Best Reamers

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 8, 2024
A reamer is an essential tool for deburring pipes and conduits and is especially crucial for enlarging holes. Reaming makes the surface ...Read more
PROS

One of the best things about this model is the design solution that consists of 45 cutting edges, offering you easy, fast, and high-quality deburring and beveling of tubes.

CONS

Might be difficult to ream some of the narrow pipes.

OUR VERDICT

The RIDGID 29983 223S is designed for inner and outer reaming of stainless steel and copper pipes and is essential for reaming pipes that were cut with a hand pipe cutter or an abrasive saw. This tool is well made, durable, has a large capacity and doesn't trail behind in terms of reliability. 

detailed parameters
Type

Inner/Outer Reamer

Number of cutting edges

45

Diameter of holes

1/4-inch to 1-1/4-inch

Convenience

Easy-grip design, Dual inch/metric measurement bar

Dimensions

8.4 x 4.9 x 1.8 inches
7.2 ounces

Warranty

Lifetime

PROS

This conduit reamer has a hooded-base handle for additional convenience that helps when you work with hard-to-reach conduit fittings and is also useful in terms of keeping the tip from slipping out of screws.

CONS

The model requires a considerable amount of pressure.

OUR VERDICT

The Klein Tools 85191, a reamer designed for dealing with electrical metallic tubing, serves a variety of different purposes, such as fitting the cables and reaming of conduits and would prove to be a go-to pick for amateur and professional electricians alike.

detailed parameters
Type

Conduit-Fitting and Reaming Screwdriver

Number of cutting edges

1 replaceable reaming blade

Diameter of holes

1/2-inch, 3/4-inch, 1-inch

Convenience

Cushion-grip handle

Dimensions

7.5 x 1.2 x 1.2 inches
8.8 ounces

Warranty

30 days

PROS

This hand reamer has 7 flutes for smoother bores and is 5 inches long with a handle of 3-½ inches. It is capable of making bores in pipes or enlarging holes in various materials such as metal, plastic, PVC, or wood.

CONS

Because of its shape, it may take you some time to get used to the tool.

OUR VERDICT

The Woodstock D4140 will help you to deburr and smooth crudely drilled or damaged holes. Suitable for reaming of cello, guitar, or ukulele pegs. Made out of high-quality steel, it is a durable instrument that will serve you for a long time.

detailed parameters
Type

Repairman's Taper Reamer

Number of cutting edges

7 flutes

Diameter of holes

from 1/8 inches to 5/8 inches

Convenience

Removable handle

Dimensions

5 x 1.7 x 1.5 inches
2.4 ounces

Warranty

1 year

PROS

This tool allows you to work with a variety of materials - from plastic to high-alloyed steel. The blades cut the surface and make it completely smooth. 

CONS

The paint chips away after some time. 

OUR VERDICT

The Wolverine PST085 can clean and smooth the edges of the holes before the initial threading or reaming. It is comfortable to use thanks to its small size and ergonomic shape. It is also possible to adjust the blades to ream holes of different sizes.

detailed parameters
Type

Inner/Outer Reamer

Number of cutting edges

3

Diameter of holes

from 1/8 inches to 1-5/8 inches

Convenience

Easy-grip design

Dimensions

6.25 x 3.44 x 2.3 inches
8.5 ounces

Warranty

Lifetime

PROS

The reamer is 5-⅛ inches long and has a five-flute cutter made of steel. This handy and sturdy instrument is capable of beveling holes with ¾ inches in diameter using its sharp blades.

CONS

The handle tends to slip out of the hand during a prolonged period of use.

OUR VERDICT

No matter what kind of project you are working on, this reamer tool with a screwdriver grip is an ideal choice for removing burrs and screw countersinking and will find its special place in your toolbox.

detailed parameters
Type

Hand Reamer and Countersink

Number of cutting edges

5

Diameter of holes

3/4 inch

Convenience

Heavy-duty handle

Dimensions

8.6 x 3.2 x 3.2 inches
0.64 ounces

Warranty

30 days

Built to Last

The RIDGID 29983 is a convenient hand reamer engineered for reaming pipes made of stainless steel and copper. This pipe reamer includes 45 high-quality cutting edges on the interior cone for clean inner reaming and precise outer deburring. And just like any decent reamer that is designed for reaming pipes, this tool is durable and easy to use. Albeit the convenience, the process of reaming the minimally sized pipes takes more time than you might think. As a matter of fact, most reamers are too weak for steel electrical tubing, with the RIDGID 29983 being a rare exception to this rule. Thanks to the clever and well-thought-out design, the tool is more than capable to withstand and cut materials used in electric conduits.

Built to last, it also comes with a lifetime warranty against defects from RIDGID. This versatile tool can also be used for easy fitting or beveling of copper tubes. Other than that, the model is suitable for tubes of ¼-inch to 1-¼-inch outside diameter and will allow you to use pipe cutter with more freedom because it reams perfectly smooth holes without any burrs left behind. Thanks to a dual metric and imperial measurement bar, you shouldn't be able to face any challenges trying to achieve a precise result. Finally, another impressive thing about this reamer is that it has an easy-grip design that adds more convenience and comfort during a prolonged period of use. Made with a distinct RIDGID quality, this inner and outer reamer tool is a perfect addition to your tool case no matter what your field of operation is.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $36.26
Stock In stock
ASIN B001P81OKG

Electrician's Right Hand

The Klein Tools 85191 is a screwdriver designed for reaming and fitting of conduits. Its plastic handle is arguably one of the most durable ones you'd be able to find on the market. Manufactured specifically to work with electrical metallic tubing, it can be used for 1/2-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1-inch diameter holes. This conduit reamer has a hooded-base handle for additional convenience that helps when you work with hard-to-reach conduit fittings and is also useful in terms of keeping the tip from slipping out of screws. Moreover, this updated model has a 1/16-inch hex socket set screw. Thanks to this feature, the reaming blade is securely held in place, which ensures a more accurate fitting of the conduits. When the reaming tool blade gets too dull to use, you can get a new one and replace it with ease. On top of that, when you turn the instrument and push it alongside the axis of the hole at the same time, it allows you to ream an extremely thin layer of material.

Although this device has a convenient grip, it is not insulated and will not protect you from the electric shock, so make sure to always wear anti-shock gloves and eye protection. This particular screwdriver is extremely durable and is, in fact, designed for some real heavy duty. Despite that, you need to apply a considerable amount of pressure for a smooth use. 

In conclusion, if you happen to be a professional in any of the related fields or an aspiring electrician, the reamer from Klein Tools will be a perfect choice for you.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $30.26
Stock In stock
ASIN B000CER0T8

Surprisingly Versatile

The Woodstock D4140 Repairman's Taper Reamer is seemingly a very simple yet highly functional tool. It is not designed for machine use but, as a hand tool, the model is capable of delivering exceptional results. Despite its modest price, it can produce same results as you would normally get from some of the more expensive pin reamers. It is compact and its removable handle makes it easy to fit it in any toolbox or a bag for convenient transportation.

In addition to all of that, this hand reamer has 7 flutes for smoother bores and is 5 inches long with a handle of 3-½ inches. No matter what your objective is, whether it is reaming of the guitar pins, making bores in pipes, or enlarging holes in various materials such as metal, plastic, PVC, or wood, this handy taper reamer will be able to match your needs. However, when in use, the handle of the reamer can slip out sometimes, so it is recommended to hold the reamer in a tight manner. If you need to ream holes from ⅛- to ⅝ inches in diameter, this versatile hand reamer will be able to lend you a helping hand. The construction of this tool is somewhat crude, so if your goal is to cut burrs, there's a chance that you will have to do several runs in order to achieve a perfectly clean cut. Other than that, it does not matter if you are an amateur who is just getting started in the DIY field or a professional woodworker, plumber, or an electrician since this versatile device will be able to meet your demands either way.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $14.75
Stock In stock
ASIN B005W17DFC

A Silent Workhorse

The Wolverine PST085 is an outer and inner hand reaming tool. To put it bluntly, the model gets the job done when it comes to deburring the ends of the CPVC and PVC pipes and reducing the duration of the process by a wide margin, especially if you compare the result from the one you'd get using a regular utility knife. Designed with three cutting edges and a cast metal body, this sturdy little inner and outer reamer is a budget-friendly addition to your toolbox.

From time to time, when you're busy cutting a pipe or a conduit with an abrasive saw or a pipe cutter, it can leave a lot of burrs and the clean end becomes a messy one to work with. Having said that, after just a few runs with this reamer, there will be no burrs at the end of a pipe and you will see a smooth result of your job. Even though the specifications of this reamer state that it can handle ¾ inch holes, with a light and even pressure application and some rotation, you will be able to utilize this tool on ⅜ and ½ tubings.

Some customers may find that it is a rather small hand tool but, on the other hand, it is very comfortable to use and convenient to hold in hand thanks to an easy-grip design. When you need to finish your DIY projects such as plumbing, cutting, beveling or reaming pipes in your house, there's simply no other tool out there that will be able to do that as quickly and effortlessly as the Wolverine PST085. Despite its modest price, this model is a solid solution for deburring PVC, copper, and steel pipes.

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B0002YVLHA

Turning The Screw

The General Tools 196 is a combination of a hand reamer and a countersink that allows you to work with wood, plastic, iron or copper pipe, and even sheet metal. The reamer itself is 5-⅛ inches long and has a five-flute cutter made of steel. This handy and sturdy reamer is designed for deburring and beveling holes with ¾ inches in diameter using its sharp blades. Even though you can remove burrs from aluminum, plastic or copper tubes without facing any major problems, if you plan on using this tool with steel, you'll probably have to do a couple of additional runs to achieve a cleaner looking result. Additionally, you can use this tool as a countersink for screw heads, bolts, and rivets. What is more convenient about this reamer model is that it has a durable and ergonomically designed heavy-duty handle. Nevertheless, during a prolonged period of use, the handle tends to slip out of the hand, so be careful with that. Although this reamer tool is more suitable for woodworking, it is still a useful instrument that is capable of enlarging and countersinking holes in plastic, sheet metal, wood, and other materials.

All in all, no matter what kind of project you are working on, this reamer tool with a screwdriver grip is an ideal choice for removing burrs and screw countersinking and will find its special and important place in your toolbox.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $11.26
Stock In stock
ASIN B00004T82I

What Is a Reamer?

To put it in simple terms, a reamer is essentially a type of tool that is hard to overestimate when you need a pipe to be cut but the hand cutter or an abrasive saw you just used had left some ugly burrs at the end of the pipe. To help with that, you could either use a utility knife, which is a challenging task that will take a lot of time, not to mention that the result won't always be able to match your demands, or you can use a reamer instead. Unlike knives, reamers rarely leave any burrs behind and make the pipe ends as smooth as possible. Some types of reamers look like screwdrivers but they are so much more than that. With this very tool, you can ream electric conduits, various plastics, or even metal pipes. By the way, if you happen to accidentally break a pin of your guitar or a cello, a taper reamer would be your best choice. Using the latter, you will be able to replace this pin in a matter of minutes. Unlike electrical reamers, hand reamers allow you to ream, deburr, and enlarge holes in various materials in a much slower way, which results in a smoother cut.

To make sure you achieve the sort of results of reaming, countersinking, or deburring that you want, you will need to make sure that the bit of the material is tightly fixated and then make a hole with a drill press. After that, you can begin to ream the material, knowing that the results of your work will be able to speak for themselves.

Sources:

1. 3 Ways to Ream a Hole, wikiHow.

2. Paula S. Morgan How to Use a Bead Reamer, The Spruce. May 4, 2017.

3. AG Pro REAMER AND PROP BALANCE TOOLS, FliteTest. November 11, 2014.

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