Interesting looking hand-crank drill *LINK*

Re: Interesting looking hand-crank drill

Todd Hughes

>Looks like a knock off of a Millers Falls no. 666 drill which had the same enclosed gears and two speed operation done by moving the handle I think. Sure don't know why anybody would pay $90 for one of these modern breast drills when quality old ones are so common and cheap.Don't think I have ever hardly been to a flea market that I didn't see a couple and most times priced at $5-$10 even in the old tool hell I live in....Todd

Re: Interesting looking hand-crank drill

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>LOts of variations of those, called "breast drills," because you put the plate on the end of the drill against your breastbone.

I own two, one from my uncle, one from rust-hunting, but I would buy a brace first, at least for woodworking -- more efficient use of your muscles, they can be found at most garage sales and fleas, and you can bore larger holes with a brace than with a breast drill.

If you're planning to do a lot of blacksmithing in the field, it would be worth considering. Look for a Yankee (North Bros) model if you do - the shank can be locked so you can bear down on the chuck to get it good and tight, the biggest problem in my experience with any egg-beater drill design.

Re: Interesting looking hand-crank drill

Michael Kieta-near Ramstein, Germany

>I have one that I picked up at a fleamarket here in Germany. I haven't used it for anything yet. I'll have to check, but I doubt if the chuck on mine is a 1/2", more likely 3/8" or so. The drill on the website could be a newer model. The gearbox must be lubricated because mine has a slight lubricant leak, but it works very smoothly and changing the crank position to change speeds is easy. I definitely wouldn't pay $90 for one, especially since I think the old Miller's Falls and Stanleys are so much prettier. However, it is probably worth the 4 or 5 pre-weak dollar euro I paid for it. (I know that's not a price worthy of a Toddly gloat, but I tried to capture his casual style).

Michael near snowy Ramstein, Germany

Alert to lexicographers!

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>Someone needs to tell the dictionary-makers that "Toddly" is now accepted internationally as an adjective. I'm sure that the elves at the Oxford English Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, and the other big dictionaries will soon be competing to see who can publish it first.

Pretty Funny...

Todd Hughes

>You guys might not believe it but many local people think of me as the guy that pays big,[crazy] prices for tools.I still get funny looks when I pull out a good saw at an auction that has a minimal $5 opening bid.....Remember if I buy somthing for what you think is a cheap price the person I bought it from probably paid less....Do have to admit I sort of like my reputation of getting good deals and the "Toddly" description!......Todd

Another alternative *LINK*

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>Christopher,

I'm not sure the quality is as good, but you might look at this if you really want to get a breast drill retail. Looks like a takeoff on an old Stanley design (though I think it's missing the level that told you if you were drilling a horizontal hole).


Another breast drill