BERBIQUI

Inventory and presentation of my collection of antique auger bits, drills, and braces, gathered over the years at flea markets. I examine each piece: the condition of the worm and the flutes, measurements in millimeters and fractions of an inch, and visible brand markings. I explain why these bits are incompatible with electric drills and how to sharpen them correctly—always from the inside, never the outside—to prevent rust. I also present the idea for the roll-up leather case that I still need to hand-sew. Incidentally, we discuss the brace: its invention in Flanders around 1420, its crucial role in shipbuilding, and its anachronistic appearance in the Mérode Altarpiece depicting Saint Joseph at the Annunciation. Recorded on May 1, 2026. 0:00 Introduction: Solomon drill bits, augers, and braces 0:48 The leather roll-up case: a pending project 2:36 We start with the drill bits — flea market collection 2:55 Drill bit #5 — without shanks, possible pilot hole 6:01 Drill bit #6 — hook logo, "spine", shanks 7:35 Drill bit #8 — 5/16" = approx. 8 mm, same logo 9:08 Drill bit #12 — 5/32", logo partially legible 12:40 Drill bit #14 — well sharpened, 9/16", how to sharpen without causing chamfering 15:24 Drill bit #18 mm — logo visible, no equivalent in inches 16:36 20 mm drill bit — measured with calipers 17:10 24 mm drill bit — 15/16", hook logo perfectly visible 18:48 Modern 24 mm drill bit — three shanks, different brand, different design 19:43 1-inch drill bit — very deteriorated, worm destroyed 21:14 Augers — presentation of the three 21:21 Auger #1 — unrestored, 9/16" and 14 mm 22:24 Auger #2 — hook logo, #15 23:28 Auger #3 — the favorite, 28 mm, "Widow of Coronado, Don Benito" 25:46 Braces — introduction, three types 25:58 Handwheel brace — gears, jaw chuck Triple 27:32 Breast brace — handy chuck, round drill bits 29:00 A curious fact about the breast brace: changing the gear ratio 30:03 Old-fashioned simple brace — the favorite, chuck for Solomon's knot drill bits 31:30 The oak pommel: a pending project 32:22 The auger versus the brace: precision vs. brute force 33:26 Invention of the brace around 1420, Flanders — the Greeks and brilliant simplicity 34:33 The Mérode Altarpiece: the first historical depiction of a brace 35:03 Saint Joseph, the Annunciation, and timeless incongruity 36:42 The brace and the shipbuilding revolution 37:17 Ratcheting brace — how it works 38:39 Closing and thanks.