Vintage Stanley No 40 5” Brace Drill Restoration

Welcome to my channel, in this video I will be restoring a vintage Stanley no 40 Brace with a 5” sweep. I found this in my local market for £1. Initially I had no intention on filming a restoration on it. However since I was going to clean it up for myself I though perhaps I should share it with everyone. As you will see in the video it came out much better than I expected. Now I’m tempted to restore my other braces.
I hope you enjoy the video as much as I enjoyed making it.
Comment if you would like more woodworking tool restorations. And subscribe for more content.
Thanks for watching.

[@steveledbetter5613]

So happy to see that you didn’t feel the need to mirror polish half the metal and completely replace the other half with new parts! That’s exactly what you see on 90% of these Restoration videos. It’s like a competition to see who can round over the most corners by leaning into their buffing wheels. This was a job well done. Thanks.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you very much sir. I try to be different. Some tools shouldn’t be over restored.

[@seamusmaguire5389]

Lovely to see old items restored

[@richardpalmer6196]

I truly love watching you restore the tools of my youth . The Stanley brace and bit were the first drill l ever used , about 70 years ago . I still have it in my shop . Rarely used but , still appreciated for the memories it brings back . I've kept most of my dad's hand tools for that reason . That, and the fact that they work even when the power goes out 😁 . Stay healthy and keep my mind active .

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thanks for sharing. I’m glad you like the restorations. I absolutely love old tools. Especially Stanley and record.

[@Tictac-37]

@@mytinyworkshop1213 Nice restoration but a pity that at the end of the video for the test, the annotations and your logo hides the work accomplished !!

[@j.r.tidwell3318]

I'm just going to say, OUTSTANDING JOB. You didn't screw up any of the parts or remake any out of plywood. I'm in the middle of moving and when that is finished. Think I'm going to do a #6 stanley plane then GOD knows what. Thanks for the info on the #40 brace.

[@tamirerez2547]

Am I the only one that watch this channel to relax? Exellent work, deep understanding of any mechanism you take to your hands. You are great. Thank you for good video.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Wow, what a compliment. I am really happy to hear my videos are relaxing.

[@kjamison5951]

Two tools fascinated me as a child. The “Yankee” screwdriver and the Brace (and bit). Thank you for restoring this. I particularly like the non-mirrored finish.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you very much. I like the Yankee screwdrivers also. As for the mirror finish, It’s not my style.

[@carldelawter8900]

I like the satin finish on these tools also. I have one brace that is really gonna need taken apart to clean & restore full function. Thanks for the detailed teardown. =)

[@paulorth2251]

Nicely done, sir. Old tools are sometimes the best tools, especially when they work as well as this one does.

[@briansworkshop01]

Fantastic job looks great thanks for sharing and your time and skill. 🍺🍺👍👍

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you once again, I’m glad you enjoyed the video

[@-o-The-Duke-o-]

You did a great job and have shown a nice, proper restoration. Thank you.

[@thomasjohnson4834]

I came here to make basically the same comment made by some others and that was a totally enjoy the satin finish that you put on this tool instead of that Chrome look. Keeps it looking more like a working man's tool instead of a sit on the shelf and look pretty tool. Thank you very much for a very fine restoration. I look forward to seeing more.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you very much. I’m glad you like the finish.

[@rayflowers9097]

That came out gorgeous. Almost futuristic looking.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you very much

[@frro28]

Very nice restoration! Found a no 40 some months ago and restored it. The nicest little brace one can found. It works great to turn screws.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

I almost want to hang it on the wall. Great little tool

[@theidlehandsworkshop3884]

I picked up a couple of these recently and have been meaning to "fix" them... whoever had them before me did a "make it perty" restoration on them and covered the wood with house paint and yeah... loved how yours turned out, looks great and love the attention to detail on the breakdown.

[@tipsandtricks5258]

That was superb. Love the final finish not mirrored etc. Looks great now. Top job.

[@texanthom]

Great restoration! That might be the shortest throw of any brace I've seen!

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Glad you liked it. I usually see skinner braces with short throws. Rare to find a Stanley.

[@-Deena.]

Classy and honest. A true restoration. As it should be. ❤ I bet its freezing in the garage!

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you ver6 much, I’m glad you liked it. The garage is horribly cold, and it’s only going to get worse when winter hits.

[@shaunmullings4153]

GREAT JOB MATEY, love how you kept it with just the metal finish instead of painting it.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you. Glad you like it.

[@trickster11300]

Excellent job, thanks for the video and lesson on how it should be done!

[@paulrward]

Really EXCELLENT restoration ! All the metal parts restored, the wood parts made more attractive, and it works like a charm. Great Job !!

[@theropesofrenovation9352]

Never seen a bit brace so complicated. Great job

[@bjray23]

Excellent! Great editing too. Thanks for posting.

[@michaelpugh4894]

Nice tear down and clean up. Beautiful restoration. I have that brace too.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you very much. It’s an amazing tool

[@russcurrie72]

Another great resto, my dad had a couple of these, great throw back to nostalgic times 👍😃

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Glad you liked it.

[@dandare00uk]

Great job, love the precision and care you take on the details.

[@ronniesolomon5235]

I got my hands on one of these but isn’t a Stanley. So some of the pins, retaining washers aren’t on mine so tearing down is a challenge. This is my first tool restoration. You’ve inspired me sir.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

This makes me happy. Im glad I have inspired you. This was a challenge for me to tear down. I didn’t realise how many parts this tool would have. Good luck and most importantly have fun.

[@andrewrogers1607]

I know it’s been a long time, but I recently started handtool woodworking and I have a brace I want to restore. I’d also love to know what is the waxy greasy substance you are brushing on the threads and points of friction? Not often you stumble across someone already adept at the exact thing you know nothing about…. This was lovely to watch, thank you for sharing!

[@johnss7754]

Thank you . Great video. I will need to remember when I restore one of my braces, that I put it on video. My memory is not quite as sharp as it used to be.

[@andrewsmith9174]

This was my first drill in the phone company 23 years ago. I was an installer. Brutal.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Oh how I do not envy that job.

[@vernabink2865]

Excellent restoration.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you

[@johnkelley9877]

Fantastic work! Thanks for sharing this.

[@rodneydelaney9227]

Looks new again great job.... my late dad had one of these. Dont know what happened to it. 👍

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you, glad you liked it.

[@КошмарКошмар-й2б]

Hi bro 👋👋👋 very good restoration hand drill 👍👍👍🔥💣👌🏽

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thanks a lot, glad you liked it bro

[@codypederson5992]

Fantastic Video! That is the most in depth and conplete tear down I have seen on KZbin!! Very nice work Sir! Love the finished product!!

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you very much for you kind words.

[@metalartRestoration123]

Nice restore.👍👍👍

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you

[@andrzejporeda7281]

Super jest to odrestaurowane tylko po niklować i będzie super pozdrawiam serdecznie 👍👍👍👍

[@stevemackelprang8472]

Very nice! It came out beautiful.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you, glad you liked it

[@RandomPerson-jn6ee]

I am in awe

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Im glad to hear. Thanks for watching.

[@ArmandoLoni]

Nice work..... I use old Dremel shanks for the same sort of thing!

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you, glad you like it

[@krauepcs2192]

Super job! Grat and thanks!

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you

[@62forged]

Cool. Awesome restoration.

[@esalazar425]

Just picked one of these guys up on eBay, definitely not comfortable with that much of a disassembly with my klutzy ass but loved the full breakdown!

[@Dark..498]

Great restoration!

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you

[@CogentConsult]

My father owns that exact same model. Heck, I’d buy that one from you if you care to sell it. Beautiful job of restoration!

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you very much for the offer. This is part of my tool collection now.

[@theropesofrenovation9352]

Love the finish. I sure hate all that sanding though. lol

[@michaeljoynt2836]

My dad had this and the hand blender style with the crank, I wish I kept both but I only kept this type. I wanted to clean up the rust a bit, maybe use some of that evaporust on the metal parts but I don;t have the ability to do a full on reso like you did. Great job. I don't think I salvaged any of the bits though, I mostly plan on hanging it on the wall in the garage as decoration anyway, I just would like to stop it from rusting away while it's up there. I will probably coat it in oil before hanging it up there to seal in the metal, protect it from oxidation as much as possible. Nothing lasts forever, but It is pretty much the only thing I have left from my father who died when I was 12.

[@jifou8523]

Clean !

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you

[@АндрейНикитенко-ф4с]

Very interesting drill. When there were no screwdrivers with lithium batteries, she was good at making small holes in wood. I have a similar old Soviet-made drill, but it’s a bit larger, instead of wood there is carbolite and there is a usual three-jaw clamp. Well done job.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

I’m glad you like it. Thanks for your comment.

[@eyecan8]

You did that, you really did😎💯

[@guillermoreche4840]

Magnifico. Mejor que nueva. Saludos desde España

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you

[@stormkhan4250]

I've recently started restoring m my own bit brace and have managed to take it mostly apart except for the front chuck holder where it is attached to the handle. I haven't dared to pull that pin out for fear of damaging it. I might give it a try tomorrow. However, I noticed that the screws holding the rear round handle on yours uses philips screws. Mine has the old style flat head countersunk screws. I'm guessing that yours might be somewhat newer in vintage? Nice resto'! Also the rear handle assembly on yours is held in place with a ring clip. Mine has washers with the shaft peened over to stop the washers coming out...sigh. Sometimes the older stuff is harder to take apart...

[@dancapps3374]

Great job. What kind of grease/lubricant is that during the reassembly ?

[@andrewrogers1607]

Came here hoping for an answer

[@bramvandeveire4560]

I found the exact same one in the scrap and restored it as well.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Sometimes the scrap is the best place to find good tools.

[@bramvandeveire4560]

@@mytinyworkshop1213 yes but it's a shame that people just throw these great tools away. I'm happy to see that there are people who restore them. Keep up the good work!!

[@marcusdoolette1547]

Nice.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank for watching, glad you liked it.

[@Stevesmith-yw7cr]

Where do you put the battery? Very nice work. Old tools are the best. Highest quality things were made with these type of hand tools. That is when wood and metal working was a skill that was valued.

[@Stevegetslucky]

wow, looks great. I always wonder why they painted all the wooden parts in the old days. maybe it was just a fashion thing, or it was easier to keep clean or something. but wood looks great with a bit of Oil on it.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

It’s such a shame to cover up nice wood. The oil really brings out the grain. Now it looks more like an art piece than a tool.

[@bigbomb5904]

How did you take the one push pin out. IV tried so many different ways and even went out and got the same type of tool you used but I had no luck.

[@philipchandler330]

The sandpaper roll dispenser could you reference that?

[@srh1101]

Nice restoration on the brace, it'll be pareticularly satisfying for you when you use it. Where do you get the scotchbrite pads you used on the bench grinder. They look a very handy bit of kit

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you, it’s like a piece of art. I actually cut these myself. I showed it in a previous video but stupidly didn’t add it in this one. It is very handy, only problem is that they wear out quickly, especially the coarse one.

[@srh1101]

@@mytinyworkshop1213 I'll have a look through your videos :)

[@litahsr.8226]

vintage hand crank drill work on modern hex Auger bits?

[@dwarfsbaneironfist2527]

Very nice, how many hours did it take to restore?

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

I have no idea. It was a lot thought. I will be restoring another all steel brace in the next few months. If you don’t film and polish then a restoration like this can be done on a few hours. Adding filming turns into days.

[@dwarfsbaneironfist2527]

@@mytinyworkshop1213 I have just bought a Stanley 810 and a Stanley 811, the 810 needs refurbishing, the 811 is lose between the handle and chuck. The frame moves, so I presume the hole that the pin goes through has enlarged. I think I may have to buy a grinder to finish the 810 like yours in the future.

[@Singlepole]

Why did you decide not to split the drive handle?

[@pemtax557]

New sub here, absolutely loved the video. Your approach of not polishing everything to the point of "car bumper chrome" is what really caught my eye. I love restoring bench planes and I have been trying to perfect a satin process that appears you have already perfected. I have abrasive pads for my bench grinder, but they are firm and more coarse than the ones I saw you using on this brace. What a difference!! May I ask what product it is you are using? They look like they may be a scotch-brite product, but I'm not sure. In any case, I love to watch you work and am looking forward to go through your videos. Thanks for sharing your experience and talent, I'm confident I can learn a lot from you. Cheers ... Dave

[@ronniesolomon5235]

How do you determine what gets put into distilled vinegar or evaporust?

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Iv stopped using vinegar. I now use evaporust or sand blaster. Vinegar was just the cheapest option.

[@pauljarine]

You can buy new tapered square bits!?

[@murck65]

buen trabajo, muy pulcro

[@markneo1]

👏👏👏👏👏🇧🇷

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you

[@victorherrerareyes414]

Más o menos que precio tendrá un berbiquin?

[@nigelburrell7207]

What. A good jub

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you

[@Maurice1151]

I just restored the same. You’ve done well. What does the vinegar really do?

[@TheGunguy461]

What's the tool called at 1:55 that you used to remove the pin?

[@Rusty_ok]

Tell us about those buffing/sanding wheels you use on your bench grinder. Also what RPM does that bench grinder/buffer run at? Is it a 1750 rpm or does it run at 3600?

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

The wheel runs at 2950. It’s only a 150w. One day I’ll get a better one. As for the wheels, I cut them from sanding pads.

[@visualsp1]

There's another solution to remove the rust is a mix of powder of citric acid and some amonin an some water that do not damage the wood and cleans the rust by a chemical reactiom in just minutes.

[@kevinfoster926]

Cracking restoration, I noticed a couple of your tools had the arrow head or crows foot and the letters WD stamped on them, is todays MOD aware you had family members nicking stuff from the War Department? They will do soon if I don't get a large payout in a plain brown envelope through my letterbox. LOL!

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

I love pre war WD tools. I don’t think they will be too bothered about a 76 year old tool.

[@ot9180]

The wooden handle. Does it not come apart?

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

It can only be broken in half the glued back together.

[@АлексПнащожрд]

Даже такой Казалось бы простой инструмент иметь столько много деталей

[@Mikesdyna55]

Now I can redo my dads old brace and bit , I would have darkened the would like it was, only thing I didnt care about

[@hshanoo]

Great job! Where can I find this kind of augers? Take care! :)

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thanks. Maybe eBay. I haven’t stumbled across a no 40 since I found this one.

[@hshanoo]

@@mytinyworkshop1213 There is no trace on the whole internet :) And this one of yours looks like recently produced. Is it Irwin or the good old Marples, and when did you get it?

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

If your in the Uk there is 2 on eBay. It’s a Stanley. I bought it about a year ago from a market for 50p. Refer to the video title for the correct brand and model.

[@hshanoo]

@@mytinyworkshop1213 I'm not native english speaker and I think I wrote something wrong. I meant the drill bit. In american vids they call it auger. So once again, same questions abaut bits this time if you'd be so kind :)

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Oh, so sorry. It is a marples bit. I wouldn’t know where to buy it. I bought this in a box of used tools.

[@Canned_beef]

I literally bought the same thing a few weeks ago. Weird

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Cool. Thanks for watching

[@tootall5559]

very nice, but not many uses these days with cordless drills and what not. If you can find some, restore old Stanley planes, the no 7 with some age to it is worth some bucks restored. by the way, I know you were just using it that way for demo purposes, but your viewers should know that's not how they're meant to be used. You lean into the ball end with your shoulder usually, but with a big belly, if drilling horizonatlly, I use my belly, if the position of the drilling makes that possible. Haven't actually used one in ages though. Once in a while, they actually do a better job than electric drills. oh, if you can, stop drilling when the screw part of the bit comoes through, before the main cutters come through, then drill from the other side if possible, this gives you a nice clean hole, and there's no tear out. the other way to do it is clamp a piece of scrap where you're going to drill through.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

Thank you for the insight. If I were to use the drill properly you would only see me in front of the camera. My area is so small, not much space to put me and a camera setup. I do like Stanley planes. I just bought a small Stanley bullnose. Maybe I’ll make a video of that one day.

[@tootall5559]

@@mytinyworkshop1213 I get it... yeah do that plane up. But don't ever let me see you setting it on it's face with the blade extended.

[@mytinyworkshop1213]

I’ll add it to my list of restorations. Duly noted warning.

[@someotherdude]

Anyone else cover tools with mineral oil? I've been doing that, it's not permanent but you can do it like once a year and it keeps bare metal bright.

[@pghgeo816]

Excellent metal cleaning but the wood is a fail either clean all the paint off and go with wood grain or repaint black as the tool was sold what you did looks awful.

[@ruslantkachenko3799]

У меня нет времени нормальным инструментом поработать а тут восстанавливает старый коловорот. В подвале такой валяется.

[@Multantechinfo]

Apka kam many pasnd kya