Strange Drill Bit

[cactus]

Chaps
I have this strange drill bit, tapered square shank, tapered round part in the middle.
Q1 - what is it for?
Q2 - what sort of brace chuck would suit it?

Cheers
Cactus

[Branson]

Well, Cactus, it's for drilling bung holes.  Those are the tapered holes in barrels and casks that are sealed by driving in a tapered plug.  This one is odd in a couple of respects.  First, it uses a center bit for the initial hole, which is then tapered by the back end of the bit.  Second, it is really small.  It looks to be more useful in drilling a hole for an old style wooden tap -- which would make it a tap auger.

It ought to work an any old brace or bit-stock.

[wvtools]

The tapered back end of the bit is for plugging the hole, so that all your liquid does not pour out while you get the tap ready to insert.

[cactus]

Ok I get it now - drill a hole, bung it up with the taper, then quickly remove and jam in a tap to avoid much spillage?
Q. the maker MACORD is stamped on the shank - any ideas who that was?

Cactus

[rusty]

>quickly remove and jam in a tap to avoid much spillage?

Well, I suppose* you could do it that way, but, I would probably roll the barrel on it's side first and drill on the top ;P

[HeelSpur]

>quickly remove and jam in a tap to avoid much spillage?

Well, I suppose* you could do it that way, but, I would probably roll the barrel on it's side first and drill on the top ;P

Where's the fun in doing it that way.

[Aunt Phil]

Really it's a tapping augur, not a bung augur.
Generally barrels, casks & kegs were drilled at the cooperage, so the back end is more a go/no gauge.

Even if you have to drill into a wet one leakage won't be much problem unless you were dumb enough to vent the barrel before drilling.

[cactus]

Thanks for all replies.
I have found it listed in Salaman's "Dictionary of woodworking tools" where it is listed as tap boring bit as suggested above.
Cheers
Cactus