Perfectionists. I never would have guessed so much would have gone in to making those augers, past the initial forging. It seems like it was an attitude of being the best. Master craftsmen.
And it's a pleasure to use these still today. I have many old tools that I restore and use, why I've been asked? Because I think of them that had the skills to make and them that used them before me, never let the old ways die or the memories of them before us! A tip" give them a coat of shellac this will keep the rust of them when not being used!
Unbelievable amount of work to make an auger. This is why we should preserve them, even if we don't use them any more. I am so proud that I own three full sets.
And this is why tools that now cost £3 used to cost £30. Nothing in there (apart from the butt welder) would have been unfamiliar to someone from 1910.
In my grandparent's barn there was a rusted out auger like these of about one inch and a half in diameter that was used in the old times to drill holes in large tree stumps where black powder was packed in to blow them off the ground to clear land for agricultural use.
Great video, please let's see more. BTW, Footprint Tools was founded by my 3rd cousin Thomas Richardson Ellin, the scion of the Ellin family of steel & tool manufactures from the late 1700's.
That's insane, how many operations was that? 25, 26? There is something to be said for quality tools and workmanship but the amount of man hours spent just making one auger is staggering..
Interesting, but archaic and so labour intensive. You can see why they all went out of business. I too will have a greater appreciation of these tools and the efforts that went into manufacturing them. I live in a built up urban area, surrounded by rural land. Every single farm would have had sets of these on hand, and today, its nothing to see massive Sheffield augers at the scrap yard - still perfectly usable, and available for a few dollars. Rescue them when I can, but how many do you need? Also of interest is the technique of creating the twist. I've been thinking of creating a larger size Archimedian drill for drilling long holes through sandstone. The video gives some good tips, some will save some time down the track. Thanks to Ken, and thanks to the trust for posting and keeping these videos out there.👍
Aside from the Scotch Eyed Auger, there's an auger with a square tapered end for use in a hand drill. How was it formed? What's the correct term for that style of auger? What were the basic sizes of wood augers used in making furniture and other things for the homestead or stuff at camp or bushcrafting?
Footprint still operate a Hammer as per the video. I am sure if you were to contact them through their website they would be happy to explain how it works.
Unfortunately the last firm making Augers as per the film closed a few years ago. They were called Clico (J. E. Morrisons and Sons) and until they closed were still making augers in the same way as the video. There are some specialist drill bit manufacturers in Sheffield, but they make drills for cutting steel not wood.
I have a NOS Footprint auger but to be perfectly honest it is of shockingly bad quality. I'm sure it was Sheffield made too unless they were clever with the marking on the tool itself.
I will never let another hand made auger go rusty again...wow...just wow!
Perfectionists. I never would have guessed so much would have gone in to making those augers, past the initial forging. It seems like it was an attitude of being the best. Master craftsmen.
And it's a pleasure to use these still today. I have many old tools that I restore and use, why I've been asked? Because I think of them that had the skills to make and them that used them before me, never let the old ways die or the memories of them before us! A tip" give them a coat of shellac this will keep the rust of them when not being used!
I second that. ...... Breaks my heart to see old tools at boot sale, where I know that if I do not buy them, they will be in a skip.
Pura vida great documentary I like vintage hand tools made in Sheffield ,☺️☺️☺️🤩🤩
Real craftsmanship there.
Unbelievable amount of work to make an auger. This is why we should preserve them, even if we don't use them any more. I am so proud that I own three full sets.
I use mine. Its actually less work to use a bit and brace for drilling holes in wood than a battery powered drill, and you have a lot better control.
And this is why tools that now cost £3 used to cost £30.
Nothing in there (apart from the butt welder) would have been unfamiliar to someone from 1910.
They might have cost 10 times more but they last 50 times longer.
I use a Footprint hand drill every day, a quality item.
In my grandparent's barn there was a rusted out auger like these of about one inch and a half in diameter that was used in the old times to drill holes in large tree stumps where black powder was packed in to blow them off the ground to clear land for agricultural use.
Wow! That was a skilled labor intensive process. The great tools of yesteryear.
That's not the way the Chinese do it today!
Great video, please let's see more. BTW, Footprint Tools was founded by my 3rd cousin Thomas Richardson Ellin, the scion of the Ellin family of steel & tool manufactures from the late 1700's.
That guy has a whole lot of trust in the guy controlling that drop hammer.
Ahh the voice of northern authority. I have a new respect for the auger now.
That's insane, how many operations was that? 25, 26? There is something to be said for quality tools and workmanship but the amount of man hours spent just making one auger is staggering..
I was thinking the same.
Loved this video.
Interesting, but archaic and so labour intensive. You can see why they all went out of business.
I too will have a greater appreciation of these tools and the efforts that went into manufacturing them.
I live in a built up urban area, surrounded by rural land. Every single farm would have had sets of these on hand, and today, its nothing to see massive Sheffield augers at the scrap yard - still perfectly usable, and available for a few dollars. Rescue them when I can, but how many do you need?
Also of interest is the technique of creating the twist. I've been thinking of creating a larger size Archimedian drill for drilling long holes through sandstone. The video gives some good tips, some will save some time down the track.
Thanks to Ken, and thanks to the trust for posting and keeping these videos out there.👍
Rescue them, clean them up and sell them online to the world at a pretty penny. I'd take a look for sure!
Not many youngsters working there
Yep, noticed the same thing. 👍 The youngsters were out drinking while the old boys were hard at work. Same old story. They were pure grit, bless them.
Aside from the Scotch Eyed Auger, there's an auger with a square tapered end for use in a hand drill. How was it formed? What's the correct term for that style of auger?
What were the basic sizes of wood augers used in making furniture and other things for the homestead or stuff at camp or bushcrafting?
A great deal of man hours & effort in these tools now turning up rusty on ebay!
I’d love to know how those drop hammers work, looks like some wheel is picking up the weight but drops at some point when string is pulled
Footprint still operate a Hammer as per the video. I am sure if you were to contact them through their website they would be happy to explain how it works.
I actually work there now running the bigger drop hammer 🔨 still forging bolster chisles
NKH hammers and RATTAN hammers, still made in india , ludhiana, Punjab
Hand grinding flutes , shanks guess it's good enough for wood boring tools
Oh no, the man that shower me how they Made the files in the oldage died in 2014.
Cách hát của đức phúc luôn làm hài lòng tất cả mn.
That's what I call a lot of screwing around...
are any drill bits still made in Sheffield or the uk
Unfortunately the last firm making Augers as per the film closed a few years ago. They were called Clico (J. E. Morrisons and Sons) and until they closed were still making augers in the same way as the video. There are some specialist drill bit manufacturers in Sheffield, but they make drills for cutting steel not wood.
I have a NOS Footprint auger but to be perfectly honest it is of shockingly bad quality. I'm sure it was Sheffield made too unless they were clever with the marking on the tool itself.