 or 5/8 diameter straight with a rounded end. Wear gloves and at least good eye protection. A face shield would be a good to use.Bob
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