What is it [Archive] - Sawmill Creek Woodworking Community

Peter Milano

10-13-2021, 9:44 AM

Found this in a box lot of misc. items that I bought at a tool auction about a week or so ago. Any idea what it is? Seems like something that would go in a bit brace and it looks like a cutter or part of a cutter. Hoping someone here might know. Thanks

Patrick Morris IV

10-13-2021, 11:04 AM

tenon cutter

Lee Schierer

10-13-2021, 11:15 AM

tenon cutter

I agree, a round tenon cutter.

Jim Koepke

10-13-2021, 12:42 PM

tenon cutter

I agree, a round tenon cutter.

Also known as a hollow auger:

466372

One is being used in my post "The Baluster Project" > https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?293833

jtk

Peter Milano

10-14-2021, 7:16 AM

Thanks for all the responses. I've been following Jim's post on the balusters but I guess I didn't look closely enough.

Jim Koepke

10-14-2021, 9:50 AM

Thanks for all the responses. I've been following Jim's post on the balusters but I guess I didn't look closely enough.

Yours looks to be an earlier design. Mine has a couple of 1900 patent dates stamped on it.

There were quite a few different designs on these. Some were of fixed sizes and some where adjustable.

They are a useful tool to have. If a spoke pointer isn't available the end of the piece being made into a round tenon can be shaped with a chisel or rasp.

jtk

Peter Milano

10-15-2021, 8:09 AM

I think you are correct Jim. I googled hollow auger and there is one on Ebay that looks exactly like the one I have. Heading says "Vintage George N. Stearns Hollow Auger Patent 1872." The only difference between mine and the Ebay listing is the word STEARNS was clearly cast into the Ebay one. It is not on mine. I haven't been able to find any markings on it.

Jim Koepke

10-15-2021, 6:36 PM

I think you are correct Jim. I googled hollow auger and there is one on Ebay that looks exactly like the one I have. Heading says "Vintage George N. Stearns Hollow Auger Patent 1872." The only difference between mine and the Ebay listing is the word STEARNS was clearly cast into the Ebay one. It is not on mine. I haven't been able to find any markings on it.

You never know what happens in the world of tool making. George N. Stearns died in 1877. His son Edward C. Stearns took over the company and changed the name. The older design may have been sold to hardware distributors with no name on it. It wouldn't be the first time something like that happened.

jtk