Restoring a Rusty Brace

Ron Herman takes a "donated" (it was so rusty a fella just gave it to him) hand brace and then walks through the steps to bring it back to working order. With a little bit of oil and elbow grease, you can add an inexpensive tool to your shop. For everything woodworking, visit www.popwood.com

[@fakiirification]

Ive recently fallen in love with old tools and started collecting/converting from power tools, mostly because of some youthful indiscretions concerning hearing protection while running a tablesaw 6+ hours a day and thinking i was invincible. I now have a constant ringing in my ears, and a desire to do things peacefully and with purpose. Recently grabbed a very similar brace on ebay for 99 cents minimum bid, to go with a bucket of rusty brace bits given to me by an old friend. Looking forward to getting the old girl oiled up and back into service.

[@HomeImProveMentHow]

Thank you for sharing good information. Bye for now I look forward to hear from you.

[@johnfithian-franks8276]

Hi, I have about 10 of these, all bought for very little money from car boot sales here in the UK. I have a caravan out in the country and it has no power so everything I do has to be done with hand tools. I use these braces as screwdrivers, dills, & even to make a sort of lathe to turn wood. people do not consider these tools worth anything and the most I have spent on one of these is £1:00, and to me they are beyond price.

[@ibdavidc]

Timely . . . I bought 2 of these and a box of auger bits at a garage sale the other day. This will come in handy.

[@johnkelley9877]

This was very helpful! Thanks for sharing this.

[@mini1293blue]

Emery tape is great for cleaning up round objects.

[@annarboriter]

If I may add one point, it's that it's critical to look at the condition of the jaws. If they have been abused (by torquing with a pipe wrench, for example) and do not make good contact with square shanked bits, that damage on the jaws inner surfaces can potentially be transferred by rounding over the corners of a bit.

[@BrendaGsDesigns]

stopped by to show some love !! xoxo

[@GT_Racer347]

Sweet 👍🏻 👍🏻

[@channelsixtysix066]

The sad thing about these braces, is they probably haven't had a lot of use, before they were discarded as being "old fashioned", in favor of the wheel brace (hand drill) and power drills. I have three Stanley braces, 10, 12 and 14 inch No. 73 models. I'm going to restore them, but not by removing the wooden handles, that prevents me from my preferred option of electroplating. So I'll use a brass wire brush, then I'll use Everbrite on the metal to preserve it. Hands down, the brace and bit, are the best tools for drilling large holes in wood.

[@mglennon5535]

Raised from the dead! Nice work

[@fredosachoff]

If the handle does not turn how do you get it to turn! I have one and it is stuck.

[@treedom5094]

Thanks for sharing. Been trying to trouble shoot a slightly unexpected situation with a recently acquired unit. Got a brace that is generally in top condition, virtually free of rust, and most components - ratchet, jaws, crank handle - working fine. However the head seems to be completely jammed in place, without even the hint of wanting to budge. The oil intake hole is there, I would imagine that the ball bearings are inside there although lost for ideas on how to get to them ... any ideas?

[@stephenkent8903]

I like auger drills and you did a good job. Have you ever come across an auger drill where the bit chuck has a slot on each side? It's almost like there was a special tool to take the chuck apart. However I've not been able to take them apart. If you know how to take the chuck apart please let me know. Thanks

[@uktony1525]

Cordless drill which works without a battery all day only requirement is an occasional cup of tea!.

[@bestbuilder1st]

Where can I get a spring if mine is missing one? Good job on the video, I appreciate you posting it.

[@popularwoodworking]

I'm fairly certain Ron would suggest haunting some local flea markets, but feel free to reach to him directly to see if he has a better suggestion: [e-mail]

[@kevindumais9610]

Would you ever consider using evapo - rust?

[@dillonqaphsiel7977]

How do I tell who the manufacturer is

[@robertbrusellenglishguitarist]

Excellent video!! How are the collars each side of the wooden handle fixed on to the frame? Are they a press fit, or are they soldered on, or whatever?

[@muddinmann]

I have never had a issue disassembling the ratchet mechanisms, not saying I wont but usually a little heat and it'll break that rust loose

[@qzetu]

The very first thing I would do is put linseed oil on the wood and do it repeatedly for two days until it stops soaking it up. The wood is the most important thing at that point & if it cracks from messing with the drill it will devalue if not ruin the brace. Only after that would I take it apart and de-rust it. I'm going to assume he has so many braces & has worked with so many that he has no concern either way.

[@tartorstyx5104]

What is to be done if the middle handle is stucked? Thank you

[@g4mmalotus937]

Would it be possible to cut off the wood handle and make a new, two peice one that screws together? Maybe just using the original handle?

[@billgoldie7556]

You can make a new handle using a split turning. Select a single block, drill it first to fit the shaft, then saw it apart to create two half-blanks. Glue the two (half-) blanks together with a paper joint and turn and sand the handle, then split the two halves apart and glue them back together around the shaft. Then apply finish as required.

[@randycamp4280]

I have a brace that I am trying to restore. I have taken the pins out of the appropriate places. The rachet sprocket does not turn. I have used oil, Kroil, Sea Foam, heat , Evaporust, and I can not get the pin to move that goes through the hole and up through the sprocket. I am at a loss on how to get it off. Any suggestions are appreciated. It is like it is frozen together with rust and won't come apart no matter what I try. I also can not find any makers mark on it.

[@jasperedwards3341]

ratchet gone on mine i used with bits torxs and drills i dont ave a batteries drill they cost new 60 euros ratchet works but the grooves are rounded and need filing

[@lorriehiner4049]

I found the same brace in my late husband’s old tools but I can’t seem to free up the ratchet teeth. Any suggestions?

[@luistallaferro5598]

Hello, I am writing to you from Argentina, I need, the measurements of the porta broaches to be able to do the same, since I do not get it, thank you very much, I am translating with the google, greetings

[@1971gamc]

HI Ron. I have a swing brace made in England unfortunately one of the jaws is broken. It s a two-jaw one . I ve tried stanley web site . It is already out of stock and there is nothing on amazon . I have found that on eBay too expensive . Do you know where I can find a part not matter if it used . I just need the jaws the spring is OK. Thanks in advance.

[@onoudont7272]

Ooooo... The Adventure and Drama

[@garymckinley6974]

Is there Any way, at all, to replace the wrist handle in one piece? I found a Stanley No. 965N 10" and the wooden handle was broken off. I Can repair it using two pieces, but would prefer not to.

[@RickBoat]

No. The handle was put on diring production before the steel was bent the last time.

[@NALOvs]

Nice hair cut.