Fray bit brace

[jimwrench]

 For some unknown reason I like the look of a 6 inch sweep bit brace. When I got chance to own this one for $1 or $2 (hard to tell when all auction tickets say tool) I went into my normal twitch which auctioneer took to be a bid (it was).
It was rusty and crusty so when I got all that nasty patina off it ;it turned out to be a Fray and I'm happy,happy,happy.
If you leave that patina stuff on tools those sneaky collectors try to talk you out of your treasures but if you make them all shiny they leave you alone.

[Bill Houghton]

Congrats on a nice brace at a very nice price.

I like the 6" braces, too.  I also own one 7" brace, kind of an odd size.

[OilyRascal]

Beautifully made piece!

[mikeswrenches]

The 6 in. size is not real common in any brace, much less an old Fray.  They usually sell for quite a bit more than than the more common sizes.  I like the pewter rings on the old Fray's.  You did good on that one.

Mike

[rusty]

Didn't we have a thread about those and the neat pewter rings in the handle? or was that on the old forum?

It is a beautifully made tool, and it looks like it would work just fine for another 100 years.

From back when the folks who made tools understood that a master craftsman was going to examine their work daily for the next 50 years..

[scottg]

That is --really-- sweet!  And you didn't even have to replace the rings, how uncommon is that?
   I think its pretty early for a Fray ratchet brace. The super open head and oversized chuck collar both look early to me. 
If you keep it stored in ideal conditions you will get some mileage from the finish you made, but since the plating is essentially gone, it will darken. 
  I have blued a few braces and with a decent blue job, well oiled, they don't look or feel too bad in the hand at all.
    yours Scott
Yeah Rusty, I suspect you know who was talking about casting pewter rings.  It was what got me started casting pewter into tool handles of many kinds. :)
   

[RedVise]

I know the Fray braces have been discussed, and I benefitted from that discussion!

Brian