16" sweep brace, were they ever made?

[Chuck Nickerson]

If so, would any of our friendly neighborhood collectors/vendors with an extra send me a PM?

Thanks,
Chuck

[harry strasil]

http://www.josephmarc.com/page-5350.html

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=auger+brace+8+inch+sweep&ei=utf-8&fr=slv8-msgr&xargs=0&pstart=1&b=11

[Gary Herrmann]

I got curious so I surfed a bit:

MF 729, 729a, 769, 1769.

[harry strasil]

why such a big sweep, I have up to 14 inch spofford chuck braces, and a spofford chuck wimble brace. but they not for sale

[Chuck Nickerson]

Why such a big sweep? Two reasons I guess.

1. I've decided to get smart about using and rehabbing braces, so I'm getting a variety of sizes. I've already got sweeps from 6" to 14". If 16" exists, it's the next one to track down.

2. I'm planning to use a brace to power some tap and die work, so the extra leverage would be nice.

[Chuck Nickerson]

After following Gary's lead, I learned that in addition to a 16" sweep, MF also made a 4" sweep!

The hunt is on.

[Gary Herrmann]

4"? What is that a yankee screwdriver? :rolleyes:

[James Mittlefehldt]

1939 Stanley catalogue lists one 16" brace No. 813, the smallest they have is a 6" No. 923. They offered several sizes for each model number, and surpriseing to me but probably not to others is they used Cocobolo for the handles.

I have four braces three of which are dedicated to one general task, two 10" and two 12", did not plan it that way just worked out that way. In this area you rarely see anything bigger or smaller than those two sizes.

[Chuck Nickerson]

Gary - I saw some reference to the 4" sweep being intended for piano makers.

[Jim Koepke]

Just searching on that auction site that shall not be named, these interesting engineering ideas from days gone by popped up...

I have the Stanley version of the lateral, wooden handled cabinet makers brace.

jim

[Roger Bell]

And then there is the Whimble pattern. Image taken from the internet and credit shown. The point of a larger swing is to allow greater torque. The Whimble does not feature a 16" swing, strictly speaking.....

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff46/maia007/brya2101W.jpg

These braces permit the user to drill where a VERY significant degree of torque is desired. I run an 1 1/2" auger bit in mine (Yankee 2100) to drill 12"-16" deep holes in green logs. I don't believe they would normally be used in a WW shop.

BTW, the image shown (far left) in Jim's post....a ratchet corner bit brace, is among the handiest tools that I own. A real butt-saver. The one I use now is a Stanley 982 but I have had Goodell Pratt's and MF's in the past.