Honing finishes the inside of a bore with abrasive stones that turn and move up and down at the same time. It brings the bore to an exact size, makes it round and straight, and leaves a fine cross-hatch pattern that holds oil. It is used for hydraulic cylinders, engine bores, bushes and gear bores.
Quick facts
- Size tolerance
- About ±0.005 mm (±0.0002 inch), finer with care
- Roundness and straightness
- A few microns
- Surface finish
- About Ra 0.1–0.8 µm, with cross-hatch
- Stock removal
- Small, about 0.02–0.1 mm (0.0008–0.0039 inch) on diameter
- Bore range
- From a few mm to several hundred mm; long tubes on horizontal honing machines
- Usually priced
- Per piece or per metre of tube
What honing corrects
- Size: brings the bore to its final diameter
- Roundness and taper left by boring or heat treatment
- Straightness along long bores
- Surface: removes tool marks and leaves an oil-holding cross-hatch
- It follows the existing bore axis; it does not move the bore position
Honing, skiving or roller burnishing?
| Honing | Skiving and roller burnishing | |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Abrasive stones | Cutting then rolling the surface |
| Speed | Slower | Very fast for long tubes |
| Corrects geometry | Yes, very well | Less; follows the tube |
| Typical use | Precision bores, engines, valves | Hydraulic cylinder tubes in volume |
What to tell the workshop
- Bore diameter, tolerance and length
- Roundness, straightness and Ra required
- Cross-hatch angle if specified
- Material and hardness
- Stock left after boring
- Quantity
Need honing done?
Post your requirement free. Workshops that take your kind of work see it and get in touch. You only talk to the ones that fit.
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Questions
- What is a honing cross-hatch?
- The criss-cross scratch pattern left by the stones moving up and down while turning. It holds a thin film of oil, which helps seals and piston rings run without wear.
- Can honing correct the position of a bore?
- No. Honing follows the existing bore. Position must be right after boring; honing then fixes size, roundness, straightness and finish.
- How much material does honing remove?
- Usually about 0.02–0.1 mm (0.0008–0.0039 inch) on diameter. Leaving more makes honing slow and expensive.
The figures on this page are typical values for guidance, written by Diemeco from standard engineering practice. They are not a specification: confirm grades and properties with the relevant standard or the supplier's mill test certificate, and tolerances with your workshop. Last checked 16 October 2026.