Vintage Brace & Auger Bits - Buying, Sharpening & Restoring

Vintage Braces and Auger bits are readily available to buy at Car boot sales, Flea markets, Ebay, etc and for pretty cheap too
They come in various makes and sizes but also share a lot of commonalities in terms of their use
They are great for Bushcraft projects, Green woodworking projects, etc
In this video Lee Stoffer teaches you to what to look out for when buying as well as detailed advice on how to restore and sharpen them so you get the best use out of them using some simple tools
To connect with Lee
Blog - www.covertcraft...
Instagram - / stoffercraft
To read a blog post on the different varieties of Auger bits
www.theluddite....
As always I appreciate you watching
Take care
Peace
Zed
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[@rebeccamascull9016]

I've just watched this video to help me research traditional carpentry skills for a novel I'm writing set during WW2 and it's been incredibly useful! I didn't really understand how braces and auger bits worked until I saw this demonstration. Plus I now know how my character would clean and sharpen them too. Thanks so much! Brilliant video and so informative.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Hi Rebecca, I sincerely appreciate your kind words and to hear this viedo helped you in some way. Am also fascinated to hear about your novel! Wishing you the best with your writing moving forward and take care ~Peace~

[@PatrickMatherne]

Just inherited one of these from my father, and it may have come from my great-grandfather. Will be nice to get it working again. I remember playing with this, randomly drilling wood with it (that I probably was not suppose too)

[@Zedoutdoors]

Oh wow thats awesome, no doubt the quality of the set you have will outlast us all! ~Peace~

[@OldJimboX]

I really enjoyed this video. because of the depth of the information. My set of ring topped augers were used for barn building in Saskatchewan, and then left hanging inside the last barn built. Having timbers attached by wooden pegs instead of metal bolts allowed the barns to stay up despite the expansion/contraction of wood during brutally hot summers and cold winters. some for a century. I had to "pull the pin" and race to a barn On a tractor not a horse), when I was haying, in order to avoid a summer hail storm. That's when I got the farmers' reverence for a stout barn. Hail on the prairies is golf ball size or larger, and lethal.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Sincerely appreciate the kind words and to hear you found this video useful. Was also fascinating hearing yoiu talk about your barn! stay well my friend ~Peace~

[@ecaff9515]

Excellent video and process. Really love the tutorial. It is a great day when you pick up information from a professional woodworker who has a passion for vintage hand tools. Thanks for sharing.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Amen to that and I sincerely appreciate your kind words thank you ~Peace~

[@SkylersRants]

Thanks, that's a really good demonstration of sharpening auger bits of different kinds.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Sincerely appreciate you watching and for your kind words ~Peace~

[@cutterdog655]

Excellent demonstration! I’m about to restore a Stanley brace with a little more surface rust and two bits. I am more confident now. Many thanks

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thats awesome to hear and do let me know how you get on! ~Peace~

[@philiprowney]

Great choice of tools, I still have my dads Brace, a 1/2 and 3/4 inch auger. Mines a Stanley from the 70's.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Very cool, tools like these are relatively new to me so eager to learn & share what I can ~Peace~

[@markharris5771]

I’ve just bought my first brace and a three augers, this has been phenomenally useful thank you.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thats awesome to hear Mark, indeed Lee's tuition helped me refurbish my brace and auger bits too ~Peace~

[@cicicamino7379]

Great video! Thank you. I’m about to restore an old auger and this is so helpful.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Oh nice do let me know how you get on Cindy ~Peace~

[@garywood702]

I use and maintain tools like this and always take the maintenance of them for granted. Great video and imo all the advice given is spot on. Well done!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you for watching Gary and for your kind words ~Peace~

[@LeeStoffer]

Cheers for the feedback, I've only fairly recently started to understand the maintenance required on these types of bit by experimenting with restoring them, glad to hear you think I'm on the right track.

[@boozoochavis7506]

Now where in the heck were you guys when I had to figure most of this out on my own?! Great video, so glad I broke down and got a brace and a handful of auger bits, and also an eggbeater hand drill as they come in very handy. That being said, I am NOT giving up on my cordless drill driver any time soon-great for the donkey work don't you know. Thanks for the great videos, and keep up the good work mates!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Ah yes the cordless still has it's place! :) Sincerely appreciate your kind words and for watching thank you ~Peace~

[@LitoGeorge]

Very enjoyable and informative video. Glad you're working on those focus issues, but otherwise a terrific and helpful effort here. I can see that I'll be revisiting this one multiple times in future until I get the hang of it. Much appreciated!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Sincerely appreciate the kind wrds and indeed yes, have lots to improve with my filming skills! ~Peace~

[@elfpimp1]

Love my bit brace. First thing I made sure to do was to NOT get one that was ever chrome plated. Those were cheapies. But man, once restored and you get some decent bits? Lookout wood!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Indeed yes buying these vintage / used is the best route to go ~Peace~

[@jesseramos1561]

Just added 2 braces and a set of irwin MainBor auger bits. 16mm - 4mm.pawn shop fantastic find.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Nice going Jesse, always a buzz whenh finding great deals on old tools ~Peace~

[@kennewby01]

Excellent video again! I’m off to sharpen my bits - cheers 👍👍

[@Zedoutdoors]

Best of luck Ken and many thanks for the kind words! ~Peace~

[@chippysteve4524]

Great video.Excellent explanations and camerawork.Thankyou guys. Another plus with hand drills is that it is very easy to drill to a precise,consistent,known depth e.g. if 20 full turns gives you,say, a 20mm depth hole then an 8mm hole requires 8 turns.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Ah nice I didn't think about the correlations with depth so appreciate you sharing! ~Peace~

[@tony1721]

Excellent vid, ..love the explanations of sharpening, reminds me of when I was an apprentice…

[@Zedoutdoors]

Me and you both Tony ~Peace~

[@johnlord8337]

10* Good one. More bushies should consider having a soctch-eyed auger for making rocket stoves in log stumps, or making woodcraft chairs, benches, cot bed frameworks, or other mortis-and-tenon style woodcraft in their outdoor adventures.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Very true, my hope is that more Bushcrafters learn and use about these old proven tools ~Peace~

[@LBCAndrew]

At first glance, i thought that newspaper was showing someone playing baseball till i noticed that was a cricket paddle (i know what it's called). I recently was given a bunch of these augers and two braces that belonged to a friend of my Grandfathers and was looking at cleaning up and sharpening the augers. Already got the braces cleaned up. They're approximately turn of the century old (1900 not 2000). I went with some real tung oil on the wood and they came out great. took quite a few applications though.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Excellent stuff, indeed it;s amazing how common these are at car boot sales, etc and with just a little TLC they are like new again ~Peace~

[@frankcooper6118]

Great video. A lot of information. Thanks.

[@Zedoutdoors]

You are very kind Frank thank you ~Peace~

[@1stinlastout165]

I tend to resharpen the end screw end square a little this brings then back to life by using a very small file with one cutting edge ! If not used to often paint some shellac on them this stops rust when not in use !

[@Zedoutdoors]

Appreciate the insight Kev thank you ~Peace~

[@jarredpiri9166]

Thank you very much zed for this video ... I have watched some of your videos, but this is the first time I have subscribed to your channel, your video is very, very helpful for me and maybe others too.

[@Zedoutdoors]

That is very kind of you to do so Jarred and a sincere thank you for your kind words ~Peace~

[@kevinthewanderingwoodchuck2586]

Great video. I have been collecting these bits for a few years know. Time to go through them and restore the good ones. Know I know what to look for. The brief sharpening tutorial was grear. Thank you so much for this Zed!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Kevin and best of luck with refurbishing my man ~Peace~

[@mallorygarbutt6019]

Really interesting, thank you for putting this together. Lee is very good at making it simple..

[@Zedoutdoors]

Sincerely appreciate your kind words Mallory and indeed Lee is a great teacher ~Peace~

[@Sheepdog1314]

thank you...I have a brace somewhere, and loads of bits. Time to find them....thank you

[@Zedoutdoors]

Best of luck in bringing them to life! ~Peace~

[@lebensschueler]

Best viedeo on Auger Bits on KZbin! Thanks! Love your channel!

[@Zedoutdoors]

You are very kind thank you! ~Peace~

[@ricksspringfield45]

Great tools to use....been picking them up at the flea market (B&B) for a couple bucks. Rusty Gold!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Amen to that, i've been fortunate to pick up a couple of lots of these off of Ebay for dirt cheap too ~Peace~

[@randomfox9970]

Zed outdoors very interesting video I prefer the old tools myself that drill is usually 1930s I has one and a complete wooden hand plane fantastic tools I still use em but they is antiques 👌💕🐾🐺💪

[@Zedoutdoors]

Appreciate the heads up on the date of these and like yourself I love the older tools, they really were made to last ~Peace~

[@randomfox9970]

Zed Outdoors 🐾🐺💪💕👌

[@joshbabb7470]

Fantastic video Zed. Glad to see you back. I hope the tools serve you well. Thanks for the video. - Josh

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Josh and hope Summer is treating you well ~Peace~

[@WUGGIT]

Zed thank you, great video. You really have it good, I can’t even buy one of Lee’s tools, and you just go to his shop and have him clean up your tools! 🤣

[@Zedoutdoors]

lol!! never thought of it like that ;-) ~Peace~

[@davidharvey5672]

Thanks very enjoyable video. I used these tools as a lad. Interesting to see so many types together. Great guidance from Lee. Cheers.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Appreciate you watching and for your kind words David thank you ~Peace~

[@BergRD]

Great video, knowledge, and acumen. Always good to review skills and info you've known for years but makes it worth it learning new things each time. Grats!

[@Zedoutdoors]

A sincere thank you for watching and for your kind words ~Peace~

[@dutchcourage7312]

Great Zedocumentary again (though some sharpness issues on the camera work were somewhat annoying at times, luckily you kept at it and got sharp shots of the important bits, so i don't feel like i missed anything important). And i find it rather funny that i very recently actually got a brace and an bit that does indeed needs work, so these tips and tricks will most certainly come in helpful ! … tnx for sharing to the both of you. Hope you have a blessed day ~ Peace ! … ps. if the wood bits on the brace are 'gone' you can most certainly just carve them with a knife? Not everything has to be a lathe job, just a knife and some elbow grease will get the job done more often than not ;)

[@Zedoutdoors]

Indeed yes nothing stopping you from carving the replacements bits by hand, as always appreciate you watching my man ~Peace~

[@kevinfield2162]

Zed you absolute legend. Just been gifted a large set of these last week by my father! peace bud (Woodsy Welshman)

[@Zedoutdoors]

Nice going, like yourself I was eager to learn how to refurbish these so do let me know how you get on dude ~Peace~

[@channelsixtysix066]

Always use a brass wire brush. It will clean the steel, without damaging the finish or surface.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Appreciate the heads up thank you ~Peace~

[@TheBeardx16]

cool ! This video answered quite a few questions on sharpening the 30+ drill bits that i have recently been given ,subbed !!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thats awesome to hear and yes even I gained the knowledge to sharpen the bits I have at home using Lee's advice ~Peace~

[@TheBeardx16]

Are you on facebook Zed im sure our paths have crossed at some point

[@stevekelley1179]

Great 👍 job

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Steve ~Peace~

[@DubiousEngineering]

Lovely restoration and very educational video Zed and Lee! ... great work!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly my man! ~Peace~

[@VamosViverFora]

My late grandpa was carpenter and he used to use it sometimes.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Yes they are made many years ago but due to the high quality they still work today ~Peace~

[@RiverbendlongbowsOutdoors]

Majority of my tools come from second hand stores. Very good 👍 Yet to stumble on good scotch eyed bits though around here

[@Zedoutdoors]

There's a few great outlets here in the UK that sell the scotch eyed augers and they're plenty in the woodworking events we have also, but know exactly what you mean how hard they can be to come by ~Peace~

[@RiverbendlongbowsOutdoors]

Zed Outdoors yes they are I did a little video on budget bushcraft and people seem to like it. Check it out if you have time to kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4GmdIWupst-fdU Found a little town in Missouri I'm anxious to visit. I here its loaded with old pioneer tools👍

[@jonnywalker8471]

from what I've seen Irwin sells them along with tapered brace bits

[@danny117hd]

Yep just picked up a wood bar brace with quick release wing nuts. I will put it back into service or hang it on the wall.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Nice going Danny ~Peace~

[@danny117hd]

You need a square nut for the really authentic look. photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMeKVobOiSv7SEqnCLSKC1EHPBX7CqRWKCRQtIFeEFFo9AYftHJ8NfYKd3rgd-cAg?key=NFlZdi1hLTVVYnAzaVY0NnJjckxENFpDZmNDOURR

[@craigmooring2091]

Very instructive. Thanks, Zed!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Craig ~Peace~

[@roscocsa]

If I can give a small video suggestion, try to get a LOT more light and shoot with a smaller aperture. That should increase your depth of field so you aren't fighting quite such a narrow zone of focus. Possibly get a longer lens and stay a bit farther away as I think you're hovering right around the edge of where your lens will focus a lot of the time.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Appreciate the suggestions as yes I learnt a lot from this filming this and how I would do it differently next time ~Peace~

[@roscocsa]

@@Zedoutdoors :) I hope I didn't come off as snarky or bossy. One of my favorite things is macro photography, and I have to tinker with stuff to get a whole spiders eye or something in focus. Great vid :)

[@SouthernRebelRanger]

I love vintage tools!! Good video, Zed, now get out in the woods!!!! LOL

[@Zedoutdoors]

Yes sir!! ;) ~Peace~

[@BrumCraft]

Great stuff Zed, Lee is a true master of his craft

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you my Midlands stallion and hope you're well bro as haven't spoken in ages ~Peace~

[@LeeStoffer]

kind words but I've barely scratched the surface really, I'll be an eternal student in the woodworking arena I think.

[@briholt100]

Thank you for this video. Do you have any advice for repairing damaged lead screws? For example, if you were to drop a bit and the tip of the screw broke off. I'm thinking they might not be reparable. maybe a weld?

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you for your kind words Brian, reg broken screws, because it's tool steel you'll most likely struggle welding it back on ~Peace~

[@briholt100]

@@Zedoutdoors Does a broken lead screw render the bit un-salvageable? my understanding is that without a sharp point on that screw, you lose a lot of precision

[@Howlingdingobush]

Really good video mate

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Al ~Peace~

[@OldSneelock]

Good work on the restoration. 😆

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly! looks like you're up to some cool stuff yourself too ~Peace~

[@najizein1566]

Thank you for this video. I got a set of Irwin vintage bits and they were very rusty, so I soaked them in a citric acid solution for 24 hours . And while the rust is gone, the coating was gone too! Do you have any idea on how to put a coat on them again? And what kind of coating was there in the first place? Thanks!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Unfortunately reapplying the coat is very tricky and requires specialist equipment. Ideally you should have placed them in white spirit instead ~Peace~

[@Leftatalbuquerque]

It's odd to think that people with such pleasant accents took over the world!

[@Zedoutdoors]

lol appreciate you watching ~Peace~

[@guido-nl]

Great video man, thanks!

[@Zedoutdoors]

You are very kind Guido thank you ~Peace~

[@karloflaherty]

i love mine ,its a game changer

[@Zedoutdoors]

Isn't it just! ~Peace~

[@jdeveau6718]

Thanks for the video! I have obtained a pair of braces and a selection of bits. One of my problems is that the square end that goes in the jaws is rounded on a few bits. Any suggestions?

[@Zedoutdoors]

Theres not much you can do if that is the case, if anything is to file it so it is relatively square again ~Peace~

[@channelsixtysix066]

Power drills and twist bits have never been a direct replacement for a traditional brace & bit. Nothing produces the fine cut that either an auger or a Forstner bit produces. The brace is far easier to use and accurate to place and keep in position.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Indeed it's a great piece of kit ~Peace~

[@Ariovistvs]

Is it normal that the upper part of the brace where you put pressure on is not in line with the lower part. I bought one where they are not in one line so there's quhite a wiggling going on when boring. Or is that i sign that the brace got bent? I hope you understand what I'm talking about, not sure how to describe ist unmistakably :D

[@Zedoutdoors]

I think I now wha yu're talking about, by the sounds indeed it sounds like the brace is bent ~Peace~

[@paulmorris2690]

Great video mate

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Paul ~Peace~

[@KaylynnStrain]

that is a great set you have

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly, looking forward to refurbing the rest of the augers and then using them ~Peace~

[@litahsr.8226]

Hey Will this work on modern hex Auger bits?

[@Zedoutdoors]

The principle is still the same for modern bits, just need to tweak it for the type of bit you have ~Peace~

[@RuggedOutdoorz]

Tools that should be in every persons tool kit

[@Zedoutdoors]

Amen to that ~Peace~

[@adrianabshire]

Great video and information! I’ve been looking at getting a brace and bit but didn’t know what to look for - there are so many at used markets here in the US and not sure which are good brands/models to buy. What files did you use for sharpening? Is ‘white spirit’ the same as Mineral Spirits?

[@Zedoutdoors]

Hi Adrian thank you for the kind words! reg the files they are called 'needle files' and reg white spirit yes in the US you guys call it 'Mineral Spirits' ~Peace~

[@jeffreywalker5372]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Appreciate you watching Jeffrey thank you! ~Peace~

[@russcorbett3923]

Thank You so much for A LOT of Great information in one video !!!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thats very kind of you Russ thank you! ~Peace~

[@cactusbobaz]

Very good video, Thank you soooo much!

[@Zedoutdoors]

You are very kind thank you! ~Peace~

[@BTUsBTUs]

BRILLIANT!

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you! ~Peace~

[@66bigbuds]

The square tang auger bits are still being made by Irwin. Just contact Irwin tool.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Nice appreciate the heads up Keith ~Peace~

[@john196719670]

What would white sprit be in the U.S.

[@Zedoutdoors]

I believe its called 'Mineral Spirits' in the US ~Peace~

[@elfpimp1]

I forgot to mention, the bit holder itself on mine was dipped in coca cola for 6 days (refresh the coke daily, drink unused portion) and came out looking like new.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Great tip as others have mentioned using coca cola too ~Peace~

[@timothymallon]

2:20 its not 101n, its 10 in (ten inch)

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thanks Tim ~Peace~

[@50guitar]

Metal files only cut on the forward stroke. Pulling back, or trying to cut on the return stroke/pull, only dulls the file....to the point it becomes no longer useable. Otherwise, everything else was good.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Appreciste the advise Doug thank you ~Peace~

[@LarsKiel]

👍

[@Zedoutdoors]

Thank you kindly Lars ~Peace~

[@benjamenplus10]

OMG I can't cope ! Soooo many "that's what she said" moments , PMSL

[@Zedoutdoors]

Trust me I had to hold myself back and act mature in this one ;) ~Peace~

[@waltlars3687]

What would White Sprite be called in America

[@Zedoutdoors]

I believe you guys call it mineral spirits ~Peace~

[@waltlars3687]

Zed Outdoors ok thanks

[@LBCAndrew]

There's a bunch of times during the video where his OCD kicks in and he's trying his hardest to fight it. I know because i'm the same way. There is no such thing as a simple clean up of a tool. And I know as soon as you stopped recording, he pulled the wood piece with the worm holes off that brace didn't he? lol.

[@Zedoutdoors]

Many thanks for watching Andrew, indeed Lee is an absolute pro and has an incredible attention to detail ~Peace~

[@gmmeier321]

You can buy a nice auger file for $8 here: www.lie-nielsen.com/product/sharpening-tool-care/files-auger-bit-file-?node=4115

[@Zedoutdoors]

Oh nice appreciate the share, Lie Nielsen makes some awesome stuff ~Peace~