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Gramercy Tools Spoon Bits

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Gramercy Tools | Our Own Brand
Found in Departments: All Kinds of Drill Bits
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Gramercy Tools Spoon Bits - Drilling an angled hole.play video
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Quantity in Cart: none
Code: GT-SB.XX
 3/8" ($66.95) In Stock
 7/16" ($66.95) In Stock
 1/2" ($66.95) In Stock
 9/16" ($84.94) In Stock
 5/8" ($84.94) In Stock
 3/4" ($84.94) In Stock
 7/8" ($109.95) In Stock
 1" ($109.95) In Stock
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GT-SB.XX spoonbit
  • Main
  • How To Use a Spoon Bit

The design is ancient, going back to Roman times. Spoon bits have even been found in Viking excavations. Spoon bits are the traditional boring tools used with a brace for making chairs - never use them with a power drill of any kind. Their two key advantages over regular brace bits and power drill bits is that you can adjust the angle of the hole as you drill, and that that they allow you to drill nearly to the thickness of the material with no issues of going through. (A benefit of not having a spur.) You can also rough out waste and not have to leave material for the spur.

The ability to work at an angle is very important in chairmaking, because all the angles are usually eyeballed. Without a lead screw, you can drill successfully a chair leg nearly all the way without having the lead screw peek out the other side.

The Gramercy Tools Spoon Bits are designed and made entirely in our Brooklyn workshop (just behind the showroom). We know that that there is a demand for this type of bit, especially from chairmakers, spoon makers and wood artists, but unless the bits are made properly and arrive sharp they won't work well. A great spoon bit cuts a tight spiral shavings. We wanted to make something that would compete with the best of the ones of the past. In order to do that, we had to figure out how to machine some very complex geometry, learn how to harden the bits without warping, and finally sharpen them. This is one of most technically challenging projects we have ever done.

If you purchase four or more of the spoon bits on this page, you are entitled to a 5% discount. The discount is automatic and will show up as an entry in your basket.


Completely made in our workshop in Brooklyn, New York.
STARTING A HOLE: Since the spoon bit enters the wood like a carving tool, you have to compensate by starting the bit at a position radially offset from the center of your intended hole. Roughly, you want to offset your starting point 1/4 of the radius for hardwoods, and 1/2 of the radius for softwoods, adjusting as you become more familiar with the cutting action.

Crank the bit back and forth with gentle pressure, increasing your arc each time until you feel the bit has established a central dimple, coincident with the desired hole location. At this point you can increase pressure and begin to cut in full clockwise or counterclockwise circles, whichever the grain seems to prefer.
Customer Reviews:for an average rating of:
Best quality I've seen.
By: Michael Tulloch (Jun, 2024)
20 years of using spoon bits for chairmanning as a pro. It was time to replace the Fred Emhoff bits, that served so well over the years. These are amazing , in use and in quality .I love them . Recommended !
I own this product.
Great bit
By: Steve (Nov, 2022)
Great bit. Well made and solid. Cuts perfect holes even in hard maple. Is it possible to make a limited run of 1.5” spoon bits? Please??
I own this product.
The cat’s pajamas
By: Dave Polaschek (Jan, 2022)
Came sharp and ready to go, and cut great. Once I got used to getting them started correctly, I’ve been able to put holes exactly where I want them, but some practice was needed. I have a set of dining room chairs which had the arms joined by dowels which have cracked and failed over the years. With these bits, I can remove the old 3/8” dowel, boring the hole slightly oversized at 7/16”, and then steer the bit around to make the bottom of the hole slightly wider, so I can replace the dowel with a newly made 7/16” ash dowel, wedge the blind end of the dowel in the hole, and have a rock-solid repair that’s better than new! Thanks for making them available.
I own this product.
Mr
By: Walter B. Doll (May, 2021)
Awesome! Well crafted and beautiful and works like a champ! Ordering smaller sizes now
I own this product.
By: Eric Brown (Jun, 2019)
I have both the 3/4" and 1" spoon bits. They are very well made and have properly shaped cutting edges. They work beautifully. Hope to buy the small sizes soon.
I own this product.

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