Brace (tool) facts for kids
A brace is a special hand tool used to make holes. It works with a drill bit, usually for drilling into wood. You push down on the top of the tool while turning a handle. If the drill bit is sharp, it will pull itself into the wood. You just need to keep it steady. Many drill bits used with a brace have a special screw-like tip. This tip helps pull the bit forward into the wood.
The U-shaped handle on a brace is called a crank. This crank gives the brace a lot of twisting power, known as torque. This means a brace can drill wider and deeper holes than other hand-powered drills. The trade-off is that it spins slower. Other hand drills can spin very fast, but a brace usually spins much slower, maybe less than 100 rotations per minute.
How a Brace Works
The front part of the brace holds the drill bit. This part is called the chuck. It has special clamps inside. To tighten a drill bit, you turn the chuck's spindle clockwise. To loosen it and remove the bit, you turn it counterclockwise.
Most modern braces have a special gear release behind the chuck. This release lets you use a ratchet feature. A ratchet helps you turn the handle even in tight spaces. It has three positions:
- The center position stops the ratchet.
- Turning the release clockwise lets you drill into the wood. The ratchet clicks when you move the handle backward.
- Turning the release counterclockwise lets you spin the bit backward. This is usually to remove the drill bit from a hole.
The U-shaped crank has a wooden part that spins freely. The top part of the brace also spins freely. This design helps prevent blisters on your hands while you work.
History of the Brace
The first carpenter's braces with a U-shaped handle appeared a long time ago. They were first seen between 1420 and 1430. This happened in a place called Flanders, which is now part of Belgium.
Other Names for a Brace
The tool we call a brace has a few other names. The most common one is "bit brace." You might also hear it called a "carpenter's brace." If it has the special ratchet feature, it can be called a "ratchet brace." Sometimes, it's also known as a "swing brace."
See also
