push style screw drivers...ie Yankees

[beerdog]

Does anyone use the push style screw drivers like the Yankee's? I have a bunch but never use them. I watched my older neighbor (who despises technology) use one to install some gate hinges and man did he struggle with it when compared to my Makita cordless impact. I offered to let him use it and he was jokingly like..."F-U punk. This works great." Then we drank a bunch of beers. He is like one of my best friends, but it got me wondering if it is pretty much an obsolete tool.

Although, I still have on my bucket list to use a Yankee driver, lighter, and can of hairspray to disable an elevator to elude the police.

 

[rlitman]

I have several. They are indeed obsolete. I won't drive a phillips with anything but my impact driver anymore.

 

[4xdog]

I still use my Yankee drill regularly, but I've never used a push-screwdriver. Never saw the need.

 

[Outlawmws]

If he was struggling with it it probably just needed some lube. It's amazing how well they actually work if properly lubed.

But in truth it's been a while since I used one extensively, but we have gotten to using an old Egg beater two speed hand drill for driving deck screws a lot lately...

 

[ersatzs2]

Still alive and well in merry old England! See the "Yankee" screwdriver in use at this Morgan Car factory tour, minute 5:09

 

[RCStocker]

I have been collecting woodworking tools sense 1955. I have dozens of them. They are ****** useless! If it has a Philips bit that is on thing. If it is slotted it will slip out of the screw head and ****** up the hinge, door or wood. If you want my opinion they are worth little and should be on the list of why did they make them. I really must have 40 of them and a hundred and one bits.

 

[lbgradwell]

If he was struggling with it it probably just needed some lube. It's amazing how well they actually work if properly lubed.

I going to join Outlawmws here and say they are quite excellent. They are only obsolete if all manual screwdrivers are obsolete, and that is not the case.

They can be made to ratchet "normally" too, and they tend to be quite long, so they can reach into places other screwdrivers cannot.

I do agree they don't work extremely well if higher torque is required, but neither do regular screwdrivers...

 

[neophyte]

Have you ever run into a situation were your cordless batteries are dead and you'll need an hour to charge them? Have you ever run into a situation were you don't have power at all? Yankee Screwdrivers were designed back when most people didn't have cordless drills. They're not going to be as quick as a cordless drill or impact driver, but they're still useful to have. Before I purchased my cordless, drills all I had were regular screwdrivers, my Yankee Screwdriver, and a Milwaukee 1/2" drill. I found using the Yankee Screwdriver to be far easier for driving screws than the regular screwdrivers, and far less likely to cam out screws than the drill. I could also drive screws pretty deep in fresh pine with the Yankee. The Yankee Screwdriver wound up being one of those things I bought on a whim that proved very useful. Sort of like twist gimlets. Need to drill small numbers of pilot holes for screws on a routine basis and don't ant to carry around the weight of a cordless drill, twist gimlets are the answer.

It should also be pointed out that Apex still manufactures some sizes of Yankee screwdriver bits. I don't know why, but since one of their major businesses is specialty bits for aerospace there may still be a demand for the bits in some industry.

Slotted bits with finder sleeves may help with the bits slipping out of your screws, Apex manufactures those as well.

 

[Dugbug46]

I've got one I sometimes use. It's kind of fun to use and has a long reach. They were high tech at one time.

 

[tymbo]

As a young cabinetmaker in the 70's I was required to buy a yankee as part of my personal tools. Then came the cordless drills/drivers. Haven't touched a yankee in 40 years!

 

[Bob-B]

I've used my father's 130A Yankee on many occasions to remove sheet metal screws when my cordless batteries were dead. It's not my "go to" tool, but I'm glad I have it.

 

[Outlawmws]

Have you ever run into a situation were your cordless batteries are dead and you'll need an hour to charge them? Have you ever run into a situation were you don't have power at all? Yankee Screwdrivers were designed back when most people didn't have cordless drills. They're not going to be as quick as a cordless drill or impact driver, but they're still useful to have. Before I purchased my cordless, drills all I had were regular screwdrivers, my Yankee Screwdriver, and a Milwaukee 1/2" drill. I found using the Yankee Screwdriver to be far easier for driving screws than the regular screwdrivers, and far less likely to cam out screws than the drill. I could also drive screws pretty deep in fresh pine with the Yankee. The Yankee Screwdriver wound up being one of those things I bought on a whim that proved very useful. Sort of like twist gimlets. Need to drill small numbers of pilot holes for screws on a routine basis and don't ant to carry around the weight of a cordless drill, twist gimlets are the answer.

It should also be pointed out that Apex still manufactures some sizes of Yankee screwdriver bits. I don't know why, but since one of their major businesses is specialty bits for aerospace there may still be a demand for the bits in some industry.

Slotted bits with finder sleeves may help with the bits slipping out of your screws, Apex manufactures those as well.

Someone also made an adapter from the Yankee drive to the now std 1/4" hex. I have at least one of those in my collection.

 

[ajchien]

Someone also made an adapter from the Yankee drive to the now std 1/4" hex. I have at least one of those in my collection.

I have one made by Apex. It's a Yankee > 1/4 magnetic hex adaptor.

I find the Yankee driver good for one thing, removing and installing face plates for electrical outlets - if you have a lot of them.

 

[zkling]

I like them, they do have their uses. Saw one at a garage sale this past weekend. No price so I asked about it. The ~40 year old man running the sale gave me some long winded story about how great and rare they are, and really talked it up. Finally he came up with a "great price" for me. $35!!!! I just laughed and told him to keep it.

If you have one, do get a 1/4" adapter or hex adapter for it. Makes it much more useful in these modern times.

 

[Zeke]

Using a pilot drill in a Yankee works very well. There is a special 2-fluted bit with no spiral for wood (and I guess plastic).

 

[bonneyman]

Have you ever run into a situation were your cordless batteries are dead and you'll need an hour to charge them? Have you ever run into a situation were you don't have power at all? Yankee Screwdrivers were designed back when most people didn't have cordless drills. They're not going to be as quick as a cordless drill or impact driver, but they're still useful to have. Before I purchased my cordless, drills all I had were regular screwdrivers, my Yankee Screwdriver, and a Milwaukee 1/2" drill. I found using the Yankee Screwdriver to be far easier for driving screws than the regular screwdrivers, and far less likely to cam out screws than the drill. I could also drive screws pretty deep in fresh pine with the Yankee. The Yankee Screwdriver wound up being one of those things I bought on a whim that proved very useful. Sort of like twist gimlets. Need to drill small numbers of pilot holes for screws on a routine basis and don't ant to carry around the weight of a cordless drill, twist gimlets are the answer.

It should also be pointed out that Apex still manufactures some sizes of Yankee screwdriver bits. I don't know why, but since one of their major businesses is specialty bits for aerospace there may still be a demand for the bits in some industry.

Slotted bits with finder sleeves may help with the bits slipping out of your screws, Apex manufactures those as well.

Oh, yeah! That's why I've adopted a staggered approach with drive tools:

#1) 120v drill with a 12 foot cord installed. Plus, I've made up several adapters so I can get power from several different outlets. I just got tired of batteries being dead when you need them.

#2) Where no power is available, I pull out my Pratt & Read ratcheting ball screwdriver. Makes short work of panel screws, sheet metal, and thin wood.

#3) I have 4 different Yankees available for any of the finer wood jobs that come up, and I've bought the adapters from Lee Valley so I can use any 1/4" square drive bit with them.

#4) Have several size eggbeater drills also.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

the Blues Brothers did a job an elevator with those drivers

 

[Danglerb]

Like a lot of tools, in the hands of someone that knows how to use one, they work great. My FIL was a carpenter, both cabinet and general, and a Yankee screwdriver was what he used the most. Its a quick tool, not the fastest spinning or most torque, but the combination of size and dexterity gets the job done faster in the right hands. As soon as the torque requirements go over a pretty low threshold they are not the right tool.

If you ever put in or take out a LOT of screws the twisting can make for a pretty sore elbow, which the Yankee prevents.

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

I've been on a north bro's collecting kick lately... think I bought a dozen in the past month, lol.

 

[jeremy v]

You can make an adapter to use regular hex bits very easily if you have a Dremel and a thin abrasive disc or two. I made this one in about 10 minutes.

This will only work for the size 30 Yankee drills, the smaller ones have a smaller shaft diameter, and the larger ones have a larger shaft diameter so they can not be made to work with a regular 1/4" hex bit adapter without some extra work. The size 30 driver is the most common one though, so this simple DIY adapter should work fine for many Yankee drills out there.

My adapter locks in tighter than the original bit does, and it has almost no sideways play in it at all. I just made it by duplicating (by eye) the 2 notches in an original worn out tip that came with the push drill I have. The rest of the hex shaft remained stock. As you might be able to tell by the pics, I did also have to quickly grind down the thicker part of the adapter for 1/4" or so to make the male part of the adapter shaft long enough to reach the bottom of the Yankee drill attachment hole. I just did that by hand with a bench grinder and then smoothed it out with a Dremel fine sanding disc.

I will eventually make a second adapter out of one of the sliding sleeve adapters (like the Ryobi's I have pictured) so the Yankee screwdriver can't slip off of screw heads when driving straight blade screws. The Ryobi's I have pictured will not work to adapt, because the male hex part of the shaft is not quite long enough to reach the bottom of the Yankee screwdriver attachment hole. When I come across some sleeve adapters with longer male hex shafts I will be able to easily make that adapter as well, but for now it will have to wait.

 

[gsmornot]

I forgot about mine, just ran out and drilled a hole. Quick little tool when you have a lack of power. I used mine more as part of a telecom kit before cordless drill batteries were as good as they at now.

 

[Dave455]

They are fantastic, use 'em a lot, but... If using them for wood screws you have to ensure that you have the correct size pilot hole or they just don't work!

I have a Facom model that uses 1/4 hex bits, which I use for assembly work with machine screws! Superb tool. Much more convenient to use than air or cordless, and superb when you are trying to do careful work!

 

[mbret2004]

FWIW, I used one every day while in the Air Force. They were great for putting up aircraft panels, which could number in the 100's of screws. So useful on the F-4 that we had a belt holder and had them on our hip all day.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have 2 or 3 of the old Bell System Yankee drills (41Y)
I don't use them they sure are cool.

 

[The Copilot]

You can make an adapter to take 1/4" hex bit, or safe your self a little time/trouble and just buy one of these adapters:

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=57809&cat=1,43411,43417

They work great. I use a Yankee from time to time and this adapter is a lifesaver.

You can make an adapter to use regular hex bits very easily if you have a Dremel and a thin abrasive disc or two. I made this one in about 10 minutes.

This will only work for the size 30 Yankee drills, the smaller ones have a smaller shaft diameter, and the larger ones have a larger shaft diameter so they can not be made to work with a regular 1/4" hex bit adapter without some extra work. The size 30 driver is the most common one though, so this simple DIY adapter should work fine for many Yankee drills out there.

My adapter locks in tighter than the original bit does, and it has almost no sideways play in it at all. I just made it by duplicating (by eye) the 2 notches in an original worn out tip that came with the push drill I have. The rest of the hex shaft remained stock. As you might be able to tell by the pics, I did also have to quickly grind down the thicker part of the adapter for 1/4" or so to make the male part of the adapter shaft long enough to reach the bottom of the Yankee drill attachment hole. I just did that by hand with a bench grinder and then smoothed it out with a Dremel fine sanding disc.

I will eventually make a second adapter out of one of the sliding sleeve adapters (like the Ryobi's I have pictured) so the Yankee screwdriver can't slip off of screw heads when driving straight blade screws. The Ryobi's I have pictured will not work to adapt, because the male hex part of the shaft is not quite long enough to reach the bottom of the Yankee screwdriver attachment hole. When I come across some sleeve adapters with longer male hex shafts I will be able to easily make that adapter as well, but for now it will have to wait.

 

[lbgradwell]

They work great. I use a Yankee from time to time and this adapter is a lifesaver.

They do; much more practical than using the proper (expensive) bits...

Here's mine. It's a very nice Japanese-made Vessel:

Here it poses with its co-worker - a familiar SO ratcheting screwdriver. The Vessel is much longer in this "normal" ratcheting position (and functions the same as the SO - though the SO has a higher tooth-count) and can reach things the SO cannot:

If I wish to employ the spiral Archimedean action, it's longer still:

Put it this way: I have a "Go-Bag"; that is, a single bag that comes with me on every job with the hoped-for goal that it is the ONLY bag/box/etc. that I will have to carry. Therefore, I am selective about what goes in this bag.

I think enough of the Vessel "Yankee" that it lives in this bag along with the Snap-on and another non-ratcheting multi-tip by Mega-Pro...

 

[zuk123]

I have several old ones and a modern one that is set up from the beginning to take modern ball detent bits. I carry mine mostly to open wooden shipping crates to get to the cordless driver when I'm working. Most of the time the batteries are dead, and the driver saves the day.

I gave one to a Chinese co-worker after hearing how he and his crew opened every wooden shipping crate at the Olympics with regular manual screwdrivers. He wouldn't use it at work since it was a gift!

I used a small one with a pilot bit was weekend pre-drilling nail holes in the birdhouse project I did with my 4 yo. No noise. We did the whole project with hand tools so even though the drill would have been faster, the yankee drill worked quite well. (I forgot about my egg beater drill.)

zuk

 

[rockchucker]

I found one in Gpa's Tools and I just happened to release the Bit Holder Mechanism. There were a few Fluted Double Cut Bits in there and a few other things. I will post pics when I get it cleaned up.

I think they are very cool. I would not use it on something like my Deck that I predrilled and countersunk ever single Screw that went in but for a few holes to drill or a few Fasteners I would use it for nostalgia's sake.

You have to remember that back in the day these WERE the newest Brushless Li-Ion Impact Drivers that we have today. Just imagine hand cranking every Hole you had to drill to drive the Dowel into instead of using a Screw or a Nail. All you have to do is push repeatedly and walaah you are done.