I recently found a lot of hand brace bits at a very good price that were looking interesting and in good condition. That lot contained an assortment of different bits but I was mainly interested by the center bit set. I already have some of them but wanted to complete my set as I like these bits.
 |
| The brace bits lot I received. |
When I received the package I was surprised to see that the center bits are in very good condition. The cutting edge and center point are sharp and the bits ready to be used.
Beyond these center bits, this lot contained some interesting items. The following picture is what I think to be a very old variable size bit, or maybe a washer cutter, I am not sure.
 |
| Is is a variable size drill bit or a washer cutter? |
The next picture shows two other unusual bits that I believe are used to enlarge existing holes.
 |
| Bits to enlarge holes? |
If anybody has some input regarding these two, please raise your voice!
Awesome - I'd love to find some center bits.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about the middle picture, but without a center pin keeping it in place on wood, I can't see how it would work as a variable size drill. Perhaps it is used to scribe circles.
The lower picture is definitely a pair of tapered reamers, made to enlarge a hold or to create a conical hole from a cylindrical hole. They look too small to be used for mortises (to fit the leg tenons) in a chair seat. Aldren Watson's book "Hand Tools, Their Ways and Workings" says that reamers were often used on thin gauge metals, rather than wood. The reamer shown in that book is shorter and has a much steeper angle than yours - I have a couple of these shorter reamers and was told they were used for deburring copper pipe ends.
Indeed without a center pin I do not think this one was intended for wood. I found a similar one on the web that was used to cut leather washers, maybe this one too. The tapered reamers are quite small, less than 3/4", not sure if they were used on metal but I can clearly see some use on wood as they are in a quite good shape.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteDan, my apologize I clicked n the wrong link and removed your comment, this is unfortunate and was really not my intend. Like you mentioned I also think this one is a cutter for leather washer or something like this.
Delete