I saw these two large (unusual sized) auger bits at a tool show last year and ever since then I've kicked myself for not buying them. Well, there was another tool show recently and I found them again, but remembered why I didn't pick them up last year - the larger one had had its square tapered shank cut off, presumably for use in a drill press. Sacrilege!!!!
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| 1 1/8" and 1 1/4" diameter Craftsman bits |
I tried using it with my largest brace, a 12" Fray, but the two-jaw chuck could not tighten sufficiently to keep it from slipping as I tried to bore a hole.
One of the guys at the show offered to help me fix it - he's a metal worker and would probable be able to weld on a donor shank. But he lives a little far from me, so I thought about it and decided to try something myself. I don't know if this will stand the test of time, but for now it is working.
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| I first traced the shank from the 1 1/8" bit onto a piece of metal, then cut it out and bent it into approximate shape |
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| Here's the too-large shank next to the two bits |
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| After cutting and filing it down a little, a test fit on the round shank. I had filed a bit of a square taper on the round shank for a better fit. |
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| Then I filled the new shank with JB Weld and stuck the bit into it and let it set up for a couple of days |
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| I had a piece of 7/64 wire, so drilled that size hole to pin the new shank in place |
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| Here, you can see the pin if you look carefully. I had epoxied the pin in place, then peened the ends and filed them down. |
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| And a test cut worked perfectly. |
I'm really happy about this. I hope it works permanently, but only time will tell. If I bore holes in tougher wood, the stresses might crumble the JB Weld. But it's good for now. Being able to save an old tool (maybe this one is not too old) and put it back to work is so damned satisfying!
