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
"dadiOH" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> One place that sells them...
> http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=toolshop&Product_Code=EE-8751.XX&Category_Code=TD
>
> Must be other places too as useful as they are. Irwin used to distribute
Yes, but they're metric. :)
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/Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=toolshop&Product_Code=EE-8751.XX&Category_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
On Jul 25, 11:19=A0pm, "Artemus" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Lee Valley sells an adapter so you can use hex shank bits in a brace.http=
://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=3D1&p=3D32300&cat=3D2,2180,41007
>
> 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:
>> 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
> 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
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" <[email protected]> wrote
>
> One place that sells them...
> http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=toolshop&Product_Code=EE-8751.XX&Category_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>
Lee Valley sells an adapter so you can use hex shank bits in a brace.
http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=32300&cat=2,2180,41007
Art
"Tom Dacon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> 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
>
>
"Tanus" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> 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.
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" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> 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)
>
>
On Jul 25, 7:47 pm, "Tom Dacon" <[email protected]> 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
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/Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=toolshop&Product_Code=EE-8751.XX&Category_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
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/
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)
Sorry, dadiOH. Didn't mean to sound cross. End of a long day.
Tom
"dadiOH" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> 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, SailsMan - I should have thought to look there - that's where I buy
my fasteners.
Tom
"SailsMan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:e3b4bae6-7b38-4ec1-91a2-a7a96a55bbb0@v39g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
> On Jul 25, 7:47 pm, "Tom Dacon" <[email protected]> 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
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" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> 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" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> 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/
I just tried that link this morning - the answer to my dreams - even Philips
drive !!!
Thanks,
Tom
"dadiOH" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> 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/Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=toolshop&Product_Code=EE-8751.XX&Category_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
>
>
>
You know, Artemes, that's not too bad an idea. It kind of appeals to me. And
the purists be damned.
Thanks,
Tom
"Artemus" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> 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.
>
>