Bits for Yankee Push Drills

Re: Bits for Yankee Push Drills

Bill Houghton, Summer fog in Sebastopol, CA


>This comes up periodically. No one seems to have come up with a current source. If you're a rust hunter, watch for extra sets at garbage sales. Older ones come in cool little turned wooden lidded boxes, like needles once came in; newer ones in icky plastic blister packs. Don't know if there was an intermediate stage where they came in cardboard packs or something.

I've found exactly one set like that (50 cents to a dollar, can't recall), the rest showing up in push drills I paid $1 for, which may explain why I have 6 or 7. The time will come when the bits are all used up, a depressing thought, since push drills are one of the highest developments of 19th century technology, in my opinion, and possibly one of the finest small machines ever, right up there with the bicycle.

Wadda you got Bob?

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond, CA


>Is it a No. 40 or 41? Or are we talking Yankee screw drivers? Ya know 30's or 130's series.

Are you talking about the 2 flute bits or sprial bits?

Inquiry minds...

Let me sum up:

2 flute bits are no longer made for either varitaty. Spiral bits are available from Highland Hardware. Also McFreeley's has bits for most and adapters that you can use a hex shanked bit in too.

Dinners cooking on the grill so no links right now, sorry

Little more info please!

Re: Bits for Yankee Push Drills

Todd Hughes


>In between they came in little plastic tube cases with metal screw on tops.Also the little adapters that alow you to use the drill bits in a ratchet screwdriver come in simular cases. Even in the old tool hell I live in these bits are pretty common.Tend to like to live in old tool chests so you have to make a habit to really look good in all the tool chests you come across for gems like this.

....The special bits Goodell Pratt drills take are another story as they ARE hard to find esp. in unsed sets .....Todd

North Bros. Yankee 41's

Bob Hutchins in central TX

Kinda pricey at six bucks apiece... *LINK*

David Barnett - SW Florida


>...if you bought them this way, but I thought I'd mention it.

If Lee Valley isn't going to make them anytime soon (I think this came up back in March or April) it might be a cottage industry opportunity (or good excuse) to buy a Taig lathe with the milling attachment from them and make stuff that's hard to find.


Yankee screwdriver drill adapter w/points

Screwdriver vs. push drill

Bill Houghton, Summer fog in Sebastopol, CA


>I've commented before that the Yankee screwdriver doesn't make, in my limited experience, a very good push drill. Basis of experience: at some point in my travels, I picked up a set of bits for my little Yankee screwdriver that included some push drill points for it, and quickly found that they're interesting and all that, but the screwdriver didn't work as well as a true push drill for making holes.

The pitch of the helix differs between the two tools, the screwdriver being designed for torque, the push drill for speed. It makes sense considering what they're designed to do. Push drills wouldn't make very good screwdrivers, either.

Re: Bits for Yankee Push Drills

David W. Dougherty


>Garrett Wade sells a hex adapter for their Stanley Yankee Push Drills, and with that adapter you can use hex-end drill bits that are available from Sears and other places.

David

Re: Bits for Yankee Push Drills

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native now in Jax Fl.


>Garrett Wade sells a hex adapter for their Stanley Yankee Push Drills

David, I just went to GW's site and I couldn't come up with those adapters in which you speak. Help?

Todd O.

Not GW but... *LINK*

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond, CA


>Here you go Todd.


McFeelys

Re: Bits for Yankee Push Drills

David W. Dougherty


>Go to Garrett Wade's site and then search for items numbered:

08C01.01-03

David

Re: Not GW but...

Deirdre Saoirse Moen


>McFeely's. Now there's a store that I need to stay away from. I used to spend bazillions there.

Thanks Scott :~)

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native now in Jax Fl.

Re: Bits for Yankee Push Drills

Tom Price


>The main problem with using twist drill bits in a Yankee drill is that the drill was really designed to use two-flute bits. These older bits work better with a reciprocating mechanism.

- Tom

Thank You, Gentlemen!

Bob Hutchins in central TX


>Will investigate the doodads at McFeelys and HH to see if they will suffice. I'm also watching eBay and have one post from a nice feller over on The Porch.

Really appreciate the help. If I locate a source, I'll post back but only if it really is a source that can supply demand instead of the odd one or two that I might snag.

Thanks again!

BobH

Your Welcome!

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond, CA