What is it? Tool question...
 

We found a box of these (along with other "things") in our mechanic's shop. The shaft at the top spins inside the threaded outer (black) barrel. There is what looks like a brand new router bit recessed inside the barrel, held in by spring force. The bottom "foot" is made of nylon.

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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1301589437.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1301589462.jpg

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:It's a fritzler bearing cutter! :D

It's all about the ball bearing these days.

Looks like a countersink.

Cuts recesses for flush rivets. Kind of a metal workers version of a countersink bit. I have one.

Is that like a muffler bearing??? :)

As for the countersink, why wouldn't there be a point on the bit?

Wow - there must be some big heads on those rivets, as the bit is an inch in diameter!

Because you drill or punch the hole first. In assembly, there might be a Cleco clamp in the hole before you countersink it and rivet. Yeah, big planes get big rivets. Mine is only about 7/16ths" across at the deepest setting.

Yes, you can adjust the depth on that tool.

I used one of those once...she wasn't into it...

:)

No, it's not a reamer.

It's for cutting sheet metal for counter sunk rivets on aircraft or anything else you want. Should also have a thingey that looks like that but has a flush/flat cutter to trim the rivet heads off flush. Want to sell it?

Yep I have several of those in different sizes along with several sizes of cutter chamfer bits. The pilot is sized to fit perfectly in a hole drilled to fit aircraft rivets. They are adjustable to allow a perfect depth of chamfer so that the flush aircraft rivets once set will be flush with the skin. You hold the outer section so that it does not mar the aluminum while the bit inside spins. The section you hold on to sits squarely on the material you are chamfering thus it keeps the chamfer square to the hole.

Like in the movie "The Aviator" when Howard Hughes wanted all of the rivets flush??? :rolleyes:

Cool looking tool. If you've ever tried countersinking a hole in aluminum you'll appreciate this tool.

Is there a makers mark on it? I bet it's US made.

I thought they dimpled aircraft alum for flush rivets not cut the alum?

......but then I built a wood airplane...what do I know about this fancy pants metal stuff.....

Yes - it's made by Zephyr Manufacturing in Inglewood, CA. A quick Google search indicates they make aircraft tools, so all the above makes sense!

Sounds like the person who owned the toolbox worked in Long Beach a while back.

Apparently the prior principles here were known to buy up a guy's tools if he was exiting business.

thin stuff is dimpled, the thicker stuff has to be countersunk.

That is a countersink with a microstop.