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Robert Sorby paring chisels at The Best Things
Clifton Chairmaker's Bits

Clifton 260 Spoon Bits These are spoon bits that are indespensible in the manufacture of Windsor and other similar chairs. There is simply no other way to properly bore the special hole that correct construction technique demands. The holes used in Windsor chairs are made to be larger inside than on the surface. This is done with a spoonbit by boring the hole and then manipulating the brace to expand out the inside of the hole. When a spindle is then inserted with a blind wedge, it will not come undone, as can be seen in 200 year old chairs made in this way. This technique is also used, without the wedge, using a green wood for the chair seat and dried wood for the spindle. As the seat dries, it locks itself to the legs and spindles, which are turned with slightly bulbous tenons.
Clifton spoon bits are hand forged from the best carbon-steel and then ground with the highest precision. While cheaper Asian made bits are available, no bits that can compare to these are available from another manufacturer.

Clifton Bits
Click on Image to Expand
Description Price Qty Buy
Chairmaker's Bit 3/8"$28.95
Chairmaker's Bit 7/16"$29.95
Chairmaker's Bit 1/2"$31.95
Chairmaker's Bit 9/16"$32.95
Chairmaker's Bit 5/8"$36.95
Chairmaker's Bit 11/16"$37.95
Chairmaker's Bit 3/4"$42.95
Set of all 7 bits and the Chairmaker's Spoon Bit$275.95

Clifton 250 Tapered Chairmaker's Spoon Bit
These bits are used for making tapered through holes where a wedge is then inserted from the far side to lock the joint. Every cabinetmaker's box had one of these in the 1800s. $49.95
See Picture
Qty:


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