Spoon bits drill angled chair mortises with a hand brace without a lead screw, with 8 listed sizes from 3/8 inch to 1 inch reported by Tools for Working Wood in November 2026. Our testing process checks brace control in hardwood.
What Are Spoon Bits Used for in Chairmaking?
Spoon bits bore chair leg and spindle mortises with a brace in 8 sizes from 3/8 inch to 1 inch listed by Tools for Working Wood in November 2026. The concave tip shaves wood instead of screwing forward, according to Tools for Working Wood accessed November 2026. Chairmakers use spoon bits for Windsor seats and legs where angles are eyeballed, according to Tools for Working Wood accessed November 2026. Our tool reviews compare brace bits by cut control in maple. Never use spoon bits with a power drill of any kind, according to Tools for Working Wood accessed November 2026. “The design is ancient, going back to Roman times,” wrote Tools for Working Wood on its store page, accessed November 2026.
How Do Spoon Bits Cut Angled Holes Without Blowing Through?
Spoon bits adjust hole angle mid-cut and stop short of breakthrough because they have no spur or lead screw, according to Tools for Working Wood accessed November 2026. Fine Woodworking reported on July 7, 2020 that the bits cut hard maple and pine with precision. The same review found spoon bits cut steeply angled holes cleaner than other hand-powered bits. Shavings twist into tight spirals and do not jam, according to Fine Woodworking on July 7, 2020. “Spoon bits are also fast,” wrote Elia Bizzarri on Hand Tool Woodworking on April 15, 2020.
Which Spoon Bits Sizes and Prices Fit Your Brace Work?
Spoon bits list at 66.95 dollars to 109.95 dollars across 8 diameters as of November 2026 on Tools for Working Wood. Fine Woodworking reported on July 7, 2020 that Gramercy spoon bits then ranged from 45 dollars to 85 dollars. The 7/8 inch bit has a 3.5 inch cutting length, the 5/8 inch bit has 2.5 inches, and the 3/8 inch bit has 1.75 inches, according to Fine Woodworking on July 7, 2020. Other buying guides cover brace choice for these diameters.
| Diameter | Listed price in November 2026 per Tools for Working Wood | Cutting length per Fine Woodworking July 7, 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| 3/8 inch | 66.95 dollars | 1.75 inches |
| 5/8 inch | 84.94 dollars | 2.5 inches |
| 7/8 inch | 109.95 dollars | 3.5 inches |
A 5 percent discount applies when buying 4 or more bits on the same page, according to Tools for Working Wood accessed November 2026.
How Should You Start and Maintain Spoon Bits?
Spoon bits start offset by 1/4 radius in hardwood and 1/2 radius in softwood per Tools for Working Wood accessed November 2026. The bit enters like a carving tool and needs a central dimple before full circles, according to Tools for Working Wood accessed November 2026. Use this sequence for each hole:
- Offset the start by 1/4 radius in hardwood or 1/2 radius in softwood.
- Crank back and forth with light pressure until a central dimple forms.
- Cut full circles as the grain prefers and check angle before deepening.
Vintage bits taper from tip to shank, while Gramercy bits are parallel and can wallow deep holes, according to Fine Woodworking on July 7, 2020.
Spoon Bits FAQ
How do spoon bits stay centered without a lead screw?
Spoon bits stay centered by starting offset and rocking to form a dimple. Offset 1/4 radius in hardwood and 1/2 radius in softwood, per Tools for Working Wood accessed November 2026.
What sizes of spoon bits suit chairmaking?
Spoon bits in 3/8 inch to 1 inch cover most chair mortises, with 8 diameters listed by Tools for Working Wood in November 2026. Prices ran 66.95 dollars to 109.95 dollars in November 2026.
Why do spoon bits suit angled holes better than auger bits?
Spoon bits suit angled holes because the angle can be steered mid-cut with no lead screw. Fine Woodworking reported on July 7, 2020 that spoon bits cut steeply angled holes cleaner.
Can spoon bits replace brad-point bits in a drill?
Spoon bits cannot replace brad-point bits in a power drill and must run in a brace. Tools for Working Wood states never to use spoon bits with any power drill, accessed November 2026.