the low down on auger bits for braces

[wvtools]

I sell tools on Ebay under the wvtools handle/Ebay Store name.  I do not know how I got started with bits, but one of my specialties is different oddball types of auger bits and nicer Irwin and RJ pattern bits.  I have to buy that many to find the odd ones and good ones.   I sell a lot of the nicer ones to people who are looking to fill out sets.  I sell a lot of the oddball bits to international customers, particularly Australia.

Whenever I can find a tool hoarder auction, I try to buy all or a lot of the bits.  I get a lot of bits that are not very good.   I used to be able to move those at the flea market, but those days are over.  I usually sell those to artists/welders/sculptors for about what I pay for them or a little less.

John/WVTools

[Branson]

My great-great grandfather on my Dad's side came here from Germany in 1881, and his son, my great-grandfather was born either in Germany just before the ship journey, or on the water. Both of them came to Dayton, Ohio, and were cabinet-maker-type carpenters. I think my gg-grandfathers brother or cousin was already here, and also a carpenter. When my great-grandmother died (Last of her generation) I inherited one of my great-grandfather's wooden tool chests, and all the tools in it. Some of the old planes, etc, still bear my ancestors' names and/or initials. I have some incredible works of wooden art (furniture) that my g-grandfather made.

I don't know much about old woodworking tools, so I am very grateful for this thread, and others like it.

Thanks!

Are you ever lucky!   Post some pictures if you will.  I'd love to see the chest and the tools!  I missed out on my great-grandfather's tools, except for the few my grandfather had.  His brother followed the trade and had all his father's tools, along with a lifetime of collecting others.  Two weeks after his death, his widow gave them all to a neighbor.  Sigh.

[Lump]

Branson,
Oh man, I am SO sorry to learn that you lost out on the chance to own your ancestor's tools. Handed-down tools are really, really important to me. It will be so cool to share them with others who can appreciate them.

Right now I am in a desperate struggle to get a 129-acre fairgrounds in shape for the huge swap meet/car show event that I run. It happens Memorial Day weekend, May 25, 26, and 27, and I have been working till dark every single day for over a week, and must keep it up till the show is over. THEN I will be delighted to post photos. Indeed, many of these tools have not seen daylight in several years....literally. I have never found anyone else who gave a damn about them, but me. So, thanks for showing some interest in them. You've made my day.

[Papaw]

Lump- post a blurb about your swap meet! Links, etc.

[Branson]

My uncle had been just buried two weeks before, so I wanted to wait a decent time before talking to my aunt.  They went to a good place, though, a neighbor who knew my uncle well and would care for the tools.  But then, I do have a few, though a very few, tools that my grandfather had from him, and important tools that my grandfather had as well.

[Lump]

Lump- post a blurb about your swap meet! Links, etc.

[/i]
Papaw,
Our event is now 26 years old, and I believe it is the largest automotive swap meet event in the midwest, and one of the top 7 or 8 in the world. Last spring we sold 4,011 vendor spaces, and in our car corral we had 986 registered cars for sale on the lot. We also have a show car section with about 1,000 cars over all 3 days (though we are a swap meet first, and we do not emphasize the car show). We are blessed to have some major-league vendors there, like Coker Tire, Danchuk, Performance Years Pontiac parts, Lutty's, Right Stuff Detailing, Auto Metal Direct (AMD), Dennis Carpenter, Harmon's, Pypes, Brookville Roadster, Bumper Boyz, and...well, you get the idea.

You can see lots of photos, and check out some details at our website, if you like, at the following link: http://www.ohioswapmeet.com/spring.html

Papaw, thanks for letting me share that with the guys. I would not want to abuse the system, but I do like to show them why it is taking all my time these days.

Also, I am giving serious consideration to creating a giant show like this for tools, garages, etc. Do you think anyone would come???

Maybe I should ask that question in a thread???

[Bill Houghton]

...were as small as 1 (1/16")...

Correction: auger bits went/go down to 3/16"*.  When you get down to 1/16", you're looking at twist bits or push drill bits or (not as common) what some folks call "points," which are like push drill bits but with a smooth shank, used in eggbeater drills.

Hard to imagine how anyone could make, much less sharpen, an auger bit 1/16" in diameter.

*And I can confirm that the 3/16" is uncommon.  I don't buy anything like WV's annual count - I may have purchased 150 in my entire life - and have found exactly one 3/16" bit, which I'm keeping.

[keykeeper]

Imagine that, a topic on Auger bits for braces.......I just bought a complete Lakeside set with the original tool roll they came in. Haven't had time to really look at each or clean them up, but from what I can tell, they are in great condition give or take a rust spot or two on them.

[scottg]

Also, I am giving serious consideration to creating a giant show like this for tools, garages, etc. Do you think anyone would come???

Maybe I should ask that question in a thread???

   The Best in the West show, is this year!
Every 4 years in the Pac NW, the currently largest tool show in the nation happens.
 There is a core group of merry pranksters behind the scenes, who make the most outrageously beautiful tools as "favors" for each event.
  http://www.tooltimer.com/PNTCBest.htm

I think So. Ohio could be plain dynamite for a big tool show! There are many hundreds of collector/dealers nearby, and they would come from all over the planet to a well hosted, well pitched in advance, event.

 I could picture three huge shows in rotation, with a real chance of success.
   East,  mid and west (which we already have).

 Go for it!!
 
  If you bypass the MWTCA?  (largest tool collecting group in the country with an ugly stranglehold on everything) 

   Find an open venue and rent your spaces reasonable, and don't try to gouge every buyer for 50 bucks a head.  (This tactic makes it cheaper for the richest dealers who want their events in spitting distance of a major airport with a luxury hotel attached.  Making the rent for the event hall ludicrous)
 
   If you do this? Make it wide open and cheap as it should be??
 I believe you can break up the old monopoly to the relief of the well<90% of the community.
  yours Scott   

 

[RedVise]

Good Thread !!  Made me dig into the box I have been throwing the auger bits into over the couple of years.
First pic has the elusive #3, 2 #4, #5 and a #22.
The second pic has a #6, #7, and #8, which due to the round shank are for eggbeater drills ??? Wasnt sure about this.

Thanks

Brian L.

[Papaw]

A big tool event in the Midwest would certainly draw a bunch of people. Especially if it is set up so that small-time, poor collectors like me could possibly attend.

[Lump]

I don't want to hijack this excellent thread on auger bits, so later I will start a separate thread, when my swap meet coming up Memorial Day Weekend is finally over.

In the meantime, suffice it to say that to fit with my style of producing shows, general admission fee for spectators would need to be about $5 per person, under 12 free. Vendor spaces should be $60 - $80 per space, whether indoors or out. I would like to have demonstrations going on several times per day. It seems to me that you would want some specialized areas, like a blacksmith zone, woodworking area, automotive mechanic's tools and equipment, garage design and storage solutions, and...well, you get the idea. Heavy advertising should draw in the consumer-public, so that vendors will have a willing audience for their wares.

But you can see most of my style of event-mgmt, but visiting my show link from above, and clicking on vendor info.

Ok, I will post no more on here about a midwest tool show. Let's go back to talking about auger bits. I've learned a bunch on this thread already, and I want to learn more. I promise to launch a new thread about this after next week. Cheers!

[johnsironsanctuary]

I have repurposed a few of them. I have dozens in that drawer.  I cut the square drive end off and grind away the screw thread leaving a smooth point. They work fine in a 400 rpm big drill gun. If you don't take off the screw lead, you will go for an exciting drill gun ride. The lead pulls the bit in too fast for you to hang on.

[OilyRascal]

The lead pulls the bit in too fast for you to hang on.

:) I often wondered how that would work.

[rusty]

They are a little more friendly in a drill press -P