Pianotech

  • 1.  Hand Brace Drill Bits

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-24-2025 16:25

    Hi everyone,

    We have a hand brace drill in our shop at my university that is really helpful for getting plate screws out, and all kinds of things... but all of the bits have gone missing. I was trying to find some online, and have had zero luck outside of ebay, which I am not allowed to order from. Does anyone know of a "real" vendor somewhere that sells square shank bits for hand brace drills? Or anyone have extra ones they would be willing to part with? Specifically, we need flathead and phillips head bits.

    Thanks!



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    Robert Wilkinson RPT
    Rochester NY
    (706) 945-4496
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  • 2.  RE: Hand Brace Drill Bits

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-24-2025 17:57

    Lee Valley and Taylor Toolworks make adapters that take hex head or sockets.

    Perhaps someone can get the originals on Ebay and gift them, or find some workaround. The phillips tips seem hard to get but they are useful. 



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    Steven Rosenthal RPT
    Honolulu HI
    (808) 521-7129
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  • 3.  RE: Hand Brace Drill Bits

    Member
    Posted 02-25-2025 02:20

    I'm not sure if this will help but Lee Valley Tools sells an adapter that goes from a tapered square drive to a hex or 3/8" socket drive. 
    https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/drills/100081-brace-drivers-for-screws-and-sockets



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    John Nasta
    Brooklyn NY
    nastanyc@gmail.com
    (646) 515-7594
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Hand Brace Drill Bits

    Member
    Posted 02-24-2025 20:23

    Hi Robert,

    Is there any chance that Schaff part #878, #879, or #68 would work? They are designed to fit into a tuning lever  and I wonder if they might fit in a hand brace. Not sure if it would work or not. Just an idea to look into.



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    Trevor Penner
    Hillsboro KS
    (620) 877-0306
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  • 5.  RE: Hand Brace Drill Bits

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-25-2025 09:39

    Tools for working wood has jennings pattern auger bits with tapered square shanks:

    https://toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/MS-JB.XX/Jennings+Pattern+Auger+Bit+for+Braces



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    Wesley Owen RPT
    Evanston IL
    (847) 257-5554
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Hand Brace Drill Bits

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-25-2025 10:26

    Years ago I took one of those Schaff bits meant for a tuning lever and ground it square for a brace. It works!



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    John Pope
    University of Kentucky School of Music
    Lexington, KY
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Hand Brace Drill Bits

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-25-2025 12:05
    I have a Stanley 02-253 hand brace and i just tried the tools that fit a tuning hammer from Schaff.  They fit this brace.  I believe that any tips that have a square tapered base will fit a hand brace.  Also try Bolduc, 
    My father built many houses and used a hand brace with auger bits to run plumbing and wiring.
    Remember tighten perimeter plate bolts too much and you crush the dowels and change the height of the plate. 

    Good luck
    Jessica Masse RPT
    Sent from Gmail Mobile