Hand Drills and Braces Maintenance and Care

29th February 2020


Hand drills and braces maintenance and care


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		Hand drills and braces are simple tools with few maintenance requirements. However, taking a bit of care with them and carrying out some simple general maintenance can prolong their serviceable life meaning they last for many years.

		Many vintage and early hand drills and braces that were properly maintained still work perfectly well today. Along with their appearance and increased rarity, this has led to them becoming collectables and exchanging for hundreds of pounds in some cases.

		Cleaning
		Like all tools, hand drills and braces should be cleaned before they are put away after use. A soft brush should be used to brush away any wood or metal shavings from the tool. Particular attention should be paid to any exposed gears on hand drills and exposed ratchets on braces.

		Gears on hand drills and exposed ratchets can become clogged with shavings, preventing them from turning correctly or increasing wear between them.

		After brushing off any shavings, take a soft cloth and wipe over the frame of the drill or brace. This will help ensure the frame stays dry and remove any dirt or shavings that could scratch the plating or painted surface.

		Apply a multi purpose oil that is designed for both lubricating and rust prevention to the drive wheel and pinion of hand drills. You should also apply this to the oil holes of any ratchets or the exposed parts of the ratchet mechanism.

		After applying the multi purpose oil, rotate the ratchet and drive wheel through several turns. This will ensure the oil coats the surface of all the gears, preventing rust or wear between them.

		Other maintenance
		Maintaining wooden handles Wooden handles on hand drills and braces require particular attention to ensure they do not splinter or crack. Should you notice any splinters on the handle or head then they should be sanded smooth again with some fine grit sand paper.

		To help prevent the handle and head from drying out and splintering or cracking, rub them with boiled linseed oil.

		You may be able to fill small cracks in a wooden handle with a wood filler then sand it smooth again with fine grit sand paper.

		Some people like to varnish the wooden handle and head, although this can cause them to develop a sticky surface. Also be careful not to get varnish on any other parts of the hand drill or brace as should this get between the frame and the sweep handle, it could prevent the handle rotating smoothly.

		Maintaining rubber handles Rubber handles on braces and hand drills should be sprayed with a silicone grease to help prevent them from becoming hard and brittle which can lead to cracks forming.



		Plastic handles There is no maintenance required on plastic handles other than brushing them clean of any dirt or shavings and keeping the brace or hand drill stored somewhere out of direct sunlight.

		Repairing scratched or chipped paint Should the paintwork on the drive wheel or frame of your hand drill become scratched or chipped, it may be possible to repair it.

		A protective enamel paint is the best for this as it easy to apply with a fine paint brush, will provide suitable rust protection to the metal frame underneath, and is available in many colours so you should be able to find a match close to the existing colour.

		Clean the frame as described above and ensure the surface is dry, then follow the painting instructions on the can.

		What can be done with chrome and nickel plated frames? With chrome and nickel plated frames preventative maintenance really is the best course of action. Although chrome and nickel plating offer better corrosion protection than black Japanning or enamel/lacquer painting, it is not easy to re-plate a hand drill or brace frame.

		Replating them will require taking the tool completely apart and achieving a reasonable finish is likely to require taking the tool to a plating specialist. The cost of this is often far more than the hand drill or brace is worth.

		Instead, ensuring the frame is brushed and wiped clean after each use will help protect the plating and ensure that the tool is in a satisfactory working order for many years.

		Storing hand drills and braces
		Unlike most power drills which come with a storage case when you purchase them, hand drills and braces do not. This is not such a problem when the drill or brace is to be stored in a workshop or garage, as they can often be hung up on the wall with the aid of simple clips.

		Some people choose to make dedicated storage cabinets for their hand drills and braces that can then be fixed to the wall of a workshop or garage.

		If you want a storage case for a hand drill or brace that you will be taking out of the workshop then the best solution is to purchase a generic toolbox with a compartment large enough to fit the hand drill or brace. This will also often mean you have additional storage for drill bits, adaptors and other accessories you use with your hand drill or brace.

		A popular choice is to fit a foam insert into the storage compartment of the toolbox where the drill or brace is kept. This can be cut to size around the drill or brace to prevent from it rattling around in the toolbox and damaging itself.

		Some people like to make their own cases for their vintage hand drills and braces as this can help compliment the vintage appearance of the original tool.

		Should bits be left in the chuck?
		It is usually better to remove a bit from a hand drill or brace chuck and store it with other bits you may have. This means when you go to get a bit you will have a full selection to choose from and can be sure the one you need is in amongst them. However, some people will only use one bit in their hand drill or brace, in which case leaving it in the chuck makes sense as it saves time removing and replacing it. As well as guaranteeing you always have it with your hand drill or brace.