OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

268207 Ken Wright <wizard@b...> 2019‑03‑26 Bit brace adapters
Gentle galoots,

I recently had occasion to bore two blind, flat-bottomed holes. 
Couldn't use an auger bit; the lead screw would have poked through.  I
ended up using a modern Forstner bit which I was able to hold in a
brace, but I wasn't happy with the round shank in the two-jaw chuck. 
Does anybody know of an adapter for these round-shank bits?  I see Lee
Valley has one for hex-shank bits, but that's not what I need.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

Ken

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268208 Erik Levin 2019‑03‑26 Re: Bit brace adapters
Ken Wright asked:

> I wasn't happy with the round shank in the two-jaw chuck. 
> Does anybody know of an adapter for these round-shank bits?


There may be other options, but the two that I have used are a file to square
the shank so the jaws could hold better; and using a brace with a chuck intended
for both conventional square-taper brace bits and for round bits (some Yankee
chucks, for example, do a good job).

I should imagine that new jaws could be made for many chucks to better hold
round shank bits, though I have never had the urge, or that a butchered
eggbeater or breast drill could have the chuck and spindle liberated and
modified with a file for the purpose. Or that a butchered bit could have the
tapered-square shank cut off and threaded for a modern thread-mound chuck.

(PORCH PREFERRED SOLUTION) Or, use this as an excuse to get some Forstner bits
with the proper shank.


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268209 John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> 2019‑03‑26 Re: Bit brace adapters
Ken,

There are Forstner-pattern bits  with bitstock shanks to fit into a brace. ( I
found my set,  in their original factory wrappers, at the Stormville NY Flea
Market about 30 years ago.  )

Roy Underhill shows a bitstock-shank Forstner as a way to excavate the recess in
a wooden box to hold a whetstone.

Several makers currently offer Forstners with hexagon shanks, which most brace
chucks will grip.

Alternative:  Start the hole with a hex-shank spade bit. Once the hole is
established, continue boring with the same size spade bit with the center spur
ground wholly or partly off.

Another alternative would be to convert a Russell Jennings pattern bit into a
sort of “blind footed” bit without a center lead screw and reduced spurs,  again
to be used in a hole established with a normal bit.

[Yes, I do realize that that’s not exactly the definition of a blind-footed bit,
which is an open helix with only one cutting edge.]

A rare Cook’s pattern bit would be ideal for this, but don’t let any collectors
catch ya butchering a Cook’s, as they are quite rare.

John Ruth
Who sees far too many auger bits that have been ruined by ignorant sharpening.
268210 Bill Ghio 2019‑03‑26 Re: Bit brace adapters
Traditionally you would use a center bit. You need to go into tool acquisition
mode.

Bill

Sent from my iPad
268211 Kirk Eppler 2019‑03‑26 Re: Bit brace adapters

            
268212 "Adam R. Maxwell via OldTools" <oldtools@s...> 2019‑03‑26 Re: Bit brace adapters
> On Mar 25, 2019, at 17:16 , Ken Wright  wrote:
> 
> Does anybody know of an adapter for these round-shank bits?  I see Lee
> Valley has one for hex-shank bits, but that's not what I need.

I have a square-tanged three-jaw chuck, made by
Goodell Pratt, I believe. It belonged to my great
grandpa, and was missing its coil springs when I
acquired it. It's small, though (1/4" IIRC), and
I wouldn't use a Forstner with it. A PEXTO Samson,
or its lesser competitors the MF Lion and YANKEE
ball-bearing chuck will hold a round-shanked bit
nicely. I've used mine for that purpose, before I
found a set of bitstock Forstners.

Adam
268213 Kirk Eppler 2019‑03‑26 Re: Bit brace adapters
Here is mine, middle left, it may be a GP too.  Mine may only be a 1/4",
won't get to look for a day or two.

https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Woodworking-Tools/i-WnKPP5S

Kirk in HMB, CA
268214 Don Schwartz <dks@t...> 2019‑03‑26 Re: Bit brace adapters
On 2019-03-25 7:02 p.m., Erik Levin via OldTools wrote:
> (PORCH PREFERRED SOLUTION) Or, use this as an excuse to get some Forstner bits
with the proper shank.

Or a brace that will hold the bits you own - Samson et al.

OR both!

Don

-- 
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Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst.
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Being offended doesn't make you right.
268216 Ed Minch <ruby1638@a...> 2019‑03‑26 Re: Bit brace adapters
If you have the proper assortment of braces, there will be a couple in there
that will hold a round shank.  If the bit is big I have had trouble tightening
the chuck enough to hold it and had to resort to the channel lock-with-leather-
piece to make it work.

Ed
268217 John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> 2019‑03‑26 Re: Bit brace adapters
Ed,

(Snipped as per FAQ)

“If the bit is big I have had trouble tightening the chuck enough to hold it and
had to resort to the channel lock-with-leather-piece to make it work.”

To borrow a phrase recently used by Erik the Porch Preferred Solution is to use
this as an occasion to buy another tool!

https://www.amazon.com/Crescent-52910N-Connector-Pliers-10-Inch/dp/B001
70RES8/ref=asc_df_B00170RES8/?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=%7Bcreati
ve%7D&hvpos=%7Badposition%7D&hvnetw=o&hvrand=%7Brandom%7D&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=
e&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=%7Bdevicemodel%7D&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583863979
854798&psc=1">https://www.amazon.com/Crescent-52910N-Connector-Pliers-10-Inch/dp
/B00170RES8/ref=asc_df_B00170RES8/?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=%7Bc
reative%7D&hvpos=%7Badposition%7D&hvnetw=o&hvrand=%7Brandom%7D&hvpone=&hvptwo=&h
vqmt=e&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=%7Bdevicemodel%7D&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-45838
63979854798&psc=1

Get a couple of sets of spare jaws, because they are fairly soft and therefore
wear quickly.

Amazing how many uses you’ll find for this tool!

John Ruth
268218 Ed Minch <ruby1638@a...> 2019‑03‑26 Re: Bit brace adapters
> On Mar 26, 2019, at 8:58 AM, John Ruth  wrote:
> 
> Ed,
> 
> (Snipped as per FAQ)
> 
>  an occasion to buy another tool!
> 
> https://www.amazon.com/Crescent-52910N-Connector-Pliers-10-Inch/dp/B0
0170RES8/ref=asc_df_B00170RES8/?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=%7Bcrea
tive%7D&hvpos=%7Badposition%7D&hvnetw=o&hvrand=%7Brandom%7D&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqm
t=e&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=%7Bdevicemodel%7D&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-45838639
79854798&psc=1">https://www.amazon.com/Crescent-52910N-Connector-Pliers-10-Inch/
dp/B00170RES8/ref=asc_df_B00170RES8/?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=%7
Bcreative%7D&hvpos=%7Badposition%7D&hvnetw=o&hvrand=%7Brandom%7D&hvpone=&hvptwo=
&hvqmt=e&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=%7Bdevicemodel%7D&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-458
3863979854798&psc=1 <https://www.amazon.com/Crescent-52910N-
Connector-Pliers-10-Inch/dp/B00170RES8/ref=asc_df_B00170RES8/?tag=bingshoppinga-
20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=%7Bcreative%7D&hvpos=%7Badposition%7D&hvnetw=o&hvrand=%7B
random%7D&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=%7Bdevicemodel%7D&hvlocint=&h
vlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583863979854798&psc=1">https://www.amazon.com/Crescent-
52910N-Connector-Pliers-10-Inch/dp/B00170RES8/ref=asc_df_B00170RES8/?tag=bingsho
ppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=%7Bcreative%7D&hvpos=%7Badposition%7D&hvnetw=o&hvr
and=%7Brandom%7D&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=%7Bdevicemodel%7D&hvlo
cint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583863979854798&psc=1>
> 
> Get a couple of sets of spare jaws, because they are fairly soft and therefore
wear quickly.
> 


John

good idea

Here is one offered on sale to luthiers that is 1/3 the price

https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Pliers_and_Cutters
/Soft_Touch_Pliers.html?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BS%253A%2520
All%2520Products&utm_term=4578572576575402&utm_content=All%2520Products">https:/
/www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Pliers_and_Cutters/Soft_Touch_Plie
rs.html?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BS%253A%2520All%2520Products
&utm_term=4578572576575402&utm_content=All%2520Products <https://ww
w.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Pliers_and_Cutters/Soft_Touch_Pliers.
html?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BS%3A%20All%20Products&utm_term
=4578572576575402&utm_content=All%20Products">https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_To
ols/Types_of_Tools/Pliers_and_Cutters/Soft_Touch_Pliers.html?utm_source=bing&utm
_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BS%3A%20All%20Products&utm_term=4578572576575402&utm_co
ntent=All%20Products>

Ed

Recent Bios FAQ