Anybody know if anyone is still making screwdriver bits for braces? You used
to be able to just buy them at Sears, back in the 70's and before, but the
only place I see them nowadays - and it's extremely rare - is old tools
newsletters like Patrick Leach's, and I haven't seen any of them for sale
for years. And mine are getting kind of beat up.

Why do I want them, you may ask? They're terrific for work on old boats,
which tend to have hundreds of large-caliber bronze screws that have been in
place without movement for fifty years or more, and have no intention of
moving without encouragement.

Tom Dacon

Lee Valley sells an adapter so you can use hex shank bits in a brace.
http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page...t=2,2180,41007

Art

"Tom Dacon" wrote in message
diainc...
Anybody know if anyone is still making screwdriver bits for braces? You used
to be able to just buy them at Sears, back in the 70's and before, but the
only place I see them nowadays - and it's extremely rare - is old tools
newsletters like Patrick Leach's, and I haven't seen any of them for sale
for years. And mine are getting kind of beat up.

Why do I want them, you may ask? They're terrific for work on old boats,
which tend to have hundreds of large-caliber bronze screws that have been in
place without movement for fifty years or more, and have no intention of
moving without encouragement.

Tom Dacon

"Tom Dacon" wrote in message
diainc...
Anybody know if anyone is still making screwdriver bits for braces? You
used to be able to just buy them at Sears, back in the 70's and before,
but the only place I see them nowadays - and it's extremely rare - is old
tools newsletters like Patrick Leach's, and I haven't seen any of them for
sale for years. And mine are getting kind of beat up.

Why do I want them, you may ask? They're terrific for work on old boats,
which tend to have hundreds of large-caliber bronze screws that have been
in place without movement for fifty years or more, and have no intention
of moving without encouragement.

Tom Dacon

Is that the one with the tapered square on the shank? I have one with a #5
stamped on the taper. I've not used it in over 30 years. If you want it,
email me your address and its yours.
--
Ed
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome/

On Jul 25, 11:19*pm, "Artemus" wrote:
Lee Valley sells an adapter so you can use hex shank bits in a brace.http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page...t=2,2180,41007

Art
- Show quoted text -

The 1/4" hex shank bits would be fine for smaller screws, but for the
really big ones I think I'd keep looking for the old bits. The
antique tool guys probably aren't the best source, though, unless they
come across full boxes of NOS bits or rare makers that would command a
decent price.

The Lee Valley adapter with a 3/8" square drive male end would be a
better option if you can find bits to fit.

John Martin

Tom Dacon wrote:
Anybody know if anyone is still making screwdriver bits for braces?
You used to be able to just buy them at Sears, back in the 70's and
before, but the only place I see them nowadays - and it's extremely
rare - is old tools newsletters like Patrick Leach's, and I haven't
seen any of them for sale for years. And mine are getting kind of
beat up.
Why do I want them, you may ask? They're terrific for work on old
boats, which tend to have hundreds of large-caliber bronze screws
that have been in place without movement for fifty years or more, and
have no intention of moving without encouragement.

Tom Dacon

One place that sells them...
http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/M...tegory_Code=TD

Must be other places too as useful as they are. Irwin used to distribute
them, probably still does.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

"dadiOH" wrote in message
One place that sells them...
http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/M...tegory_Code=TD

Must be other places too as useful as they are. Irwin used to distribute

Yes, but they're metric.

On Jul 25, 7:47 pm, "Tom Dacon" wrote:
Anybody know if anyone is still making screwdriver bits for braces? You used
to be able to just buy them at Sears, back in the 70's and before, but the
only place I see them nowadays - and it's extremely rare - is old tools
newsletters like Patrick Leach's, and I haven't seen any of them for sale
for years. And mine are getting kind of beat up.

Why do I want them, you may ask? They're terrific for work on old boats,
which tend to have hundreds of large-caliber bronze screws that have been in
place without movement for fifty years or more, and have no intention of
moving without encouragement.

Tom Dacon

Jamestown Distributors

Here's another option which will make the purists scream in agony.
There are plenty of auger bits available which are now useless for their
original purpose. Cut the shank off of some and weld them to whatever
screwdriver bit you need.
Art

"John Martin" wrote
The 1/4" hex shank bits would be fine for smaller screws, but for the
really big ones I think I'd keep looking for the old bits. The
antique tool guys probably aren't the best source, though, unless they
come across full boxes of NOS bits or rare makers that would command a
decent price.

dadiOH wrote:
Tom Dacon wrote:
Anybody know if anyone is still making screwdriver bits for braces?
You used to be able to just buy them at Sears, back in the 70's and
before, but the only place I see them nowadays - and it's extremely
rare - is old tools newsletters like Patrick Leach's, and I haven't
seen any of them for sale for years. And mine are getting kind of
beat up.
Why do I want them, you may ask? They're terrific for work on old
boats, which tend to have hundreds of large-caliber bronze screws
that have been in place without movement for fifty years or more, and
have no intention of moving without encouragement.

Tom Dacon

One place that sells them...
http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/M...tegory_Code=TD

Must be other places too as useful as they are. Irwin used to
distribute them, probably still does.

You could also do it yourself...cut off the handle of a screw driver, grind
the shank down to a tapering square.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

"dadiOH" wrote

One place that sells them...
http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/M...tegory_Code=TD

Must be other places too as useful as they are. Irwin used to distribute
them, probably still does.

What?? no square drive?? G

Tom Dacon wrote:
Anybody know if anyone is still making screwdriver bits for braces? You used
to be able to just buy them at Sears, back in the 70's and before, but the
only place I see them nowadays - and it's extremely rare - is old tools
newsletters like Patrick Leach's, and I haven't seen any of them for sale
for years. And mine are getting kind of beat up.

Why do I want them, you may ask? They're terrific for work on old boats,
which tend to have hundreds of large-caliber bronze screws that have been in
place without movement for fifty years or more, and have no intention of
moving without encouragement.

Tom Dacon


IIRC, Lee Valley has them.



--

Tanus

http://www.home.mycybernet.net/~waugh/shop/

"Tanus" wrote in message ...
Tom Dacon wrote:
Anybody know if anyone is still making screwdriver bits for braces? You
used to be able to just buy them at Sears, back in the 70's and before,
but the only place I see them nowadays - and it's extremely rare - is old
tools newsletters like Patrick Leach's, and I haven't seen any of them
for sale for years. And mine are getting kind of beat up.

Why do I want them, you may ask? They're terrific for work on old boats,
which tend to have hundreds of large-caliber bronze screws that have been
in place without movement for fifty years or more, and have no intention
of moving without encouragement.

Tom Dacon


IIRC, Lee Valley has them.



--

Tanus


And while they may not be ideal, they do offer the option of teh brace
driver for bits (admittedly 1/4" shank, ot the 1/4" socket adapter.

Ya know what they say - beggers can't be chosers.

You could also do it yourself...cut off the handle of a screw driver,
grind the shank down to a tapering square.

Oh right, like I've got the time to do that.

Tom

And while they may not be ideal, they do offer the option of teh brace
driver for bits (admittedly 1/4" shank, ot the 1/4" socket adapter.

Ya know what they say - beggers can't be chosers.

Yeah, but those little suckers roll over and wave their feeble little feet
in the air when they're presented with a fifty-year-old 3" #16 screw that's
been happily untroubled for a half-century.

Tom

You know, Artemes, that's not too bad an idea. It kind of appeals to me. And
the purists be damned.

Thanks,
Tom

"Artemus" wrote in message
. ..
Here's another option which will make the purists scream in agony.
There are plenty of auger bits available which are now useless for their
original purpose. Cut the shank off of some and weld them to whatever
screwdriver bit you need.
Art

"John Martin" wrote
The 1/4" hex shank bits would be fine for smaller screws, but for the
really big ones I think I'd keep looking for the old bits. The
antique tool guys probably aren't the best source, though, unless they
come across full boxes of NOS bits or rare makers that would command a
decent price.

Tom Dacon wrote:
And while they may not be ideal, they do offer the option of teh
brace driver for bits (admittedly 1/4" shank, ot the 1/4" socket
adapter.

Ya know what they say - beggers can't be chosers.

Yeah, but those little suckers roll over and wave their feeble
little
feet in the air when they're presented with a fifty-year-old 3" #16
screw that's been happily untroubled for a half-century.

Just a suggestion but you might want to consider making up or having
made an adapter that takes half inch drive sockets, then you can get
bits up to 5/8 wide from Snap-On--SW40E is the part number for the bit
and adapter and SW40E2A for the replacement tips--you can order
directly off their Web site.

My temptation would be to get said bit and stick on a half-inch impact
wrench. If I busted it I would be out 40 bucks and know that doesn't
work. If not then problem solved.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

Tom Dacon wrote:
You could also do it yourself...cut off the handle off a screw driver,
grind the shank down to a tapering square.

Oh right, like I've got the time to do that.

Tom

Oh, excuse me...I didn't realize you couldn't spare 5-10 minutes.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Sorry, dadiOH. Didn't mean to sound cross. End of a long day.

Tom

"dadiOH" wrote in message
...
Tom Dacon wrote:
You could also do it yourself...cut off the handle off a screw driver,
grind the shank down to a tapering square.

Oh right, like I've got the time to do that.

Tom

Oh, excuse me...I didn't realize you couldn't spare 5-10 minutes.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Thanks, John. That sounds like a good tip. I've actually visited their site
looking for mechanics' tools. Their prices scared me half to death, but for
something like this it'd be worth it.

Tom

"J. Clarke" wrote in message
...
Tom Dacon wrote:
And while they may not be ideal, they do offer the option of teh
brace driver for bits (admittedly 1/4" shank, ot the 1/4" socket
adapter.

Ya know what they say - beggers can't be chosers.

Yeah, but those little suckers roll over and wave their feeble
little
feet in the air when they're presented with a fifty-year-old 3" #16
screw that's been happily untroubled for a half-century.

Just a suggestion but you might want to consider making up or having
made an adapter that takes half inch drive sockets, then you can get
bits up to 5/8 wide from Snap-On--SW40E is the part number for the bit
and adapter and SW40E2A for the replacement tips--you can order
directly off their Web site.

My temptation would be to get said bit and stick on a half-inch impact
wrench. If I busted it I would be out 40 bucks and know that doesn't
work. If not then problem solved.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

As usual, the collective wisdom of the wreck has come up with some very
useful suggestions. Thanks for taking the time to consider my problem.

Tom Dacon

"Tom Dacon" wrote in message
diainc...
Anybody know if anyone is still making screwdriver bits for braces? You
used to be able to just buy them at Sears, back in the 70's and before,
but the only place I see them nowadays - and it's extremely rare - is old
tools newsletters like Patrick Leach's, and I haven't seen any of them for
sale for years. And mine are getting kind of beat up.

Why do I want them, you may ask? They're terrific for work on old boats,
which tend to have hundreds of large-caliber bronze screws that have been
in place without movement for fifty years or more, and have no intention
of moving without encouragement.

Tom Dacon

I just tried that link this morning - the answer to my dreams - even Philips
drive !!!

Thanks,
Tom

"dadiOH" wrote in message
...
Tom Dacon wrote:
Anybody know if anyone is still making screwdriver bits for braces?
You used to be able to just buy them at Sears, back in the 70's and
before, but the only place I see them nowadays - and it's extremely
rare - is old tools newsletters like Patrick Leach's, and I haven't
seen any of them for sale for years. And mine are getting kind of
beat up.
Why do I want them, you may ask? They're terrific for work on old
boats, which tend to have hundreds of large-caliber bronze screws
that have been in place without movement for fifty years or more, and
have no intention of moving without encouragement.

Tom Dacon

One place that sells them...
http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/M...tegory_Code=TD

Must be other places too as useful as they are. Irwin used to distribute
them, probably still does.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Thanks, SailsMan - I should have thought to look there - that's where I buy
my fasteners.

Tom

"SailsMan" wrote in message
...
On Jul 25, 7:47 pm, "Tom Dacon" wrote:
Anybody know if anyone is still making screwdriver bits for braces? You
used
to be able to just buy them at Sears, back in the 70's and before, but
the
only place I see them nowadays - and it's extremely rare - is old tools
newsletters like Patrick Leach's, and I haven't seen any of them for sale
for years. And mine are getting kind of beat up.

Why do I want them, you may ask? They're terrific for work on old boats,
which tend to have hundreds of large-caliber bronze screws that have been
in
place without movement for fifty years or more, and have no intention of
moving without encouragement.

Tom Dacon

Jamestown Distributors