Braces & Bits *LINK*

I shoulda known...

Mike Lietzow

>....it was you who bought that brace from Sandy. I was thinking about buying that brace since it went onto his list but couldn't pull the trigger on it. Now that you've completed the set, the rest of us have a chance of finding some. :-)

Cheers,

Mike - who got to use his 8" sweep Fray/Spofford brace quite a bit over the weekend

Nice Collection

Todd O. Cronkhite Native of Maine

>of braces you've got there Jonathan. Do you use them or do they live behind glass?

I've got a Spofford? brace here, or one like it at least, but I can't find any writing on it. Dosen't have pewter bands on the handle neither. I don't use it because I couldn't keep the bits tight in it, perhaps I was using the wrong shank style eh?

Whats that action you got going on the left corner of you bench? Looks like some type of turnbuckle set up or something.

Todd O.

Re: Nice Collection *LINK*

Jonathan Peck - N.Y.

>Well if I ever get down the basement stairs for more than five minutes before swmbo calls my name I might actually use all of them except for the Fray & Pigg with the large pewter rings. It just wouldn't seem right to use that one. Who knows, someone might even figure out what it is and get as much enjoyment out of it as I do after I let it go (from my dead hands as they close the lid).

The bench is a real beater. Think it started out as a cedar picnic table. I found the tongue and groove pieces all over the basement when I moved into the house. The triangular cutout in the corner is where I stash finish nails. I drilled tons of dogholes. Can't have enough of those. Can't have enough stops, dogs or hold downs either. The Lee Valley wonder dog is more versatile than an end vice (IMHO), so I ain't got one of those, but I do have a tail vice on my other bench where I do most of my planing. This ain't no fusssy work of art bench, just scrape and re-surface every now and then. Geeez, took me about eight hours to make. Some day I might even set the face vise correctly, but I don't do any edge jointing here, so no big deal.

Spofford style braces are great. Bit changes are a snap, and they have really good "feel" for the bit. I like this chuck better than most chucks on ratcheting braces. Although, there's no shortage of those hanging from the rafters. PS & W makes some really attractive braces and the Samson chuck is a good one. My go to is a Stanley #813 and this is a real well made piece. Don't really like any of the M-F's, and that cheesy red colored wood makes we wanna chuck. I have'nt tried any of the Yankee braces, but their eggbeater's rocket up to the top of the gizmosity meter. You gotta get your hands on a #1555. It's huge and quite an excellently made drill. Once you try one, your M-F eggbeaters will become orphans, but I do keep one of the LRRCW (M-F no. 2 type K through D) models around cause it's pretty neat.

Rant off - sorry you asked..eh?


LRRCW

Is there a site...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>that describes types and styles of Fray/Spofford/Pig

braces?

Re: Nice Collection

Jack Guzman from Maine

>I actualy find it quite informative. Lots of info out there on planes and chisels but not much on braces. I've been picking up interesting ones as I find them. Nothing special as yet,just getting started. I really like your set. Hopefully I'll have something like that some day. I especially like those brass and wood ornate ones that go for $1000 on ebay. I got me a cheap one and I think I'll try to make my own fancy one some time.Just have to figure out how to make or buy the hardware. Maybe buy a basket case and renew it. ---Jack

Rant?

Todd O. Cronkhite Native of Maine

>Are you kidding me Jonathan, I found your post to be very imformative and I appreciate your time in making such a long and informative reply.

I never fully understood that LRRCW deal, but thanks to you I now do.

I'm like Jack, I just pick up ones that I find for just a few $ and are what I consider to be interesting. The more I realize it I am merely an "accumulator" as Todd Hughes described it, of most tools. Gotta tell you that particular post of his really opened my eyes to myself.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh well, so much to learn, so little Time. ;~)

I tell The Boss that she should be pleased that I endulge in this madness as it keeps me out of bars, and from behind bars. Wasn't so many years ago that this wasn't the case. Pretty easy choice in my opinion Rust, or Wine, Women and song? RUST! Hands down.

I'll have to educate myself more on the subject of the Fray's and Piggs that you like so much. Where where they made and what Timeframe?

Todd O.

Check out... *LINK*

Jonathan Peck - N.Y.

>Sandy's brace page. I really don't know alot about braces, but I know what I like. I used to bottom feed on ebay, looking for old non ratcheting stuff with vague descriptions. George Langford would e-mail me when I got something interesting and ask for patent numbers or any makers marks. He would then share any info he dug up and has been making a type study page on his website.


Sandy's brace page

Oh No! *LINK*

Jonathan Peck - N.Y.

>Those ultimatum braces are pretty snazzy. I'd hate to go down that slope, just ask Ben Knebel. Funny thing about braces is I'm not sure what to do with them if they ain't useable. I've piled up a few Rose pat'd braces, a Taylor, a possible Wilson, a Backus, Barber's impr'd, and a couple nifty eggbeaters like the M-F jewelers (teeny weeny)drill. I throw the junk in a box, and it's just about filled up.

Look out for these chucks for users. Left to right - M-F 771 Lion chuck, P S & W 1202 Samson chuck, Stanley 813 copy of the Samson/Lion, or any of the later Stanleys like the 945 will hold twist bits.

You could try and pick up a copy of The American Pat'd Brace, or that book about ultimatum braces (It's boxed up now and I forget the name....Ben?). With ebay, and everyone thinking they got a goldmine that Grandpa left rusting in the basement, braces thought to be rare have been popping up alot more. Anyways, good to now I aint the only crazy out here.

Later

Jonathan


Chucks