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Braces

N

NickM

Old Oak
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My trousers aren't falling down and I no longer worry about the straightness of my teeth, but I've been thinking about braces for a while as I feel like I should have one in my hand tool armoury.

I don't think I can go too far wrong with a Stanley brace and they seem cheap enough from the usual second hand tool outlets, so that's easy enough.

The hard bit (pun intended) is how to find a decent selection of auger bits. I'm probably limited to buying online at the moment and, frankly, wouldn't know what to look for if I had the things in my hands anyway. Should I take a chance on an online purchase of some old bits with a view to sharpening them if needed, or should I look at something new (e.g like this https://www.workshopheaven.com/star-m-combination-auger-bits-7-piece-set.html - would these fit straight into a Stanley brace or would I need some kind of adapter? Being able to use these in my cordless drill would also be useful).

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
 
If you are close enough to Loughborough to collect, I have one that you can have. Not keen in getting involved in posting it though.
 
Lurker":4m9b65nm said:
If you are close enough to Loughborough to collect, I have one that you can have. Not keen in getting involved in posting it though.
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Thanks, that’s very kind of you but unfortunately I’m down in Hampshire.
 
NickM":1o3irslq said:
would these fit straight into a Stanley brace or would I need some kind of adapter? Being able to use these in my cordless drill would also be useful).
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You'd need an adapter. Old hand braces use a square taper shank in a two- or four-jaw chuck designed to accept the tapered bit, while any modern bit is a straight hex shank. Neither type of bit will fit in a chuck designed for the other; even if you can get the jaws to grip there wouldn't be a bearing surface to keep them straight.

The type of adapter you'd be looking for is similar to this one from WH, which also has a pretty clear image of the tapered shank that the old auger bits use.

Another option, though a lot more spendy, would be something like WH's hand brace with a combination chuck that can take square taper, hex or round shank bits.
 
I bought a 10" stanley brace about 18 months ago, for old times sake because I used to use them as an apprentice in the 60's.
Its still sitting on the shelf, waiting for me to think of an excuse not to use a power tool. :eusa-doh:
I suspect it will sit there till the workshop becomes part of my estate :lol:
 
If you want the reassurance of buying top quality new, have a look at these:

https://www.fine-tools.com/auger-bit-co ... shaft.html

They're not cheap but I've got a couple and I can attest to the quality. As far as I am aware, they are the only augers being made these days with the conical square head, so there's no need for an adaptor when using a traditional brace. A set of them would be very expensive and I tend to buy a size as and when I need them.
 
Going on unreliable memory here, but pretty sure I've never had need for an adapter for hex shanks in a brace with yer standard two alligator jaw type chuck. Various other chucks would - my 16" old war horse would definitely demand one, relying on nothing but a square tapered hole and a thumbscrew. But if Nick is going for an under-every-rock 10" Stanley then it shouldn't be a problem.
 
Well worth getting a few screwdriver bits for the brace. The power (torque?) obtainable is phenomenal and very useful for the odd extraction of rusted stubborn screws.
 
Thanks for all the responses. Food for thought.

I think I’ll get a Stanley and make a decision on bits once I’ve got my hands on it.
 
Best way is in person, but it's worth searching eBay for new old stock in the collectable tools category.
For real world woodworking you probably only need a handful of sizes, not a big set, and prices are sometimes quite reasonable, considering the work needed and virtual disappearance of any more being made.
 
AndyT":3mql28vl said:
Best way is in person, but it's worth searching eBay for new old stock in the collectable tools category.
For real world woodworking you probably only need a handful of sizes, not a big set, and prices are sometimes quite reasonable, considering the work needed and virtual disappearance of any more being made.
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Thanks Andy
 
Steve Maskery":1hmn8ewh said:
When I saw the title, I was definitely in Trousers territory.
Braces = Trouser Heaven. Ain't never going back.
S
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I did think of you when I wrote that Steve!
 
When I saw "braces" in the title, I thought....oh good, someone else is getting into oak framing. ;)
 
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