bit brace modification
I’ve been moving towards hand tool work but I didn’t want to buy a new set of drill bits for my grandfather’s bit and brace that takes square shank bits. Three jaw bit braces exist but the chucks they use are disappointing. Some poking around revealed that the chuck on the brace is held in place with a rolled spring pin. I knocked the pin out and measured the chuck shank to be 0.485” in diameter. I bought a 1/2” drill chuck with a JT33 to MT2 adapter. Since a morse taper #2 is >0.572” in diameter I could turn it down on a lathe. Using a file and my wood lathe didn’t work but I was able to borrow some time on a buddy’s metal lathe. ...
