filing ram rod pipe rings

[Bob Rearley]

Gentlemen,
What files do you use to file the rings in your ram rod pipes?
Thanks, Bob

[smart dog]

hi,
I use a small triangular file.

dave

[flehto]

I start by pressing the pipe onto a rod and chucking the rod/pipe in a drill press and use a surface gage w/ a sharp pointer to etch  grooves into the pipe dia at the proper spacing as the spindle is rotated. When the rod and pipe are removed from the DP, a 30 degree needle slitting file easily rides in the grooves to the desired depth and then a triangle file forms the band. 220 grit paper smoothes the bands & grooves and #0000 steel wool polishes  to a nice luster.  The pipe shown is one piece  and was made as stated above and all work  was completed while the pipe  was on the rod...easily chucked in a bench vise......Fred