The World of Boring old Bitstocks by Darrell LaRue

These are all bitstocks for use in a brace, and have a square ended shank.

If anyone has other bitstocks that they can add to this list, or better pictures than I have here, please submit them for addition to the page.

 

Terminology: 
Spur = protruding cutting edge that scores the outer dimension of the hole.
Lip = cutting edge that removes the waste at the bottom of the hole.

Forstner-pattern bits

Leftmost: Bridgeport Gun Impmement Co (marked B.G.I. Co) has no centre point and only one cutting lip.
Middle bit has no centre point and two cutting lips.
Rightmost has a centre point and two cutting lips.

Die Stocks

This die stock takes standard (modern) 1 inch dies.

Countersinks

Left and middle: Rose head countersinks
Right: "snail" countersink

Screwdriver Bits

Left: Roberston #1
Centre & Right: flat bits marked 8 and 10 resp.

Reamers

Shell Reamer

Emhof Reamer for Windsor chair making.

Shell Augers

These are shaped like outcannel gouges.  They don't look like they would do anything, but they cut very nicely.

This shell auger has a cutting lip at the end.

Drill Bits

This drill bit is (I think) designed to cut holes in wood.

Drill bits for metal.  While you can apply a lot of force when drilling with a brace, the smaller bits (1/4 inch in this case) would probably not survive a lot of such use.

Gimlet Augers

Gimlet auger.  This one is NOS, never been used, and has pretty tempering colours. Also not a bit that would stand up to heavy handed use.

Centre Bits

NOS Marples bits, unused and still partially covered with wax or some such protective coating.

Spoon Bits

Emhof Spoon bits for windsor chair making.

Expansive Bits

These bits can be adjusted to cut a variety of different sized holes.

Large and small Snell expansive augers.

Auger Bits

A very broad category, with loads of variety...

Russell Jennings: two spurs and two lips, with a coarse lead screw.

Jennings pattern bit with very coarse lead screw, one spur and two lips.

Irwin Pattern (solid centre) bit.  Two lips and two spurs, with coarse lead screw.

Ship Auger with one lip and one spur, which are on opposite sides of a coarse lead screw.

Ship augers with no spurs, no lead screw, and one lip.  Barefoot auger?  Probably for boring end grain.

Ship auger with no spurs and one lip, and a lead screw.  They don't look like they had spurs that were filed off IMO.

Irwin pattern long auger with coarse lead screw, one lip and one spur.  Lip and spur are both on the same side of the lead screw.

Irwon pattern long auger with coarse lead screw, one lip and one spur.  Lip and spur are on opposite sides of the lead screw.

Darrell LaRue
July, 2006