Grandpa's drill bits!

[HyperPete]

I just thought I would share - these were my grandpa's. I'm going to clean them up. I'm uncertain exactly how old they are. If you have information about them, I'd appreciate it! I have the hand drill that goes with them, too.

 

[rcktsled]

Wow my Dad had a set just like that! I wish I had it. BTW, the "hand drill" that goes with the bits is called a brace. Together, the set is called a brace and bits.

 

[mitusa]

That is a nice set of bits.....

The wooden box is way cool!!!!

It's yours to do what you want, but I'd be careful not to do too much cleaning......

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Those are simply amazing. Hope you have a great spot to show them off as the would make a great conversation piece.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Auger bits like those could be as new as yesterday or over 100 years old. You need to get some information of the tools or the box and do some of you own research with GOOGLE. Vintage Machinery might be another source for dating your stuff.

 

[drivesitfar]

Cool box and bits look like in pretty decent shape. i've got a few of the bits and several of the braces, but not a set that I know of.

do you have the brace (or drill) too or just the bits?

 

[The Cobbler]

I have a brace & bit set of my Grandfathers, he would be about 120 yrs old . I don't have a wooden case, just a cotton roll wrap that my grandmother probably made for him

 

[drivesitfar]

Cobbler: that reminds me i think i do have a set or two in cotton wraps. not my gramp's though.

 

[tarmy]

Some of the guys on the “Tool polishers” post might have some good info for you...a lot of those folks have some beautiful old tools...or knowledge about them...

 

[My Old Tools]

Jennings pattern auger bits were made into the 1960s at least. That wooden box probably dates to the 1940s or earlier. They are a pleasure to use. They were made with fine pitch lead screws for hard and dry wood, and with coarse pitch lead screws for green and soft wood. The lead screw literally pulls the bit through the wood unlike twist drill bits that require down force to work.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

When I started working we used to have the brace and bit. But we also were tooled out with electric drills. We used to grind odd the base and stick them in the electric drill. I do still have a few unmolested ones some new and some kinda buggered up. You Grandpa’s bits are a piece of history.

 

[The Cobbler]

here they are. I thought I had some larger bits, but I've had these since 1972 so who knows
and looking at the roll, it's probably not home made but rather came with the set

 

[nadogail]

When the lights go out, you can make the holes you need because you have the Original Cordless Drill.

 

[The Cobbler]

When the lights go out, you can make the holes you need because you have the Original Cordless Drill.

don't laugh, they used to cut off screwdrivers to put in these

 

[PugetDude]

25 + years ago I chewed through a dozen 9/16" x 18" long auger bits drilling holes for 1/2" rebar on a 150' long x 10' high railroad tie retaining wall- and burned up two 1/2" B&D Heavy-Duty 650RPM D-handle drills in the process. The bits were perfect for the project, they would just chew their way through tough, creosote-soaked railroad ties; a spade bit just gummed up. We'd hit the cutting edge with a file every dozen holes or so, but the embedded gravel would eventually ruin the bit.

 

[Slowboat]

I have a set that are very similar- also my grandfather’s.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: well if these old bits and that old brace bit weren't the first methods to drill holes they sure made it a bit easier than my auger bits.

here's a 2 inch one I own that's cleaning out some old fence posts where i'm installing new brackets for a new fence soon. I've never sharpened it and it still chews wood pretty quick.

 

[HenryAZ]

Double twist, too, which cut and clear much better. You can still buy double twist bits, but more often you find the single twist. I keep my double twist set in a roll for protection. The single twists are just bunched up in a drawer. It's nice to have a set like that in the original wood box.

If it's not in the box somewhere, you should invest in an augur bit file to keep them sharp.



Augur bit file at Lie-Nielsen Toolworks, also available at Amazon.

 

[58Yeoman]

Very nice set, and I'd leave it just as it is.

 

[HyperPete]

Thank you, everyone. I did some google searching and found a lot of info, including posts here. They are not uncommon, and like new sets can be purchased for between 80 and $120.

The cool factor for me is that they were my grandfather's. He came into Ellis Island from Russia as a boy in the late 1860s to early 1870s if I recall correctly. I would guess that these are from the 1890s or early 1900s.

Concerning cleaning, I am thinking about putting them in Evaporust to remove the surface rust. Since the Russel Jennings sets are relatively common, I may lightly sand and re-varnish the outside of the oak box.

The augers are pretty common, but I found that if the brace is also a Russel Jennings, that it could be very rare. It is still packed from my recent move, so I probably won't know until spring.

 

[HyperPete]

here they are. I thought I had some larger bits, but I've had these since 1972 so who knows
and looking at the roll, it's probably not home made but rather came with the set

My brace looks exactly like yours.

Here is a site where you can buy similar auger bit sets.

https://www.jimbodetools.com/pages/search-results-page?q=jennings

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

This got me thinking. I have 2 adjustable brace bits e/w 2 additional cutters. I didn’t think they were shanked for a brace but I’ll be damned they were. These were my FIL’s don’t know how old they are but he would be 112 years old if still around.
The others are mine forgot I even had them at home probably had them for 30 years or more. Had a bunch more I had forgotten about but the shanks were cut for a powered drill. I know I have more shanked bits at the lake that are with the brace. One still has the protective rubber coating on the auger.

 

[ChampChamp]

I just thought I would share - these were my grandpa's. I'm going to clean them up. I'm uncertain exactly how old they are. If you have information about them, I'd appreciate it! I have the hand drill that goes with them, too.

Lovely set to have, especially when they have some sentimental meaning attached to them...

 

[steve185]

Very cool. I really enjoy using tools from my grand father and his father.
Unless there is rust, I would not clean them.

 

[HyperPete]

There is a little surface rust. I'm going to put them in evaporust, and then possibly use a buffing wheel in a drill to clean them up.

 

[bonneyman]

That is a great old set!

 

[lilredex]

don't laugh, they used to cut off screwdrivers to put in these

They made bits like that. I have a few somewhere. But, not a red Robertson as I remember.

 

[mitusa]

There is a little surface rust. I'm going to put them in evaporust, and then possibly use a buffing wheel in a drill to clean them up.

Wouldn't it be easier to just use them in some soft wood???

That should remove most or all of the surface rust....spray them down with some oil......

 

[billybudge]

They look great, Wood auger bits, nice box too, I would give them a little light restoring and display them in the man cave,

 

[Copymutt]

When you get to be a geezer those will still be your most precious tools.

 

[HyperPete]

Thanks everyone. I guess I could be considered a geezer!
Running them through a 2X4 would be i great idea if I had the brace unpacked. I'll see if I can locate it, I think you're right, that would be a quick and easy way to clean off the surface rust, thank you!

I used them a couple of times in my old house - they bite well and drill fast. Great tools, but I agree, I am going to display them.

 

[Zackery]

I wish I got it i mean I will get it passed down to me eventually..... i cleaned there garage because i like to help them out but it is a nice piece . I want it such a classic and still works
welderreview.com

 

[XRlifer]

Cool find! I was looking through my dads old tools just last weekend (he was a carpenter back in the 60's and 70's) I found 2 canvas rolls of these while trying to find a large spade bit. The second bag was full of the adjustable bits. I couldn't figure out what tool would drive them...now I do!

 

[HyperPete]

I found the brace. Need to clean it up a hair...

 

[chase237]

When I cleaned out my grandpa's shed I wanted to do something with some of his tools so I did this.

 

[Grimpala]

When I cleaned out my grandpa's shed I wanted to do something with some of his tools so I did this.

How did you attach the tools to the board?

 

[chase237]

Wire, small drill bit, ran the wire around and through the back and just twisted both ends and bent it over.

 

[HyperPete]

When I cleaned out my grandpa's shed I wanted to do something with some of his tools so I did this.

That is AWESOME! Very nice! The old window frame is a nice touch.