Yankee: push drill vs. srewdriver

Re: Yankee: push drill vs. srewdriver

Michael Brady

>Sorry, that should be screwdriver.

Re: Yankee: push drill vs. srewdriver

Jim Crammond in Monroe, Mi

>Michael,

The push drills only turn in one direction, clockwise I think, Yankeee screwdrivers have 3 options, the bit can turn clockwise, counter clockwise, or be locked in a no turn position. Many of the push drill models allow bit storage in the handle.

Jim

Re: Yankee: push drill vs. srewdriver

Marv

>I suspect that the push drill uses the same spiral shaft to turn the drill as the screwdriver uses to turn the blade. However they are the same or different...I like um. There's always one in my tool box. I have a small collection of them. Here's a picture.

Marv

Re: Yankee: push drill vs. srewdriver

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>I've never taken a push drill apart, but the action of the drill makes clear that it spirals in one direction only. When you push down, it operates clockwise ("forward" in electric-drill-speak); when you let up pressure, the spring pushes the handle up and the spindle operates in reverse, which, as someone recently pointed out in another thread, results in some clearing of chips, at least with the straight-fluted bits. If you did take one apart, I think you'd probably find a simple nut attached to the handle that operates on the spindle threads to cause them to turn.

As Jim Crammond points out, the Yankee screwdriver can operate in both directions, something accomplished by having two different spirals on the spindle, in opposite directions (I'll call them "threads" below, although they're kind of "negative threads," grooves rather than raised as conventional threads are). The driver has a more complex engagement between handle and spindle, with ratcheting pawls that let the spindle remain still on the return stroke - again, this makes sense, as you would not want to have the screw back out on the return stroke as much as it went forward on the push stroke (or have to lift the bit from the screw on every return stroke).

Another difference is that the thread pitch on the screwdrivers differs from the drills. The drills generate more speed with less torque by turning more times per handle push than the screwdrivers, which have a steeper pitch that results in fewer turns but more torque - makes sense, given the different functions. Somewhere I acquired the push drill bits that either North Bros. (the originators of the "Yankee" drivers) or Stanley offered for the small screwdriver chuck. I tried them in my little Yankee screwdriver, and I'm here to report that it makes a terrible push drill, because of this pitch difference. I've never used them since that first experiment.

To do it right, you really need both the driver and the drill, which, together, still weigh a lot less than the battery on my brother's 18v DeWalt driver-drill (and, with astute shopping, probably cost less too).

Bill, who doesn't have nearly the herd of push drills that Marv does, and certainly doesn't have them organized as well, but is probably not far behind in the count.

Re: Yankee: push drill vs. srewdriver

Ernie Miller

>I think they all got you covered you need both and several of each at that. but don't let Marv get to you. I think he may be that man you parents warned you about as a kid. The Pusher Man! he it trying to get you hooked on them look there pertty start a collection get one of each. Marv put a trip wire at the top of the sloap for you.

Hey Marv....

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond, CA

>That's quite a grouping! You hold those down with magnets?

I'd love to see a close-up of your hand vices sometime.

Re: Hey Marv....

Marv

>Hey Scott,

Isn't Ben Lomond down there near Boulder Creek somewhere along Skyline Boulavard? I'm thinking north of Santa Cruz, west of Santa Clara area?

I'll see if'n I can put together a little picture of tham vises. I don't have very many though. I have a new camera and everytime I need to take a picture I have to relearn the darn thing. Give me a little time to read those three manuals that came with it.

Marv

Great Scott..!

Marv

>Hi Scott, the one on the right is my favorite....it's very old and has a corkscrew type screw and wingnut on it. It's in new condition. Thick Japanning is original. Overall length is 8". The vise, The vise!! I'm talk'n bout the vise!

Marv

Thanks Marv...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond, CA

>Yrp, You pegged Ben Lomond's location. Nice vises, thanks for the pic!