I decided to make another brace. This is small, to be used as would an eggbeater, such as for drilling holes for screws. It can also be used as a driver.
The total length is 400mm (15 3/4") with a 100mm (4") throw.
Materials: West Australian She-oak body and Tasmanian Blackwood pad.
The pad ...
An old, rusty Stanley brace sacrificed itself for the upper connection. This turns so sweetly.
Finally, the chuck is made from a spring-loaded clip-on driver holder. I wire brushed the anodising back to a steel finish.
Construction: I turned the pad on my lathe. After bandsawing out the basic shape, the final body shape was achieved with rasps and scrapers. The She-oak is so hard and interlocked that my spokeshaves just bounced off! Sandpaper to smooth. Oil and shellac to finish.
Thanks for looking.
Regards from Perth
Derek