Marples 2" bit

[Racers]

Hi, Chaps

I finally got round to cleaning and sharpening the 2" marples bit I got from the car boot sale.
I made a quick handle for it as its too big for my braces, it didn't last long it needs to be thicker.

It takes some turning :shock: and could be sharper, didn't leave a good hole in some cheap pine, maybe some better wood would help.

It makes very big chips.

Probbaly because of the coarse lead screw.

Pete

 

[No skills]

My my thats a big one.

:mrgreen:

 

[Dangermouse]

Always handy to have a bit on the side I say. especially such a big bit ! :mrgreen: :shock:

 

[Richard T]

Hi Pete,

I (my arms and shoulders mostly) have come to the conclusion that such wide bits with coarse screws are intended for green wood.

Also the type without the sticky - outy sharp bits on one side or both (there's probably a technical name for them) are never going to make a clean entry. I wonder if mortices would be pre - scribed/shallow cut with a chisel first ?

 

[Racers]

Hi, Richard

Yes, green oak would probbaly be a good choice of wood.
The first couple of chunke of wood I tried it in just split when I was half way through!

Spurs?

Pete

 

[Eric The Viking]

Pete,

As it hasn't got a spur, should the sides also be sharpened, so that the cutting edges and the sides form something like a corner chisel profile?

It looks like it's been sharpened a fair bit down the years - I'd have hoped for a slight "M" shape, rather than a "^" so that it starts to cut at the edge rather than in the centre. All mine have spurs though, which makes a lot of difference.

E.

 

[AndyT]

Pete's is a "Scotch" pattern auger - the sort with the extra cutters on to make the initial score-cut is a "Jennings" pattern which I think was a later invention. But I suppose if you sharpen the side cutters on a Jennings bit till there is nothing left, you will end up with a Scotch bit or something very much like it. Richard may need to borrow it when he gets round to making those lock gates he's gearing up for!

 

[Richard T]

Andy , ... again with the lock gates;... although it would be a great project, I think people round here would probably object. This is a particularly flat section of The Grand Union and an extra one or two lock gates snuck in would just confuse things. #-o

Though it's a tempting idea - all that iron work too ....