Expansion (expansive) augers, a much discarded asset.

[formariz 11,865]

One comes across expansion auger bits all the time. Usually found with all kinds of rubble in flea markets and peoples basements. Many are in relatively new condition where most are just rusty. Asides the main reason today where if one needs to drill a hole anywhere from one to three inches an immediate trip is made to Home Depot to buy a hole saw, the actual reason is that most people just do not know  how to use it correctly. Also if used correctly when it eventually dulls it is not understood how to sharpen it correctly. At that point it becomes frustrating and useless and to the bottom of the pile it goes for the rest of its life. 
 

 Sharpened and used correctly it is a valuable tool to have if one does any type of woodworking or carpentry. It will drill holes all the way to 3 inches and any custom size hole in between which would be impossible with any other bit. There are many different types out there , my favorite being the solid head Jennings . New they are less expensive than any hole saw. 
 

 The secret to them is mainly the screw. It has to be sharp and clean  so it will pull auger constantly into wood. There is absolutely no way one can drill any hole over 1-1/4” by merely applying pressure.  Absolute sharpness and correct angle of cutter are essential also. In addition one should use a large throw brace for leverage and use it with the ratcheting feature by merely pulling brace’s arm towards the body. It is a mistake to attempt a full turn with brace. It it not only extremely difficult if possible at all but what that accomplishes is the stripping of wood ahead of screw by tilting brace with the effort needed to make a full turn. Once that happens it will no longer pull auger in .

Jennings solid head on left . Drills up to 3”. 

 Cutter solidly enclosed on Jennings. It is precisely screw adjustable. 

 Large 12” throw brace. Courtesy of @Jeff-C175

 Clean entry 2-1/2” hole

 

 Efficient quick cutting

 1/16” thick shavings

 Opposite side clean exit. Faster and cheaper than a trip to Home Depot. 

 

Edited February 1, 2022 by formariz
Title correction

[Skwerl58 634]

Great tool for sure. My dad gave me one with other bits and braces a couple of years ago. He gave them to me because he knows I appreciate and take care of my tools, especially my vintage stuff. Thanks for sharing your tools and knowledge with us!

[ri702bill 7,361]

And that 12" throw brace looks like it has the built-in ratchet - great in tight spots. (I have my Dad's)

Bill

[ebinmaine 63,272]

Once again I've learned something without even trying to do so. 

 

 

Interesting piece of information about the ratcheting mechanism and how to appropriately use it.

 

Thanks for taking the time to write these posts out Cas.

 

I'll be sure to share this with my female woodworking partner in crime...

[formariz 11,865]

27 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Once again I've learned something without even trying to do so. 

 

 

Interesting piece of information about the ratcheting mechanism and how to appropriately use it.

 

Thanks for taking the time to write these posts out Cas.

 

I'll be sure to share this with my female woodworking partner in crime...

Unless one is drilling holes up to about 1/2" , it becomes difficult to take a full revolution with brace. With the effort needed which will be inconsistent along the the full 360 degrees it will cause one to tilt brace reducing accuracy of hole being drilled . Place your left hand ( if right handed) on top of the brace pad and then your forehead on your hand .Make brace plumb to work. Brace will now stay in that position unless you move your body. Then using the ratcheting function pull arm of brace towards you in short strokes creating the cutting action. Notice I said pull and not push. All motion towards ones center of gravity (abdomen) is more controlled and stronger unlike away from it. Main philosophy in Japanese woodworking. That is the reason all their saws and planes are used pulling towards ones body and not pushed. It is a proven correct philosophy for thousands of years.

 

I am glad that this information is appreciated and useful. No big secrets here. All long proven useful methods just forgotten in time and run over by impatient modern methods and way of life. It has been one of my missions in life to keep it alive a little longer and pass it on as often as possible to those willing to absorb it.

[Handy Don 10,656]

Was fortunate as a kid to work on building a house with my Dad and Grandfather and a (to me at the time) OLD carpenter . I learned about these bits by wanting to help and ending up with what I now know was scut work--drilling holes in the studs and joists for BX wiring and for plumbing runs!

But I sure learned how to hold a brace and use the ratchet!

And I still have those very tools.

[stevasaurus 22,235]

I know I have a couple of those bits in my drill box...also have the ratchet brace.  

[formariz 11,865]

3 hours ago, Skwerl58 said:

My dad gave me one with other bits and braces a couple of years ago.

The one shown being used was my fathers. Its been in use for over 60 years. Its actually the only one I really use. It has never gathered any rust. Maintained clean by use.

[formariz 11,865]

2 hours ago, ri702bill said:

And that 12" throw brace looks like it has the built-in ratchet - great in tight spots. (I have my Dad's)

Bill

This one was courtesy of @Jeff-C175. It’s is a brand unknown to most but popular in its day as a quality tool. Peck Stow& Wilcox. It’s a heavy duty brace having the patented ball bearing chuck” Samson”. Probably the best chuck ever made. Pad on it also has ball bearings. 

 

[Jeff-C175 7,195]

25 minutes ago, formariz said:

Peck Stow& Wilcox

 

I'm sure you found this in your searches Cas, but here for anyone interested is a little history.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=2721

 

I love thumbing through antique catalogs, here's one for them from 1910

 

https://archive.org/details/PeckStowWilcoxCoCatalogNo10/page/n27/mode/2up

 

25 minutes ago, formariz said:

courtesy of @Jeff-C175.

 

I'm real happy you're lovin' it Cas!  and happy it's in a better place than it was!

I believe, but not certain, that tool belonged to my wife's Grandfather who worked as a ship builder and carpenter.

It probably dates to a broad range from late 20s to perhaps the 50s.

 

Maybe even older... looking through the catalog above, starting on page 170, there are numerous braces shown.

 

Edited February 1, 2022 by Jeff-C175

[formariz 11,865]

6 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said:

It probably dates to a broad range from late 20s to perhaps the 50s

I am very familiar with them owning a few . The date range on this one is actually rather narrow since right around 1920 they stopped using this chuck and around the same time they started using the ring ratchet mechanism this one has rather than their proprietary system that is my favorite. So it is from the 1920 plus or minus a couple of years. 
 

From them below is my favorite brace ever. Extremely rare 6” sweep with their beautiful ratcheting system and patented chuck also. Cocobolo handles. It is from 1879. This one is in incredible condition. It has been loved all of its life. I use it all the time to drive screws. One of those few tools that one just wants to hold all the time. It’s minute size as far as braces go , the precision with which everything works and just the quality feel of it is something to admire after 143 years. 

 

 

 

Edited February 2, 2022 by formariz

[Jeff-C175 7,195]

8 minutes ago, formariz said:

This one is in incredible condition

 

WOW!  I'd say!  

 

And kudos on the very nice photography too!  Always a pleasure to view your work whether wood, or photons.