23. The Best Braces & Bits

A look at braces and bits and all the varied 'boring' things they can do, from holes to countersinks.
Visit www.blackburnb... for books and to sign up for lessons in Woodstock NY.

[@enfermocerebro89]

As a hobbyist, I learn mostly from DIY videos... Learned a lot, but still have the feeling of missing something important... Thank you for filling the gaps of DIY, one bit at a time.

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome!

[@autismschild9561]

I just purchased two of your books from Amazon, Graham. I had no idea you are an author, not to mention an author of so many books.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks so much!

[@yousifalyagota9727]

Thank you for all your shows all are useful and wonderful. Teaching the old methods and showing old tools and how they work thank you and appreciate your time

[@gjbmunc]

You are very welcome

[@ReedHummel]

Thanks so much for sharing all your knowledge here, Graham. It's greatly appreciated!

[@gjbmunc]

My pleasure!

[@stradman2490]

Graham, I love your videos. My grandfather, God rest him, was a carpenter just like you, I can remember seeing many of these tools in his workshop. He died when I was young and I never had the opportunity to learn about them. The old ways are being lost, but I fear that will be needed so much in the not too distant future. Thanks again.

[@gjbmunc]

You're very welcome!

[@user-dl7he2cy9g]

Awesome ❤

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks 🤗

[@elvinscott2356]

Thank you. I have a rare brace that I didn't know the name of. I guessed what it might be. That name was confirmed when you displayed your book. It was a Corner Brace. I will buy your book. Thanks again!

[@gjbmunc]

Glad I could help!

[@tuffymartinez]

Thank You Graham... I always have time to stop what ever I am doing and enjoy your show !......TM

[@gjbmunc]

Great to hear!

[@jimfromri]

Boring versus drilling. I never knew that! Thanks for another great, informative video.

[@gjbmunc]

Glad to help

[@haroldschultz5864]

As always Graham , wonderful job and tutorial . I was highly envious of the frame brace . Thank you for all these informative videos . Blessings to you sir .

[@gjbmunc]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@TonKuipers134]

Thx Graham for Sharing your knowledge and experience in this lovely craftmanship

[@gjbmunc]

My pleasure!

[@liquidrockaquatics3900]

Today at a garage sale I found a brace that I have never seen before from the John S Fray company. Number 80 Bridgeport, Connecticut. Just from what I was able to google. It appears that this is a corner brace, but I don’t really see a useful function, except for the fact that it is non-ratcheting and you can apply slightly more force then a traditional brace. Have you ever found a reason to use one of these odd shaped devices? I actually bought this because I thought it would be fantastic to use with my disabled son so that I could hold it and he could help turn.

[@gjbmunc]

The point is to be able to bore a hole against an edge that does not allow of a complete rotation with a regular brace.

[@roman_le]

One day I bought a brace and a set of single-twist auger bits. I often prefer them over an electric cordless drill and Forstner bits.

[@gjbmunc]

Good to hear!

[@devinteske]

I saw an old catalog for taper shank first we bits for brace. I have never been able to find any in the wild. I have been looking. I wonder if Graham has ever seen them.

[@MCsCreations]

Thanks for all the info, Graham! Really appreciate it! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@gjbmunc]

Thank you! Will do!

[@Al.P.]

Too interesting material! Thank You. My respect!

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome!

[@kevinbramer1537]

Thank you Graham for your videos. They are always a pleasure and very informative.

[@gjbmunc]

Glad you like them!

[@1deerndingo]

Thank you for doing this. So much knowledge is being lost. Hand tool work needs to be conserved.

[@gjbmunc]

I agree 100%

[@roadtriplover.]

Out of all the bits you’d suggest for the average woodworker, which do you believe to be most essential and in what size? Im just getting started and it seems there no end to tools that can be purchased, so advice tailored to newbies like me on this question would be helpful in videos like this one.

[@gjbmunc]

Watch for the episode on boring tools coming soon. To get started a small set of drill bits and half a dozen auger bits will be a good start.

[@paulpennington816]

I love the older tools.

[@gjbmunc]

Me too!

[@douglashopkins8070]

It is a good book. Before now I had never associated it with your youtube channel. Good video.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks!

[@trendkill7]

Great video Graham, some useful information. I got an old brace from a car boot for no money, and have found it really effective so far when used with an adjustable hole cutting bit.

[@gjbmunc]

Glad it helped

[@thomashverring9484]

I absolutely love these videos! Excellent information superbly given! My big challenge is actually not getting this information, but rather the same information about Danish and Scandinavian tools and the history thereof. I'm from Denmark and have learned much from abroad, but am trying desperately to learn about my own history. If I pick up an apparently Danish book from the library, they are often American books translated to Danish-but we do not have the same tradition of our crafts. It's a challenge indeed. Edit: I'll still buy your books of course :^)

[@gjbmunc]

Tage Frid (Danish) wrote several fine books on woodworking - most still available (in English).

[@thomashverring9484]

@@gjbmunc Thank you, yes. I haven't had any luck finding them yet, but I am searching. I have a very good antiquarian I think I'll ask.

[@athmostafa2462]

Appreciate all your videos , I learned a lot from it ☺️ , thanks 👍.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks!

[@HWCism]

Thank you. Very interesting.

[@gjbmunc]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jimneely4527]

While I generally reach for the cordless drill, I appreciate the use of the brace and have recently acquired a ratcheting brace. I don't use them all the time, but there are times when a slow turning drill is a much preferred method. Thanks for sharing.

[@gjbmunc]

Of course - there's advantages for all types!

[@user-qg6fy4yp8t]

Good video!!! Definitely not a "boring"one😉

[@gjbmunc]

Oh thank you!

[@garypautard1069]

The short sweep brace was known to us old geezers as a electricians brace because it was useful for drilling through floor joists when running wiring circuits underfloor. When my Father passed away I discovered a cabinet with 3 braces plus a range of augers. Also were a rebate plane and many hand tools which probably belonged to my Grandfather but sadly I had a full range of power tools . Nothing else to do but throw them in a recycling metal bin. I felt awful .

[@gjbmunc]

Sad story.

[@JDeWittDIY]

Boring? It took me a hole minute before I got it!

[@gjbmunc]

You should have braced yourself before watching!

[@JDeWittDIY]

@@gjbmunc That might be a bit difficult, don't you think?

[@SugarCreekWoodwright]

awesome video Sir! I just got that very same book for christmas...talk about interesting.

[@gjbmunc]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@dpmeyer4867]

thanks

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome!

[@richarde7432]

That was the most interesting boring video. Please keep boring me with more fascinating information about using hand tools.

[@gjbmunc]

I will try and drill down for more information.

[@swatdan]

That's book is pretty interesting, is there spanish translation available, maybe?

[@gjbmunc]

Not so far.

[@twcmaker]

Love a boring history lesson 🙊

[@gjbmunc]

Great!

[@Mr_Rick]

I'd like to buy a brace and bits but always concerned about getting the right bits. Are they all the same?... Or do they differ from brace to brace. Where is a good place to buy these old brace and bits?

[@garyoa1]

Have yet to come across the old square bit shanks. Seems the new ones are made for an electric drill.

[@gjbmunc]

Bits vary greatly. A good place to look is fleamakets and eBay.

[@estevecostamasmitja6465]

Gran canal sobre eines manuals de fusteria. Molt agraït. Tinc una col·lecció d'eines del meu avi i algunes no sabia com es feien servir ni esmolar-les. Moltes gràcies P.D. podrieu seguir activant subtítols perquè coses que no comprenc bé Gràcies

[@gjbmunc]

Denada

[@timothymallon]

I notice on your sign that you are located in Woodstock as well as Santa Cruz. Where do you normally work from? I only ask because I come from the Woodstock area!

[@gjbmunc]

Not a big fan of snow so I usually head west for the winter/

[@timothymallon]

@@gjbmunc We've been getting unseasonably warm weather here on the east coast lately. mid-50s and even around 60 the other day.

[@Maxb49]

Will an auger bit fit inside an Ultimatum brace?

[@gjbmunc]

Not perfectly, but it can be done. The ultimatum has a nub that connnects to a notch in the end of the bit. Depends how small the bit is.

[@Maxb49]

@@gjbmunc Thank you. I just purchased an ultimatum brace and I'm trying to figure out what I can use for bits.

[@Dhruvnater456]

Can these braces drill through stone or concrete?

[@gjbmunc]

It's the bit that's important, but remember these braces were deigned for wood.

[@Dhruvnater456]

@@gjbmunc Right, do bits for these drills exist for stone? Thanks

[@powerballminep67]

Roll of drill bits from 18th century so 1700’s ? Doesn’t seem likely.

[@gjbmunc]

You're right- 19th cent.

[@devinteske]

8m30s, Graham drops a bomb, “ONE of the books I’ve written” (emphasis added by me). Everybody that learns from printed media right now: searching Amazon for Graham Blackburn Me (seeing results): HOLY CRAP🤯 - starts off small by buying the blue one pictured as “Woodworking Hand Tools” Also me: buys 1974 hardcover edition

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks!

[@UPTHETOWN]

Machinists certainly bore Mr.B Sizing a drilled hole on a lathe or mill is called "boring", many other examlples too

[@gjbmunc]

Very true. Just trying to keep things simple.

[@CleaveMountaineering]

Hmmm... but what if I'm an engineer, and I'm creating a hole in wood?

[@gjbmunc]

It may be possible to work from the outside using a hollow auger, perhaps.

[@mr.intolerance]

Informativ as always but really boring.

[@gjbmunc]

Perhaps you should drill down a bit!