Quote from: johnsironsanctuary on May 21, 2012, 08:48:33 AM
I have repurposed a few of them. I have dozens in that drawer.  I cut the square drive end off and grind away the screw thread leaving a smooth point. They work fine in a 400 rpm big drill gun. If you don't take off the screw lead, you will go for an exciting drill gun ride. The lead pulls the bit in too fast for you to hang on.

We used repurposed auger bits like these for boring the knot recess in wood sash -- the double hung window sash.  Worked really well.

This was my plumber dad's set that came to me a couple years ago. It's mostly all original, but some of the more common sizes had been replaced over the years. I don't know what brand they were. Probably says on the bits somewhere, but I haven't cleaned any of them up enough to look.

Very educational thread, now I have to dig out a couple dozen of those and check em out.

Very cool!

I checked out the ones that I have ad #6 is the lowest & #22 the highest.
But also have 2 bits that are about 2' long but with no number on them.
Would they be a specialty bit or just a copy from another co.?

>But also have 2 bits that are about 2' long but with no number on them.  Would they be a specialty bit or just a copy from another co.?

This style of bit has been around for a very long time, and has been made by many a company, so it's hard to call it "just a copy from another tool co."  Another version made by another company, sure.   I have some that weren't numbered, which can be a pain, as when I grabbed a #6 last year.  Turned out to be an unmarked #7, so I had to go find a 7/16 plug cutter.

Two foot examples are not uncommon, and there are several different designs of extensions, also about two feet long.