575 days ago
by Brit |
66 comments »
Sorry it has taken me so long to post the final part to this blog series. Life just gets in the way sometimes. However, here it is and I hope you enjoy it. In this episode I wanted to look at using a hand brace and explore some of the so called hints and tips out there to see if they really are useful. I’ll also show you how to get in touch with your inner level.
I’m assuming you’ve sharpened your auger bits like I showed you in the last episode. A sharp auger bit is paramount for drilling...
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617 days ago
by Brit |
36 comments »
I thought I’d mix it up a bit in this part of the blog and record a video where I:
Discuss what to look for when you pick up a secondhand brace and consider buying it.
Mention variations in design and size and why you would use one size over another.
Address Racerglen’s question on restoring plated braces.
Answer lysdexic’s question as to why the Yankee 2100 represents the pinnacle of brace development.
YouTube only allows uploads up to 15 minutes in length (...
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597 days ago
by Brit |
35 comments »
I know I said that sharpening an auger bit would be part 8 of this blog series, but I’ve taken the liberty of bringing it forward since the ‘Using a Hand Brace’ part isn’t finished yet. After spending precious time restoring a hand brace, you will soon realize that it isn’t much use when drilling a hole if the auger bit you are using isn’t sharp. A sharp auger bit is a pleasure to use and cuts very quickly.
Auger bits have evolved through the years. Manufacturers ke...
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1733 days ago
by Eric |
5 comments »
Still working on the marking knife. Now I need to drill a small (3/32”) hole for the tang of the blade. Got the bit, but it’s too small for the chuck of my bit brace. I decided to “mount” the bit inside a dowel, and either put the dowel in the bit brace, or just twist the “dowel drill” by hand.
First, I hammered a nail into the dowel, since it was easier than trying to twist the drill bit into the wood by hand. I wasn’t sure if it would split the d...
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981 days ago
by Eric |
2 comments »
Since my last post, I’ve done some preparations for traveling, traveling, and recovering from traveling, so I haven’t had much shop time. Last night I had an hour or two. I had been considering building my double-screw Moxon vise for the Instructables woodworking contest. Nice prizes! But I figured I’d better stay focused and try to make more progress on the bench.
Next step: mortising the legs for the short stretchers. In my last post I suggested that it’d be &...
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