Add bit brace fixture to drill bit

[Nhgrants]

I`m making a new ramrod hole drill bit.  How can I make the end of it compatible
With a bit brace?  Would I need to cut the 4 sided tapered tail off a bit brace bit and weld it
To the end of the new long bit?
Thanks

[rich pierce]

To be honest I just tighten the brace as much as I can on the round stock and let it gouge it up some. Filing a tapered 4-sided cone on the brace end would be better.

[mtlonghunter]

Check the jaws in the chuck of your brace first. Some of the old braces were switched up with a three jaw chuck. I've used my hand brace for years to drill ramrod holes and found that either type of chuck will work better with some simple flats filed on the end of the drill. They don't have to be perfect because you're turning it so slow. A more enjoyable way to drill the hole.

[Bob Roller]

George Killen,a long deceased gun smith here in Huntington WV had a
carpenters brace with a Jacobs chuck he had grafted to it. He later gave it to me and it was stolen from my shop about 10
years ago.George died on 7 January 1977 at age 89.

Bob Roller

[David R. Pennington]

I have done like Rich and just tighten it up. I also have done as you suggest and brazed the square shank off an old bit on. Now that my forge is set up if I were to fix another I would simply forge the square taper on one end.

[Pukka Bundook]

I use a regular brace with  a round rod, I put the brace chuck in the vise and give it  a good tighten.