Search results

Yesterday, in Perth WA, I attended an event for elderly folk to showcase the many options available in retirement. Five of us, members of the hand Tool Preservation Society of WA, had a display which as usual drew a large amount of interest. One gentleman told me an extremely interesting story...

I used Google translate for your joke, but no interference from the Russians yet.

The sharpening method Andy laid out in #2 is how I would do it. To reduce tear-out on the exit, try clamping another piece of wood behind and you may also find boring a skinny pilot hole helpful as well. Cheers, Geoff.

Once again, well saved Andy, your link is much better. In my boring trial I was using an 8" brace on the end grain, but couldn't turn it on the side grain , so went up to a 12" which produced serious tear-out and made me abandon the test. This bit is a far from new or sharp and I'm reluctant to...

I gave the 3/4" Cox a trial on the end grain of a piece of structural pine and it pulled itself in very aggressively with minimal pushing form me. On the side grain it was that aggressive I stopped through fear of damaging it. A similar diameter Scotch bit with coarse thread didn't go so well on...

You'd think that Mr Cox would have made one first to make sure it was going to work on the species of wood he was intending to use it on prior to going to the trouble and expense of patenting it. The bits you find with fine or coarse lead screws are referred to by the manufacturer as being...

Some interesting videos there Nigel, thanks. Mike, I've used a very fine triangular file to tidy up the coarse threads, with varying success. Like you I am very reluctant to throw out old bits. Cheers, Geoff.

Thanks Andy, Very skilful operators to still have all their fingers. Cheers, Geoff.

The concrete outfit I worked for delivered conc' by the cubic meter. We also supplied premix which was sold by weight, to comply with the capacity of the vehicle or trailer the customer was towing. They needed to buy about 1.7 tonnes of premix and about 300Kg of cement if they intended mixing 1...

I don't think you can pin any nationality or race down to being better able to cope with high (or low) extremes of temperature. Me for example, originally from NZ of Welsh, Irish and English ancestry, came to Western Aus' as a 20 year old and got a job on a farm out in the Eastern wheatbelt. It...

I've had a set of drill bits (not Forstners) which are marked in increments of 1/2 mm up to 12mm, which I suspected were really imperial bits rebranded. Could this be the case with yours? Using an online calculator 13.6mm converted to 17/32" and 23.6mm equalled 59/64". Cheers, Geoff.

Thanks for your efforts Andy, I appreciate you taking the time to search. Geoff.

A friend of mine in the US recently purchased this ratchet corner brace branded HORLICK, and we are wondering if it may be British as he's pretty sure it's not American. There is a ratchet direction engage/disengage button either side and once selected a position lock on top. Any clues...

Jim Bodes site lists previously sold Stanley No 73 - 5In for $195, and one in stock for $125. At a recent M. J. Donnelly auction in the USA the same model sold for US$258.75! The tool description: "An extremely rare and essentially unused FIVE-INCH SWEEP RATCHET BIT BRACE, No. 73, by Stanley...

I agree, it is not a comfortable shape for a handle you'd grip to turn because of the gussets and the thin edge of the pad. Unless you're reaching above shoulder height which changes how your hand contacts the pad. So maybe it is for a valve on a toilet cistern mounted high on a wall? it seems a...

Hello all, What do you think this is? It looks like the shoulder pad of a breast drill, the only info' is "PATENT" stamped into the shank, tapered square socket on end without provision for a locking screw. Length overall: 4 1/2" length of pad: 4". Socket tapers from 21/32" to 15/32" over depth...

I've got what I thought was a button bit, but now thanks to James Price think it's probably a Piano Makers washer cutter (P40). When I first found this bit I thought it a modified centre bit and this belief is reinforced by Mr Price. I've used it to make buttons from bone and wood. He's also...

Yesterday I grabbed a piece of Marri (Corymbia Calophylla) from the fire-wood heap and had a test bore. First, a 11/32" branded Tyzack London, had been sharpened on the outside of the wings though from new or by a previous owner I wouldn't know. It bored the end grain quite well and check out...

I took about three of my original photo to get one that showed the wings clearly. You had me worried there for a minute Andy. Cheers, Geoff.

Andy what are you saying? They've two cutting wings, or am I reading you wrong? (it wouldn't be the first time I've erred) I've got about a dozen Gedge bits one of which is branded Cooper and Moulson, which, according to Geoffrey Tweedale, gives a time line of from 1870 to 1882, from when...