Machine Sunnen rod hone - usefulness (other than servicing con rods)?

[Chipper5783]

Any folks here using a Sunnen rod hone? I have opportunity to acquire one, I used one in trade school way back when. They seem very cool and work great for what they are designed for - however the shop is getting crowded for another dust collector. I get a few small revenue jobs (almost always on the CNCs, occasionally some specific task on a manual machine). I’m pretty confident machining bores to half thou, sometimes taking a few licks with a spring hone.

Do you have a Sunnen style hone? What do you use it for?

 

[Gearhead88]

The one here is used for engine projects , it's tooled up pretty good , sadly it's an expensive machine to outfit ...... almost anything Sunnen on ebay is super expensive .
To fill the oil reservoir is now sneaking up close to a thousand dollars , There are ways to extend the life of the oil .
The oil that Sunnen sells is a specialty product with the correct formulation to promote cutting action , extend the life of abrasives , prevent the loading up of the abrasive stones , substituting the oil for a cheaper alternative is not advised .
I used to send out precision honing work or do it where I was employed , now I do it at home where I have control of the accuracy .
This one gets used for cylinders - the removable type , connecting rods - big or small end , bushings & bearing races

 

[Chipper5783]

Yeah, wow. Thank you for getting back to me. Pretty tough to get on spec, just because it is cool and would be handy to have. Even if the machine were free (and the one I was entertaining is not), it would be a tough go ($1000 for a charge of oil, $$ for each mandrel). It isn’t quite that handy/cool.

 

[Gearhead88]

Is it a bare machine or does it include any mandrels ?

 

[Gearhead88]

Abrasives are not cheap either , course , medium , fine , it gets spendy

 

[Chipper5783]

A bare machine.

 

[Gearhead88]

Benchtop of floor model ?