Subject: Fixed some auger bits Sent: 9/25/99 9:55 PM To: Old Tools, oldtools@listserv.law.cornell.edu Esteemed Galoots, I was supposed to be cleaning up my shop today so I can make some shelving for our recently cleaned out storeroom when I had an sudden urge to try out my newly acquired 3/16" Russell Jennings bit. Yep, you don't see auger bits with just a '3' stamped on them every day. Anyways, faster than you can say 'severe avoidance behavior', I got to fooling around and eventually dragged out a #12 auger bit with a fine lead screw that was perfectly good in every respect save that the lead screw was a real jammer. Every time I tried to use the danged thing, the bit would stop pulling itself through the wood and the threads of the lead screw would end up tightly packed with wood. The threads on this bit were a little rough and the grooves had some rust in them, although were not pitted. I had previously tried a couple of different approaches to cleaning out the threads but to no avail. I was thinking how my best auger bits have polished threads that aren't overly sharp. These bits work well and never jam. It occurred to me to try some gentle filing to straighten out the worst threads followed by drilling into wood treated with buffing compound. I gently filed the roughest of the threads with an X-acto 1/2 round needle file, the only file I have that could get into the grooves at all, and drilled the beginning of a hole in maple scrap. I drilled the hole until the screw was about half buried, backed out the bit, forced some emery (gray, gritty) buffing compound into the hole and stuck the bit back in. I advanced the bit until the screw was buried and the spurs were beginning to cut and backed it out and in several times. After about 30 seconds of this, I backed the bit out and examined the threads. Not bad! I repeated the procedure with a fresh hole and checked again. The threads were smooth and polished. I tried the rehabilitated bit out on some fresh scrap and it worked well - no jamming. I had a couple of other bits in the 'loser' pile, both jammers, and the procedure worked on them. Anyways, I guess I ought to get back down there and finish cleaning up. Guess I can cease my endless searching for a backup #12 auger bit now. **************************** Tom Price (TomPrice@aol.com) Brakes For Rust
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