Reamer Flutes

—The reamer flutes are either straight or helical.

—The helical flutes promote smoother cutting and should be used specifically for holes that are not continuous, such as those with keyways parallel to the axis of the hole.

—The cutting action of the helical flutes is smoother and helps in preventing chatter.

—The reamers are termed as left hand or right hand, depending upon the direction in which they are moved, looking from the shank to the cutting portion.

—The right-hand reamer with right-hand helix is used for roughing cuts, since the tool tends to go into the workpiece more efficiently and thereby promotes the material removal.

—A right-hand reamer with left-hand flutes is used for finishing cuts.