Dumb Question: what is a burr?

[Surefire]

What exactly is a "burr" in the metal? I take it that it is some kind of rough spot or imperfection on the surface of the metal? What causes them (poor craftsmanship)?

[Chipperman]

A burr is a sharp projection of metal, from what should be a smooth surface. It can be the result of poor manufacturing, or an acquired imperfection.

[Carl N. Brown]

Watch out for burrs that are the result of peening
(two metal parts slamming together, especially
if the metal parts are too soft for the intended purpose).

[Glockman17366]

A "burr" is metal remnants resulting from a manufacturing processing, primarily machining. Most frequently, you'll see or feel this on an edge. To be a "burr" you should be able to catch your fingernail on it.

Frequently, manufacturing operations will have a "deburr" operation to remove this. This may be a manual operation (using a file to break the edge or a dedicated deburring tool) or by tumble deburring.

If you feel a sharp edge (that is subjective...a "sharp edge" to a nonexperienced person may be a well deburred edge) or metal overhanging an edge, the part has a burr.

[Onmilo]

"Never measure your workpiece until you first clean and DEBURR!"
Quote from my college Professor,,,,,,,,

[Jim Keenan]

"Burr" can also mean somthing that resembles the burr of a plant like the thistle. For example, the Colt Commander or the old Browning High Power will sometimes be said to have a "burr hammer" as opposed to the "spur hammer" of the Model 1911.

Jim

[kjeff50cal]

Burr.... how a West Virginian says bear. Sorry :evil: :D

[Chipperman]

...or what an Alaskan says during the Winter. :p

[Smokey Joe]

My father-in-law, an old-school farmer, always referred to a nut (the kind that goes on a bolt) as a "burr." He called the bolt, a bolt, and the washer, a washer, but he always screwed on a "burr" to hold the bolt onto whatever.

This BTW, whether the nut in question was a square, or "farmer's" nut, or a hex, or "mechanic's" nut.

He would never say where or why he picked up the term.

[cavman]

A. Burr, or Aaron Burr, was Jefferson's vice president and killed Treasure secretary Alexander Hamilton.

On July 11, 1804, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr met on the dueling grounds at Weehawken, New Jersey,

To keep this gun related they chose .56 cal dueling pistols

[Vern Humphrey]

A. Burr, or Aaron Burr, was Jefferson's vice president and killed Treasure secretary Alexander Hamilton.

On July 11, 1804, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr met on the dueling grounds at Weehawken, New Jersey,

To keep this gun related they chose .56 cal dueling pistols

My daughter works in New York City. She needed a new apartment, and found one just across the river in Weehawken, New Jersey. She momentarily forgot the name of the town when telling us. "Well, it's where Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton."

"You live in Balls, New Jersey?":D