Thanks: 0
Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 15 of 19
Thread: Hand drills, braces and bits
-
27th August 2020, 12:15 AM #1
Hand drills, braces and bits
Found myself getting more and more interested in going unpowered for drilling lately, I have a Stanley A78 MK2 which I'm quite fond of and a handful of Mathieson bits in varying states of sharpness but missing a lot of common sizes.
Does anyone still make auger bits of decent quality or should I just continue snapping up old ones on eBay and the like?
I have a breast drill of unknown make which works brilliantly as well, thinking of giving it a good going over and making it new again. Anyone know what sort of oil or grease would be ideal for the gearbox? Needs a new handle as well but that shouldn't be too tough.
-
27th August 2020 12:15 AM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Posts
- Many
-
27th August 2020, 07:24 AM #2Senior Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2010
- Location
- Sebastopol, California, USA
- Posts
- 180
I don't know, but I would think any light bearing grease, of the sort you'd find at your local auto parts store or hardware store should do.
As to the auger bits: I don't know who's making them, but, if your area has a decent stock of bits available at estate/yard/boot/whatever they're called in Oz sales, I'd do that. Look, obviously, for shiny if you can. If there's a flat surface available, roll them along the surface and look for any bumpiness as they go, which would indicate a bent bit. Make sure the screw tip's not munged up and there's still a decent amount of spur left. The rest can usually be fixed with an auger bit file.
And, wandering from your questions, if you're enjoying cholesterol-powered drilling, watch for a push drill. There's nothing better for the sort of small holes needed for the screws on hardware (hinges and the like).
-
27th August 2020, 08:57 AM #3
Sutton make auger bits. They have a hex shank, so your brace will need to be able to clamp them, but I have found they work very well.
I unexpectedly found that I too prefer to use a hand auger with larger bits in furniture pieces. For me, the controlled progress allows me to see issues developing and stop before damage may be done. And with a sharp bit, the little lead screw actually pulls the bit through the wood, so very little pressure is required.
-
27th August 2020, 11:13 AM #4SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Sep 2009
- Location
- victor harbor sa
- Posts
- 317
Hi bueller,
have you tried contacting the local tool club,
hand tool preservation society of w.a.
Graham.
-
27th August 2020, 05:51 PM #5Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2012
- Location
- Far Western NSW
- Posts
- 60
It took me a few years to put together a complete set of auger bits (in 16ths of an inch increments). Most of mine I picked up on ebay one at a time but some I bought from The Old Toolshop in England. I just checked and they still have quite a lot of sizes available made by Clico in Sheffield who went out of business about five years ago I believe. They are Jennings pattern bits with the snail. I have three of their bits and they are very nice. Mine are a mixed bag but most are old Titans made in Tasmania. I make toys in my shed and I like the peace and quiet and running a power drill (or anything else with an electric motor) completely destroys the "serenity". I'm not in a hurry so drilling, planing and cutting by hand doesn't bother me. Good luck getting your set together.
Mick.
-
27th August 2020, 07:13 PM #6
If you search the forum there are a couple of threads with people showing each other's braces and egg beater drills might be of interest.
Sent from my SM-A505YN using Tapatalk
-
27th August 2020, 07:15 PM #7
Brace fanatics was the title of one
Sent from my SM-A505YN using Tapatalk
-
27th August 2020, 07:42 PM #8SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Oct 2009
- Location
- South Africa
- Posts
- 950
Here it is:
Brace Fanatics
-
27th August 2020, 09:56 PM #9
What Mick says. I think Clico were the last company in the western world making traditional tapered square shank auger bits - but they sold their plane making division (Clifton) and then closed up shop at the end of 2014 IIRC. So NOS or second hand are your best options.
Cheers, Vann.Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
-
28th August 2020, 01:22 AM #10
The best augers are made by Wood Owl in Japan. These are tri-cut. Fast and clean.
They work very well in my North Bros/Bell braces.
Star-M (for drill press) at front and Wood Owl (for brace) at rear. Made by the same company.
After this come augers by Russell Jennings ...
... and Irwin in third place ...
Regards from Perth
DerekVisit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.
-
28th August 2020, 09:52 AM #11GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Oct 2018
- Location
- Dandenong Ranges
- Posts
- 1,917
Hi Derek. If that box of Jennings augers is complete, that is a great find!
-
28th August 2020, 10:34 AM #12
MA, I bought it 20 years ago, and they were more available and cheaper then. Where’s the time machine?
Regards from Perth
DerekVisit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.
-
28th August 2020, 04:55 PM #13
Thanks for all the feedback everyone! Lot to consider.
-
28th August 2020, 05:08 PM #14
I think you need to talk with Boringgeoff
-
29th August 2020, 06:21 PM #15
Pictures to come soon but the breast drill rides again, BobL was kind enough to donate a handle and I've already started taking it back to bare metal in preparation for fresh paint. I'm not going crazy with it though, the bearings are in good shape so I'm going to leave the gears in situ and mask them off for paint.
Still looking around at auger bits but have my eye on a few sets now. Will share when I've got my hands on some.
Similar Threads
-
Braces & Bits
By Morbius in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWEREDReplies: 6Last Post: 8th November 2014, 10:14 PM -
Forstner bits for braces
By jmk89 in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWEREDReplies: 2Last Post: 20th November 2009, 11:20 PM -
Braces ,Augers and Spoon bits
By Woodlee in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWEREDReplies: 6Last Post: 29th September 2007, 10:28 AM -
Hand Drills/Braces
By Woodlice in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWEREDReplies: 4Last Post: 15th May 2005, 04:02 AM