Brace (tool)

Types

Bits used to come in a variety of types but the more commonly used Ridgeway and Irwin-pattern bits also rely on a tip called a snail, which is a tapered threaded screw that pulls the bit forward.

Handle

The U-shaped handle is a crank. It gives the brace much greater torque than other kinds of hand-powered drills. A brace and bit can be used to drill wider and deeper holes than can a geared hand-powered drill. The cost of the greater torque is lower rotational speed; it is easy for a geared hand drill to achieve a rotational speed of several hundred revolutions per minute, while it would require considerable effort to achieve even 100 rpm with a brace.

Spindle

The front of the brace consists of a chuck spindle with V-shaped brackets or clamps inside. Turning the spindle of the chuck in a clockwise direction tightens the drill bit in the chuck; turning counterclockwise loosens the bit for removal.

The U-shaped crank has a wooden spindle on it and—along with the top spindle—is allowed to freely turn under the hands without stressing the hands, thus preventing blisters.

Gear release

In most modern braces, immediately behind the chuck is a three position gear release that allows ratcheting of the handle when in tight spots. Turning the gear release from the center position allows ratcheting the brace in the required direction. Turning the gear release fully clockwise lets it remove wood in a clockwise direction with the ratchet action going counterclockwise. Placing the gear release fully counterclockwise allows turning the brace and bit in a counterclockwise direction, usually to remove the drill bit from the hole. The center position of the gear release prohibits the ratcheting effect.

Alternative names

The brace has other names. Bit brace is the most often used name, but carpenter's brace, ratchet brace (if a ratchet mechanism is incorporated into the design), and swing brace are also commonly used.

Citations

General and cited references

• Adamson, John, "The Ultimatum brace: a feat of engineering", Furniture & Cabinetmaking, issue 264, December 2017, pp. 52–5
• Eaton, Reg (1989). The Ultimate Brace: A Unique Product of Victorian Sheffield. King's Lynn: Erica Jane Publishing
• Russell, David R., with Robert Lesage and photographs by James Austin, cataloguing assisted by Peter Hackett (2010). Antique Woodworking Tools: Their Craftsmanship from the Earliest Times to the Twentieth Century Cambridge: John Adamson , "Boring tools: drills and braces", pp. 459–90
• {{Cite book | author-link = Lynn Townsend White Jr.

References

1. {{harvnb. White. 1962