If I were to buy a new brace, which one?

[Tim Null]

I know most of you will say to buy used, but for sake of argument, are there any new ones worth using?

[Bill Houghton]

EVERY homeowner had to have a brace back before and in the ten years or so after World War II - indeed, probably a little later; and so did every carpenter (one or more). There have got to be, based on my experiences at garage sales, ten or more of them available for every one of us who might be interested. In my area, they go for $1 each, as a rule. I've paid more than that only for especially clean or especially lustworthy examples. I'm up somewhere around 20 in my shop, and have donated at least that many to thrift stores.

If you live in a garage sale desert, put a "want" on the classifieds; if I have time after Thanksgiving, I'll even dig through my clump and see if I have an extra (PM me if you'd like me to do that).

I haven't seen a brace in the catalogs that would motivate me to spend retail money on one.

Not what you asked, I know...

[Carl Carew]

Gotta agree with Bill Today most things are value engineered to death These old ones and as Bill says there are many available were made to a higher standard. While there are some very good plane makers and chisel makers and saw makers today I don't think that there is a single "brace" maker of quality today. Pick up an older one and spend a little time on it, you will have a much better tool.

[Brian Ward]

I know most of you will say to buy used, but for sake of argument, are there any new ones worth using?

Well, Lee Valley will sell you one that they say works. It's probably pretty good.

(But of course, I would also say to get an old one.)

[Bob Jones]

Check with walt at brass city tools. He has some good users and bits for great prices. That is where I got mine. I give him too much of my money and I havebeen happy every time.

[Tim Null]

I thought that might be the response. I just wanted to know if there were any decent new ones and the jury seems to say.....NO! LOL

Unlike saws and planes, I guess nobody is making a usable brace. Except for Bridge City, but that is a bit more than I want to spend on a brace.

So now the question is what to look for in used?

I live in Santa Clarita, a bedroom community outside of Los Angeles. I don't think it is old enough to have a lot of garage sale stuff like old tools. I haven't seen any.

But honestly, I am not really a garage sale kind of guy. Any good sites to buy used? I have been looking on the Creek Classifieds, but have not seen anything lately.

Thanks for your input.

Tim

[Joel Goodman]

I would go to Sandy Moss ( sydnassloot.com ), Patrick Leach or Walt at Brass City Records -- they are all knowledgeable and honest. If you want a brace that can hold round bits as well as the square shank auger bits mention that. Also sweep is a choice -- I have 6,10 and 12"; the bigger brace is for bigger bits. 10" is the most common. I have Stanley 923's which work fine and hold everything. The Bell System braces are very well thought of. Also do you want rosewood handles or is composition OK? And if you want a looker with all the plating intact you'll pay a premium -- but braces are not very expensive in any case. But discuss your needs and wishes with any of those gents and you should be fine. Any they all will take back anything that's not satisfactory -- although I doubt you'll need that!

[Andrae Covington]

Any of the antique tool dealers mentioned will sell you a good brace that will work well. If you don't want to pay their prices, brace drills on ebay routinely expire with no bids selling for $5-$10 plus shipping. I've yet to buy one that didn't function, though one of mine is pretty sloppy from years of (ab)use.

[Mel Miller]

Jon Zimmers, a personal friend, has some very good user tools on his website:

http://www.jonzimmersantiquetools.com/

Mel :)

[Andrew Gibson]

I picked up a 6" brace at the Webster flea market on monday for $10 (check out my thread to see it)
I have been watching the bay for a 6" and they all seem to go for $40+ so when I found that one for $10 I popped fast, probably could have talked him down to $7.

There were a bunch of 8" and 10" braces there that I am sure could have been had for $5 or $10.

Braces are simple tools, good wood and good chuck jaws usually mean a good tool. If the ratchet works (if there is one) it's a good tool. IMO that's about it.

[Rob Lee]

Well, Lee Valley will sell you one that they say works. It's probably pretty good.

(But of course, I would also say to get an old one.)

Yup - we have new ones.... but I'd also advise buying one used.... they're not only less expensive - but will likely be better made...

Cheers -

Rob

[Joel Goodman]

Yup - we have new ones.... but I'd also advise buying one used.... they're not only less expensive - but will likely be better made...

Cheers -

Rob

And that's from the horse's mouth!

[Eric Brown]

Some addition considerations for you to think about:
Most brace users have more than one brace for good reasons.
A smaller sweep turns faster, which works well for countersinks and smaller bits. A larger sweep allows you to turn larger bits easier.
If you are smaller in build, sometimes the larger brace is better.
If doing lots of countersinks, a brace without a ratchet is lighter.
(Spofford style, etc.)
Ratchets allow positioning the handle for maximum torque.
Ball bearing chucks tighten better and release better too.

Another consideration are the bits and the types of holes you want.
The Irwin solid center style makes fast holes in pine and are harder to keep straight in the hole than the Jennings pattern. (Practice minimizes this issue). The Jennings pattern makes smoother holes in most situations that you will run into.

Spoon bits, and screwdriver tips are also handy.

I suggest you chose your bits and then get braces to handle them.
All the above mentioned dealers have good service.
Personally I like the Peck-Stow & Wilcox Sampson style of ratchet braces with the Bell system ones a close second.

Eric

[Tim Null]

Thanks Eric, that makes a lot of sense. I am 6'1" and 220 lbs, so size is not a problem. I have multiple powered drills to do different tasks so it only stands to reason that hand powered would follow suit.

[Kevin Grady]

Jon Zimmers, a personal friend, has some very good user tools on his website:

http://www.jonzimmersantiquetools.com/

Mel :)

Thanks for the link and endorsement. Just ordered a Miller Falls 14" sweep brace from him. I've been looking for a brace with a 14" sweep for a while.

[George Clark]

Link to a user brace of a model that some say is one of the best braces ever made. Price is right. I have no affiliation and would by them myself but I already have too many.

George

http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=5142584&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=

[Tim Null]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone used the brace from Traditional Woodworker? It is not cheap and seems to be better made than the inexpensive ones from the other vendors.

[Kevin Grady]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone used the brace from Traditional Woodworker? It is not cheap and seems to be better made than the inexpensive ones from the other vendors.

I have no experience with either, but that looks a lot like the one Lee Valley offers.

[Brian Ward]

I live in Santa Clarita, a bedroom community outside of Los Angeles. I don't think it is old enough to have a lot of garage sale stuff like old tools. I haven't seen any.


That area should have estate sales with something, but you'd definitely have to spend some time on finding them. Others here have mentioned some good sources, and I do think it's probably worth it to get something that a good vendor recommends. I have only two things to add (assuming we're only talking about "modern" braces here):

First, weight varies between models with different chuck styles. A Barber-style chuck is much lighter than something like the Pexto "Samson" or Millers Falls "Lion" chucks. The "Holdall" chucks are somewhere in between. This weight makes a big difference in how you'll balance the brace in your hands. In practice, you'll adjust to anything.

Second, get an auger bit file, because it's likely that you'll find yourself with bits that have issues. See, Rob, that's a brace-related thing someone can buy from you that's hard to find used!

[Johnny Kleso]

I would say to check eBay and look for a Stanley 2101a Bell System Brace they are pretty much the best braces ever made and sell for $25-$45

My next two favorites are a Stanley's 923's and 918Gs'