Deep.See.Bits™ are bits with marking bands every ½” (in the Imperial-sized bits; 10mm in the metric-sized bits). They look like they could be a reasonable alternative to plastic or metal depth stops and the ever-popular masking tape. I recently tried to drill some shallow holes in plywood using a metal depth stop, and the drill flutes kept getting clogged because the depth stop prevented the drill from clearing. M.POWER®, from Wiltshire, England, makes Deep.See.Bits™ as HSS twist bits for hardwoods, metal, and plastics, or as carbon steel brad points specifically for woodworking. All bits are available in both metric and Imperial sizes. Japan Woodworker carries an eight-piece brad-point set (1/8″, 5/32″, 3/16″, 1/4″, 9/32″, 5/16″, 11/32″, and 3/8″) for $19.75, but it can be found online for $12.63.

Deep.See.Bits™ [Manufacturer's Site]
Etched-Index 8 Piece Bradpoint Drill Set [Japan Woodworker]
Street Pricing [Google Products]

Many of Bridge City Tool Work’s tools make it into our Tool Pr0n category, but their limited edition CT-16 palm brace has got to be one of the most frivolous offerings since the $100 plumb bob.

Bridge City Tool Works crafts the brace from steel, stainless-steel, and aluminum and then chromes the outer chuck, swing handle, and knob in black, a look which they call “stunningly beautiful.”  The handle of the 8-1/2″ inch long brace swings in a 4-1/2″ circle around the bit and accepts 1/4″ hex shank bits in its chuck.

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In a world where cordless seems to capture all the headlines, it’s always nice to see some love directed towards corded lines as well, like this new 3/8″ corded tradesman’s drill from Milwaukee. With an all-metal gear case and chuck, a whopping eight amp motor, and 0-2800 RPM variable speed, this sucker should really tear through wood and metal.

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Eagle Tool Company’s sheet metal installation tool lets you pre-drill holes and drive hex head metal screws without changing bits. They build a hex driver socket into the tip of a sliding barrel, so when the barrel is locked in the forward position you can drive screws and when you twist the barrel and slide it back you can drill.

Eagle Tools hardens the hex drive socket to make it durable and they claim the tool’s quick change shank fits most quick change drivers, which means the shank must be 1/4″ hex. When you break the drill bit, you can buy a kit that comes with three replacement drill bits, an Allen wrench, and three replacement set screws.

Eagle sells installation tools both for 1/4″ and 5/16″hex head screws. I can’t find either tool for sale anywhere on the web and they don’t list retail pricing on the site, but I can confirm I saw the 1/4″ driver on sale at Menards for a little more than $10.

Sheet Metal Installation Tool [Eagle Tool Company]

TM had a preview of the Milwaukee SwitchBlade Selfeed bits on 7/9/2008. Tools of the Trade recently published a test of these replaceable-blade self-feeding bits by John Mytle, an owner of a plumbing and heating business. He concluded that “Milwaukee has come up with a welcome revolution in quicker and easier maintenance of these expensive bits.” As an online bonus, John also gives a short tutorial on his method of sharpening self-feeding drill bits.

Milwaukee SwitchBlade Selfeed bits [Manufacturer's Site]
First Test: Milwaukee SwitchBlade Bits [Tools of the Trade]
Milwaukee 1-½” SwitchBlade Selfeed Bit Via Amazon [What’s This?]

We previously covered Trend’s Routabout jig for cutting replaceable access hole covers, but recently they revealed a new system that looks much simpler to use because it utilizes a 1/2″ drill instead of a router. You simply drill a 102mm (4″) hole into 18mm (.0708″) or 22mm (7/8″) chipboard, plywood, OSB, or plasterboard and cover it with either a metal or mesh plate.

The Cavity Access System comes with a 102mm hole saw with a heavy duty arbor and pilot drill, a 120mm (4-3/4″) rebate cutter for cutting the cover plate recess, five steel covers, and a waste removal tool all packaged in a plastic case. The system will run you 65 pounds or about $105, not including shipping and taxes.

Cavity Access System [TRT]
Cavity Access System [Miles Tool & Machinery]

So you have an older quality Jacobs chuck that has problems — maybe it’s stuck and could use a good cleaning, or perhaps the problems are more severe from a lifetime of spinning bits in the jaws and you need to replace parts. How the heck do you do it?

Jacobs has a short guide up on their website but we found two (#1, #2) other sites that detail how to disassembe and reassemble the standard Jacobs chuck. Once you get it apart you can inspect for damage. You’ll have to buy a repair kit that consists of new jaws, split nut and if it’s a ball bearing chuck, new balls and race. Oddly, Jacobs doesn’t have those up on their site but they are available from any industrial supply place such as MSC or McMaster Carr, even on Amazon [What’s This?]. It’s worth checking eBay for them from time to time as well if you rebuild machine tools as a hobby or business. 

Often just a good cleaning and lube job will make the difference between a chuck that works well and one that has you swearing like a sailor.

A Short Guide [Jacob's Chuck]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

With a pocket hole plug cutter you can better hide your pocket holes. Rather than depending on the limited selection of packaged plugs, you can cut plugs from the same material as your project; plus you can create plugs with a matching grain pattern.

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If you’re still using tapered wood screws instead of metal screws or drywall screws, then you might like taper point drills. The Fuller #8 Countersink Set includes five tapered drills for wood screw sizes 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14. Each drill has a countersink (1/2″ dia. for sizes 10, 12, and 14; 3/8″ dia. for sizes 6 and 8 ) held in place by two hex screws. But wait, there’s more — if you call now, you will also get 1/2″ and 3/8″ plug cutters, 1/2″ and 3/8″ stop collars, and two hex wrenches in a nice milled wood storage case all for $80.

W.L. Fuller has many other products and other countersink sets including some with hex-shank bits and a quick-release chuck adapter, if you prefer that approach. (TM has previously noted the Jack Rabbit, which is a combination drill/countersink/bit adapter.) All of Fuller’s countersinks and bits are 100% made in the U.S.A.

W.L. Fuller [Manufacturer's Site]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

Those that have them love them, and those that don’t are often out of luck since it appears they are no longer made. However this page still shows them as a product (with pictures showing Cole drill setups). There were a number of accessories available, and the pamphlet shows the many uses. They do show up on eBay from time to time, though the one listed now is in relatively poor condition. The drills are chucked in a 1/2″ hole with a set screw, so Silver and Deming bits are often used (although some people will mount a drill chuck).

Special thanks to Rob Skinner and Kelley Garcia of the Rusty Iron Workshop in California for use of this great photo. Check out their antique engines, machinery, and tractors here.

If you need to recess a large bolt when building a deck or other outdoor project, it’s usually a two-step process. This is okay if you only have to hide a few bolts, but if you have to recess a ton of bolts it’d be easier to slide Makita’s counter bore over one of their industrial ship auger bits and do it in one step.

Slip the counter bore over an auger bit with a 5/8″ diameter shaft, tighten the set screw, and you’re set to hog out a 2-1/2″ hole for recessing the bolt in addition to the through-hole. You can pay anywhere between $45 and $80 for Makita’s slip-on counter bore.

Counter Bore Collar [Makita]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

Browsing the FAMAG Catalog I came across this unusually deep set of hole saws. These hole saws were designed for drilling holes up to 300 mm (almost 12″) deep! If you have a problem ejecting the plug from a regular “short” hole saw, how are you ever going to get a 10″ plug out of one these extended hole saws?

FAMAG manufactures these bi-metal hole saws with a variable tooth pitch. To form the cutting head they weld high-speed steel teeth onto the cylindrical carrier. They sell the hole saws in 86 mm, 111 mm, 130 mm, 152 mm, 170 mm, 200 mm diameters which range from approximately  3-3/8″ to 7-7/8″.

You’ll drop anywhere from 175 to 425 Euros ($250 to $600) depending on which size you order. That’s not including the center spike which FAMAG sells separately for an extra 60 Euros ($85).

Deep Hole Saws [FAMAG]
Deep Hole Saws(PDF) [FAMAG Catalog (page 25)]

Forstner bits are awesome. After discovering them for myself, I use my set every chance I get. Even the less-expensive bits leave smooth bore holes with almost no splintering. If you’re a serious woodworker you might want to take a look at some of the finer bits on the market: Bormax Forstner style bits from German manufacturer FAMAG.

The patented design is formed by razor-sharp teeth set in a “wave-form” pattern. It produces less friction and heat, requires less power, and wears slower than other Forstner-style bits. The “wave-form” pattern also clears dust and chips efficiently, producing tear-free and accurate holes. You can use the bits in wood, MDF, plywood, and plastic.

Precision machined from high carbon steel, the imperial sized bits either have a 5/16″ or 3/8″ shank and they’re sold in sizes from 5/8 to 2-1/4″. You’re going to shell out anywhere from $20 to $75 for a single Bormax bit depending on the size. To save some money, you can purchase kits with either 5 or 16 bits for $140 or $530, respectively.

Bormax [FAMAG]
Bormax [Traditional Woodworker]
Bormax [Dieter Schmid]

Rather than have a set of counter sink bits that may not be the exact size you need, you could replace them with one adjustable countersink boring bit. Amana’s Di-Count fits over drill bits sized 3/32″ to 9/32″ to drill counter sunk holes for wood screws sized #2 to #18.

The 2-wing carbide-tipped bit will countersink screws up to 7/16″ deep. The countersink bit measures 1-1/4″ long and uses two screws to clamp around the pilot bit. Before shipping charges take a bite out of your wallet, you’ll pay about $23 for the Di-Count adjustable countersink boring bit.

Di-Count [Amana Tool]
Di-Count [ToolsToday]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

Pictured above is my very own “YANKEE” No. 41 (from North Bros. Mfg. Co. in Philadelphia, PA) that I got many (many) years ago from my dad. I have no idea how old it is. My dad may have gotten it from my grandfather, but I can no longer ask either one of them. Soon after I got it, I broke one of the bits, but was able to stop into my friendly local hardware store and pick up a set of replacements — those were the good ol’ days. It’s an oldie but a goodie that I still like to use. In fact, I recently broke — well, kind of bent it (see above picture) — a bit, and found that replacement bits are now somewhat harder to find and getting expensive as they’re often classified as antiques or collector’s items. Fortunately, a bit of web searching turned up a possible solution: a shank adapter complete with bits.

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We’re seeing more and more dust collection devices aimed at the home woodworker. For instance, you wouldn’t think a flexible shaft tool would kick out much sawdust, but then again it doesn’t take much sawdust to make a huge mess. Enter the Flexible Shaft & Dust Extractor, sold by Lee Valley.

Connect the 6mm flexible shaft to any tool with a chuck — just don’t try to run the shaft in reverse or over 10,000 RPM — and connect a vacuum to the dust collection port, and you’re ready to do some shaping, sanding, grinding, or whatever rotary operation you choose with less mess.

On the end of the 46″ flexible shaft is a handle with a three-jaw 3/8″ Jacobs style chuck surrounded by the dust collecting shroud. You connect the vacuum via a 1-1/4″ diameter, 54″ long hose that comes off the rear of the handle.

Not only does this $105 tool look a lot like an attachment for King Arthur’s Tools Guinevere total sanding system, but the optional dust extractor extender is also identical, so we’re guessing King Arthur’s is the supplier of this flexible shaft tool.

Flex Shaft and Dust Extractor [Lee Valley]
Guinevere Accessories [King Arthur's Tools]

With Kreg’s new Micro Pocket Drill Guide, you can fit two pocket holes on a board as little as 1″ wide and 1/2″ thick. The pluggable holes it creates are 25% smaller than standard pocket holes, allowing you to use shorter 3/4″ pan head screws.

If you own a Kreg Jig or Kreg Jig Master system, the Micro Pocket Drill Guide is fully compatible. They color the jig black so you can quickly differentiate it from the standard blue guides.

Included with the Micro Pocket Drill Guide are the 19/64″ Micro Pocket Drill Bit, Micro Pocket Depth Collar, and a few of the smaller pocket screws to get started. The kit usually retails for $50, but right now the only place we can find selling it is Highland Woodworking — they are offering it for $45 plus $9 shipping.

Micro Pocket Drill Guide [Kreg]
Micro Pocket Drill Guide [Highland Woodworking]