Boring Bar Maintenance

May 9, 2019by cbmadmin


A properly maintained piece of equipment is a safe and reliable piece of equipment. If you follow a good maintenance regimen for your boring bar, it will last longer and deliver consistently accurate results. Brushing over maintenance and care almost always results in compromised quality and potentially unsafe operations. Your boring bar is probably an intrinsic part of your shop. Follow these tips to make sure you are treating it accordingly.

Lubrication Matters

Of course, proper machine lubrication is key to efficient and safe boring bar operation. Make sure to check the oil levels in your boring machines regularly, and only use the type of oil recommended by the manufacturer.

Tip Care

The integrity of your tip must be maintained in order to produce accurate boring holes. Keep your tip sharp, and remember to clean the head thoroughly using a brush before each use. It’s a good idea to do a test bore before starting a job to ensure that the settings are correct. It’s better to find out something’s off on a test piece than it is to find out after you’ve already messed up a customer’s order. Protect the tip from coming into contact with the hold down mechanism when securing it.

Read The Manual

Like you would with any tool or piece of machinery, study the manufacturer’s instructions thoroughly to make sure you are aware of all required and suggested maintenance steps. Don’t assume that care instructions are universal; there are almost always specific guidelines that must be followed in order to get your best results.

Store With Care

Why go through painstaking trouble to sharpen and clean your tool, then leave it sitting on a hard—and potentially damaging—surface? Those carbide tips are tough, but they are also designed to produce absolute precision. Even small aberrations on your boring tip can cause uneven holes. Don’t risk it. Always store the bar on a non-abrasive surface such as cardboard or soft wood. Keep it somewhere it won’t get knocked over or rub against other objects.

Make It A Regular Thing

A consistent maintenance schedule is imperative to the life and performance of your boring setup. Add timely inspection and maintenance tasks to your schedule—and stick to them the way you would any important appointment.

A Few Helpful Tips

Proper use goes hand in hand with proper maintenance. Follow these additional tips to help keep your boring equipment working at its full potential.

  • Always follow all common sense and manufacturer-dictated machining safety tips when using or performing maintenance on your tools. Your boring bar being in good working order won’t matter much if you aren’t. Wear appropriate safety gear and make sure your shop is properly ventilated.
  • Don’t cut more material at one time than the manufacturer recommends. Depth guidelines aren’t just casual suggestions, they are specific instructions for keeping your tool working properly and safely.
  • Use only high quality tips. To ensure good results on every job, use the highest quality carbide possible for your boring tip.

As with any cutting tool, the key to keeping your boring bar in optimal condition is to use and maintain it properly. Not following any of these important maintenance steps can result in potentially hazardous working conditions. Shop owners should ensure that operators have been trained in proper care and maintenance of the particular boring bar they are working with. Taking the time to do so now can eliminate costly issues down the road.