Handyman Guide > Brace and Bit

A ratchet brace is a device to hold wood-boring tools. The ratchet assembly allows this tool to be operated in a limited space where it would be impossible for the handle of the brace to make a complete revolution.

Auger bits come in many sizes and are measured by sixteenths of an inch, beginning with 3/16 inch. The number stamped on the tang of the bit indicates the size of the hole the bit will make, measured in sixteenths of an inch. A bit stamped 8/16 would be a 1/2 inch bit.

The two main parts of a bit are the twist and the shank. The twist can be either single or double, and terminates in two points. The points score the circle to be cut, while the two sharp edges do the actual cutting. The screw at the center pulls the bit into the wood as it is turned. It is not necessary to get a complete set of bits at the start. One-fourth, 1/2, and 3/4 inch bits will be sufficient for many jobs.

When boring a vertical hole into a piece of wood, use a square to align the brace and bit with the wood. Once a bit is in the wood, it can be bent or broken if the position of the brace is suddenly changed. When boring deep holes, it is a good idea to remove the bit from time to time and prevent any possibility of choking the hole with waste wood. Bits are self cleaning, in that the waste wood will move up along the twist of the bit and come out at the top; but very often enough waste wood is left in the hole to cause difficulty.

Do not attempt to make a hole right through a piece of wood. Bore through one side until the screw of the bit appears on the bottom side. Remove the bit, turn the wood over, and place the screw of the bit in the opening made from the opposite side. By doing this you will avoid splintering the wood surface, which often occurs when the bit breaks through.

A device known as a bit gauge is used to prevent making a hole too deep. This tool is very handy, when using a bit, to remove excess wood, as is often necessary when making certain kinds of wood joints. The bit gauge fits over the bit and is then screwed on tightly at the proper depth for the hole. The same results can be obtained by drilling a hole in a block of wood and leaving the block on the bit. On the width of the block will depend the depth of the hole. The thicker the block, the shorter will be the portion of bit exposed for drilling.

An expansion bit is used for drilling holes larger than can be made with ordinary size bits. A rose countersink that can be fitted into the brace is used for boring conical holes to receive the heads of screws, so that the head will be flush with the surface of the wood.



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