[Woodcarver] Re: Augers and long drills

[Victor Hamburger]

> "Joe Dillett" <jdillett at thecarvingshop.com>



> I can only imagine the workout one would get from hand cranking that 

> auger through a timber. 

> 

> What I would be interested in getting is the type of augers they drilled 

> wooden water pipe. I'm told that they were smooth on the outside and 

> hallow like a pipe with about ¼ of the side opened up. The drilling end 

> was shaped like a spoon gouge with no sharp point. 


Joe,

The old hand augers had varying swing widths to the augers.  There is a whole 
bunch still advertised as Linesman augers for having an extra 2" or so of swing 
to them.  It sounds like Ray M knows exactly what I mean.  I can't imagine doing 
that job by hand either!

The bit you are looking for is known as a spoon bit.  They come in varying sizes 
and have tapered squared ends for hand augers.  Folks doing angled boring for 
windsor chairs use them extensively because you can bore at an angle without 
having the bit wander.  You can see them here: 
http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/default.php?cPath=269_323

This is just one supplier, but i found it by Googling "Spoon bit", so you can 
find others as well.

Best,  Vic H