Frequently Asked Questions about the Dreamer®
What is the Dreamer®? The Dreamer® is a helical combination drill reamer. Our company founder invented the tool in the 1950’s, and we have been the world leader in this product category ever since.
What does the Dreamer® do? The Dreamer® provides for precision drilling and reaming in a one-step operation. It saves at least 50% in setup costs. It provides for superior hole size tolerance and hole finish. Because it eliminates the second operation of locating a reamer over a previously drilled hole, it typically provides for greater accuracy in hole location. Customers report achieving gains in machining and fabrication precision, as well as achieving significant productivity improvements and economic savings. The tool is used extensively in the aircraft, aerospace, and naval industries, screw machine manufacturing, precision machining, automotive, consumer product manufacturing, and general metal fabrication.
How does it work? The Dreamer® is composed of a four flute helical reamer, with a sized self-centering drill pilot. Depending on the major diameter of the tool (the reamer portion), the drill portion cuts a hole that is between .010” to .015” undersize, and the reamer portion then reams the piloted hole to final size and burnishes the hole for improved finish.
What is its recommended use? For best results, we recommend the Dreamer® be used in through hole applications where the thickness of the material is equal to or less than the length of the drill pilot. We also highly recommend a reamer bushing be used in conjunction with the tool to minimize deflection and runout. However, we have many customers that use the tool in ways exceeding optimal specifications, and report excellent performance.
Is it a precision tool? We manufacture the Dreamer® to tolerances of +.0002”, -0.0000 for most sizes. We can manufacture it to +.0001” on request.
What sizes do Dreamers® come in? Dreamer® standard sizes include fractional sizes from 1/16” to 5/8”, number sizes from 1-52, and all letter sizes from A-Z. We produce specials in almost any diameter, and the full range of metric sizes.
What lengths? We make Dreamers® in standard sizes in stub, jobber, taper, and aircraft size.
Any other sizes and lengths? We make specials in nearly any size – full metric size range, number sizes from 53 to 80, fractional sizes greater than 5/8”, decimal sizes, etc. We also make custom lengths. You specify it, chances are we’ve made it before.
Do you make Dreamers® in materials other than HSS? Yes, our standard tool comes in both HSS and M42 Cobalt. We also make Dreamers® in solid carbide.
We have specialized requirements. Can I change other features about the tool? Yes. We’ve been in business for 50 years. Send us a print or specification sheet, and we’ve most likely made a similar tool previously. We can change the drill pilot length, make a non-cutting pilot, change the drillpoint angle, change the reamer step size, put tangs or 3-flats on the shank, vary flute length, etc. We design our standard Dreamer® according to specifications that we’ve found provides for the best overall performance and utility. However, we don’t know your specific applications or conditions, and are glad to modify the tool according to your needs. Call us or your distributor to discuss how we can customize the tool to maximize your productivity.
Do you make a Dreamer® for use in composites? We produce a four flute, straight-flute Dreamer® in solid carbide that works very well in composites, fiberglass, plastics, and abrasive materials that typically quickly dull machining steels.
Will a double-margin drill achieve similar results as the Dreamer®? In a word -- NO. There are some instances of companies claiming that a double margin drill will achieve sufficient hole tolerances and finishes to make reaming unnecessary. Let's attribute this to liberal marketing embellishment, and be mindful that just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's true. We count among our loyal customers some of the largest and most sophisticated manufacturing companies in the world, involved in critical aerospace and defense applications. If a simple double margin drill could achieve acceptable tolerances and hole finishes, the Dreamer® would not have enjoyed its 50+ years of customer loyalty. And, we add, the entire reamer tool category would have gone the way of the buggy whip.
Where are Dreamers® made? We make the Dreamer® proudly in the good ol’ USA. Always have, always will. All of our tool steels and carbide are, to the best of our knowledge, US, EU or Japan sourced (we don’t always control where our blanks originate from.) We don't use mystery metal of uncertain composition and certification that arise from some Asian countries.
How do I order a Dreamer®? Call us or your local distributor. Provide the major diameter of the hole you’re looking to achieve (e.g, 3/16”, letter “O”, number 10, or .2545), the material, the length, and the quantity, and we will provide you a quote from there. You don’t need to know the geometry of your tool to order. An order for a ¼” Dreamer® will result in a tool that provides a one-step reamed hole to with excellent internal hole finish.
Where do I order a Dreamer®? Call your favorite distributor. Call us if you would like to know names of distributors in your area.
What is the Dreamer®? The Dreamer® is a helical combination drill reamer. Our company founder invented the tool in the 1950’s, and we have been the world leader in this product category ever since.
What does the Dreamer® do? The Dreamer® provides for precision drilling and reaming in a one-step operation. It saves at least 50% in setup costs. It provides for superior hole size tolerance and hole finish. Because it eliminates the second operation of locating a reamer over a previously drilled hole, it typically provides for greater accuracy in hole location. Customers report achieving gains in machining and fabrication precision, as well as achieving significant productivity improvements and economic savings. The tool is used extensively in the aircraft, aerospace, and naval industries, screw machine manufacturing, precision machining, automotive, consumer product manufacturing, and general metal fabrication.
How does it work? The Dreamer® is composed of a four flute helical reamer, with a sized self-centering drill pilot. Depending on the major diameter of the tool (the reamer portion), the drill portion cuts a hole that is between .010” to .015” undersize, and the reamer portion then reams the piloted hole to final size and burnishes the hole for improved finish.
What is its recommended use? For best results, we recommend the Dreamer® be used in through hole applications where the thickness of the material is equal to or less than the length of the drill pilot. We also highly recommend a reamer bushing be used in conjunction with the tool to minimize deflection and runout. However, we have many customers that use the tool in ways exceeding optimal specifications, and report excellent performance.
Is it a precision tool? We manufacture the Dreamer® to tolerances of +.0002”, -0.0000 for most sizes. We can manufacture it to +.0001” on request.
What sizes do Dreamers® come in? Dreamer® standard sizes include fractional sizes from 1/16” to 5/8”, number sizes from 1-52, and all letter sizes from A-Z. We produce specials in almost any diameter, and the full range of metric sizes.
What lengths? We make Dreamers® in standard sizes in stub, jobber, taper, and aircraft size.
Any other sizes and lengths? We make specials in nearly any size – full metric size range, number sizes from 53 to 80, fractional sizes greater than 5/8”, decimal sizes, etc. We also make custom lengths. You specify it, chances are we’ve made it before.
Do you make Dreamers® in materials other than HSS? Yes, our standard tool comes in both HSS and M42 Cobalt. We also make Dreamers® in solid carbide.
We have specialized requirements. Can I change other features about the tool? Yes. We’ve been in business for 50 years. Send us a print or specification sheet, and we’ve most likely made a similar tool previously. We can change the drill pilot length, make a non-cutting pilot, change the drillpoint angle, change the reamer step size, put tangs or 3-flats on the shank, vary flute length, etc. We design our standard Dreamer® according to specifications that we’ve found provides for the best overall performance and utility. However, we don’t know your specific applications or conditions, and are glad to modify the tool according to your needs. Call us or your distributor to discuss how we can customize the tool to maximize your productivity.
Do you make a Dreamer® for use in composites? We produce a four flute, straight-flute Dreamer® in solid carbide that works very well in composites, fiberglass, plastics, and abrasive materials that typically quickly dull machining steels.
Will a double-margin drill achieve similar results as the Dreamer®? In a word -- NO. There are some instances of companies claiming that a double margin drill will achieve sufficient hole tolerances and finishes to make reaming unnecessary. Let's attribute this to liberal marketing embellishment, and be mindful that just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's true. We count among our loyal customers some of the largest and most sophisticated manufacturing companies in the world, involved in critical aerospace and defense applications. If a simple double margin drill could achieve acceptable tolerances and hole finishes, the Dreamer® would not have enjoyed its 50+ years of customer loyalty. And, we add, the entire reamer tool category would have gone the way of the buggy whip.
Where are Dreamers® made? We make the Dreamer® proudly in the good ol’ USA. Always have, always will. All of our tool steels and carbide are, to the best of our knowledge, US, EU or Japan sourced (we don’t always control where our blanks originate from.) We don't use mystery metal of uncertain composition and certification that arise from some Asian countries.
How do I order a Dreamer®? Call us or your local distributor. Provide the major diameter of the hole you’re looking to achieve (e.g, 3/16”, letter “O”, number 10, or .2545), the material, the length, and the quantity, and we will provide you a quote from there. You don’t need to know the geometry of your tool to order. An order for a ¼” Dreamer® will result in a tool that provides a one-step reamed hole to with excellent internal hole finish.
Where do I order a Dreamer®? Call your favorite distributor. Call us if you would like to know names of distributors in your area.
