Fray Whimble brace *LINK*

Re: Fray Whimble brace

Hank Knight from SC

>Yo Todd,

As you know, I'm less than an expert on braces (very much less), so I have a question about the Fray brace. It appears to me that it would be awkward to use a brace whose top handle was not on the same axis as the bit. How does that work?

Hank

Re: Fray Whimble brace

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native, Presently Away

>Hank I have no idea how this thing works, or what it's special purpose is. I thought the Fray collectors would like to see it anyhow. I have one of these Whimbles, but I only got it because I didn't have have and this one was cheap,$6 IIRC. I chucked up a bit one time and tried to bore a hole, but gave up as it was just to wobbly. so either it's a great speciality tool, or somebodys Grand Idea that went bad. T.O.

Re: Fray Whimble brace

Todd Hughes

>I think the idea behind a Whimble brace , a brace that most brace makers made I believe, was that you could use both hands to help turn the brace thus giving you more power. Since the top pad is off set the hand that holds it can also power the brace which would be impossiable with a regular brace.

Not a common brace but probably not because it didn't work but because most brace users didn't need the extra power. Interestingly I often see brace like Automobile socket and tire tools and thier handles are almost always off set like this because thier users did need the power.....Todd

Re: Fray Whimble brace

Hank Knight from SC

>Thanks for the explanation, Todd. Now that you mention it, I do recall seeing automotive tools with offset handles. In fact, I have one of those scissor-type jacks in my car that has an offset handle. It feels a little wierd, but it works. It has a flexible joint between the head and the shaft to allow for the off-axis movement of the shaft, I don't know how you would apply that concept in a woodworking brace. I guess oyu just have to be careful to hold it in line.

Hank