The Best Brace and Bit Sets
The brace is a U-shaped crank that drives an auger bit into wood using arm power and body weight. It requires no electricity, produces no noise, and bores holes with a precision and feel that no cordless drill can match. The auger bit's lead screw pulls the bit into the work; the cutting lips sever the fibers ahead of the chip lifters; the twist lifts the chips out of the hole as the bit advances. It is mechanical work at its most direct.
This page contains Amazon affiliate links. Every purchase supports the store.
How to Choose
The sweep -- the diameter of the U-shaped crank -- determines the torque available: a 10-inch sweep gives more leverage than an 8-inch sweep and is better for large bits. Auger bits are sized in 16ths of an inch: a #10 bit is 10/16 (5/8) inch. For boring mortises, chair holes, and through-tenons, a 6 to 12-inch sweep brace and a set of auger bits from 1/4-inch to 1-inch covers most work. Vintage American braces from Stanley and North Brothers are excellent and widely available at reasonable prices.
Vintage Stanley 803 10-Inch Sweep Brace
The Stanley 803 is the production brace that equipped American carpenters and woodworkers for most of the 20th century. A 10-inch sweep, ratchet mechanism that allows boring in tight quarters, hardwood handles, and a hardened chuck that accepts any square-taper auger bit. Vintage examples in good condition bore as well as the day they were made. This is the specification to look for in antique tool dealers and estate sales.
A ratchet brace allows boring in corners and against walls where a full sweep is not possible. The Stanley 803 is the most copied design in brace history.
Find on Amazon arrow_forward
Irwin 54 Solid Center Auger Bit Set
Irwin has been making auger bits in Wilmington, Ohio since 1885. The solid-center auger bit design is stronger than the earlier double-twist design: the solid web resists bending under the high torque of a brace. The 13-piece set covers 3/16 through 1 inch in 16th-inch increments. These bits bore clean, chip-free holes in hardwood and softwood without burning. A well-sharpened auger bit in a brace is faster in hardwood than a cordless drill.
Irwin has been making auger bits in Wilmington since 1885. The solid-center web is the design improvement that made the earlier double-twist design obsolete.
Find on Amazon arrow_forwardRelated Guides
Hardware wisdom, delivered Saturday.
New arrivals, care guides, and the history behind the goods.