tool diameter is determined by the nominal ball size in which the tool is to operate the Flex home tool is always produced and used in an oversize condition the degree of oversize creates a soft cutting action for example a one-inch flex hone is ordered if a one-inch bore is to be finished and the tool is provided oversized if the bore is between standard Flex hone sizes the next larger standard flex home should be selected the Flex hone tool should be securely held in a collet Chuck or similar holding device it is best to use the shortest shank possible for your application the tool can easily be chucked in a standard 3/8 inch or half inch drill motor drill press milling machine lathe machine tool collet or any rotating spindle the Flex home - always requires the use of a lubricant or honing oil final surface requirements dictate better quality honing fluids be used many fluids may be used for general applications water-soluble oils mineral oils motor oils and cutting and tapping fluids are adequate to keep the tool from loading and to ensure exposure of fresh cutting particles we offer a specially formulated Flex hone oil for this tool although many lubricants are satisfactory we highly recommend using Flex hone oil for the finest finish and longest to life possible solvents should be avoided as they tend to degrade the adhesive bond in the tool the Flex hone tool must be rotating prior to entry and should continue rotating until fully removed from the pot the tool can be run from 1200 to 60 rpm depending on tool diameter the smaller the diameter the higher the spindle speed start with a spindle speed between 500 and 800 rpm you may need to experiment to find the optimum speed for your application never exceed 1,200 rpm the Flex hone tool should have a smooth continuous stroke rate between 120 and 180 inches per minute final stroking may be accelerated to develop a 45 degree crosshatch finish to achieve a more symmetrical deburring pattern on cross holes stroke the tool clockwise first then reverse the spindle and Stroke the tool counter clock I use the minimum honing time needed to achieve the required finish average honing time is 10 to 45 seconds 5 to 60 strokes it is important to thoroughly clean the cylinder ID after using the Flex hone tool use warm soapy water and a nylon brush for best results after drying continue to clean the side of the cylinder with a lint-free cloth until the cloth comes out clean lightly oil the surface after cleaning to prevent corrosion