>For those with experience I have a question. Looking at various boring bars there appears to be three common ways of attaching the cutting tips. One is to drill a hole, insert the bit and secure with a set screw. Another is to grind a flat on the bar and secure the tip to the bar with a washer and machine screw. The third is to silver solder or braze a tip to the flat. Is one of these superior to the others or is it simply a matter of choice?
>I think it depends on how you entend to sharpen the cutter bits. If it is permanently fix onto the bar it would be more difficult to sharpen than if held on by set screw. Al most all mine are held with set screw. In my opinion and for my use this method is bset.
You missed one. Put the bit in a hole the right size and glue it in with either CA or Epoxy. It can be removed if necessary by heating the bit.
I've done all of them. It really depends on 2 things. They kind of cutter your using and how your going to sharpen it. I use 3/16" HSS cutters in my boring bar. They are fastened in with a set screw. I can remove the bit to sharpen. I have one bar that was glued in. I simply remove the bar from the boring bar handle and sharpen it with the cutter still in the bar. Either one works pretty well
For larger scraper shaped cutters I have mounted them with the flat area you mentioned. I prefer the cutters with a slot because you only have to loosen the screw. On cutters with a hole you have to remove the screw to sharpen.
I've also mounted the large flat cutters in a slot that I cut in the bar and hold it in place with set screws.
Last but not least is silver soldering or brazing the cutter to the bar. I do this with my smaller cutters that I use for hollowing ornaments. I don't solder the bits in my boring bars because I prefer to sharpen them without the bar attached.
