Took a timber framing class earlier this year. I HAD TO get a boring machine. Found this Ajax on the bay for a fair price and got it rumning! Learning a ton and trying to stick with the “no power tools” mantra for woodworking projects where possible.
I see you got one that can do angle boring as well. A quick google showed quite a variety of pricing on those, none especially cheap, especially if it is adjustable. A nice find indeed, I hope (expect) that you will get many years worth of use and enjoyment out of that.
Was like 240 shipped, not much more than a nice drill capable of turning a 2” auger, or at least that’s what I tell myself.
Here's a vid from Wranglerstar about the one he found. I had never seen nor heard of such a tool until I saw his other vid about this one.
Then there was the mountain man, who used either a bow drill or a pump drill to burn the holes in......
Funny I saw the wranglerstar bids a while back and forgot aboutthem! Mine is a different variant than his. I was told there are only 8 or so different machines, the Ajax is middle of the road as far as age/sophostication. Mine is in ok shape, I need to replace a spring for the return mexhanism and find some period orrect looking hardwarw. Someone added hex bolts in a few spots. But it drills!
That’s pretty sweet right there Garry Polmateer No power cord saves you from paying the man, just like heating with wood.....they go hand in hand
I don’t know if I will be building structures, have been using timber framing joints in furniture projects though! This is a wedged half dovetail that holds the bed rails in. I cut all of these with a chisel and took hours. Drilling will save 80% of the edfort I bet. Building bed #2 now!
Nice find Garry! I’m a huge fan of the old-school tools myself, though I use a mix of hand and power. Is that a split-top bench that it’s sitting on? Drilling the mortises does save tons of work compared to chopping them. The technique I like to use is to chop the shoulders to 1/16” -> 1/8” deep on both sides; drill halfway thru from each side, and then finish up with the chisels. The shoulder helps to locate the hole quickly and precisely and guides the chopping afterwards.
Yes I built the Paul Sellers bench but double and hsed 2x6 instead of 2x4. No frills wood, got two vises on ebay for a song. Going to add another dogging setup to the back side, I use it a ton. Love the tool well, wasn’t sure of I would like it. Now I have a place for everything, and everything in its place so to speak.
