Anyone into Hand Drills?

[Outlawmws]

Not the powered kind, the hand crank kind.

I was at an Antique Flea Market today, and found one I added to my growing collection. (The only tool I bought all day too, and that following yesterday where I only found one 7/16 Klein wrench... Friday was much better, but I posted that already.) I've not seen one quite like this one before.

It is a Craftsman (with the long C), so its probably 30's to early 40's (Anyone know where I can down load a craftsman hand tool catalog earlier than 1949? that is as early as I have found...)

That was what sold me on it, as I have a soft spot for long C craftsman tools. I paid more for it than I have any other hand drill in my collections too. $9...

This will go well with these 50's encased hand drills, both from Sears, under both the Craftsman and Dunlap brands:

Compared to more conventional Hand drills; The top two are Millers Falls, and the larger of the two is about as large as they get before they move them to a shoulder design. The small one is a no-name but was so cute I had to have it. I think it was intended for jeweler's use.

 

[luvit]

that's a nice collection.
i only have a few.. i have a larger one that looks like the top of a crutch -- to put your shoulder into it?

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

Very nice collection for sure.

Would use for making whip cream.

 

[Outlawmws]

that's a nice collection.
i only have a few.. i have a larger one that looks like the top of a crutch -- to put your shoulder into it?

Yep, breast drills, Some of those are 2 speed, and we were playing with one this past summer. We were framing the flooring of a 120 Sq Ft shed, and I was using deck screws in some of the pressure treated wood. I was also drilling pilot holes so we would not split the attached pieces. We used the slow speed on one of my breast drills (Star head screws, so no slippage) and were amazed at how easy they went in, easier than a battery drill...

Mind you, starting them without a pilot using the breast drill isn't easy if at any sort of odd angle, but once started its really fast and you don't have the batteries dying after a couple of dozen...

My tiny (100lb?) 15 YO daughter was having a blast running them in.

I have another that is currently soaking in PB blaster (Got it for like 50 cents) and as soon as I get it apart, the pieces go into my Electrolysis tank.

 

[bob ny]

I have a couple that are for sale or trade

 

[matthew]

Very nice. Personally I'm quite fond of the Yankee style push drills:

 

[RKA]

My dad had one lying around when I was a kid...hated using that thing! No love for mom's hand crank egg beater either! If I had it now, I'd screw it to the wall so I knew where to find my cordless drill.

 

[Outlawmws]

Very nice. Personally I'm quite fond of the Yankee style push drills:

I have a few of the Yankee's also. When properly greased they can work quite well for light work like installing drapery rods, (Which I did for a short time in HS) I have one adapter to let them take modern hex drives.

 

[Outlawmws]

My dad had one lying around when I was a kid...hated using that thing! No love for mom's hand crank egg beater either! If I had it now, I'd screw it to the wall so I knew where to find my cordless drill.

Mine too, I can remember trying to drill through a 1/2" steel bar with it (and probably a dull bit) and it took me all afternoon. I finally made it. his was a real cheapo one (Aluminum main gear IIR), and If I saw it today, wouldn't even bother with it. I like either uniquely interesting or best quality for weird little collections like this.

 

[Packard V8]

My dad had one lying around when I was a kid...hated using that thing! No love for mom's hand crank egg beater either! If I had it now, I'd screw it to the wall so I knew where to find my cordless drill.

Your choice, but for making one or two small holes in wood, drywall or the combination thereof, the Yankee drill or the Millers Falls crank drill has been the one I reach for first for fifty years now. By comparison, a battery powered drill is a heavy, awkward thing . For a couple of small holes, it's like killing flies with a sledge hammer - it works, but it's not the best tool for the job.

jack vines

 

[Coach James]

I thought the ones with a top like a crutch were called "breast drils". I have several hand drills and do use them from time to time.

Coach

 

[Outlawmws]

I thought the ones with a top like a crutch were called "breast drils". I have several hand drills and do use them from time to time.

Coach

I do believe you are right. Brain fade after a long day... (Fixed BTW)

 

[ihredo4]

I like usong the old hand tools as much as possible. Takes me back into the time of a simpler slower time. Got lucky a while back and bought a display box full of bits and adapters for the Yankee drills.

 

[RKA]

Your choice, but for making one or two small holes in wood, drywall or the combination thereof, the Yankee drill or the Millers Falls crank drill has been the one I reach for first for fifty years now. By comparison, a battery powered drill is a heavy, awkward thing . For a couple of small holes, it's like killing flies with a sledge hammer - it works, but it's not the best tool for the job.

jack vines

Haha...prepping for Irene, I was perched up on the second story of the house drilling a pilot hole and driving a screw to secure a loose shutter. My 12v "sledgehammer" allowed me to do it with one hand planted on something secure so I didn't find the fast way down to the first floor!

 

[Brad54]

If anyone drills metal frequently, chuck a counter-sink or chamfering bit into one and hang it on the wall by your drill press, and use it to clean up the hole you just drilled.
I've got a bit-and-brace drill on the wall above my drill press for that.

-Brad

 

[Outlawmws]

If anyone drills metal frequently, chuck a counter-sink or chamfering bit into one and hang it on the wall by your drill press, and use it to clean up the hole you just drilled.
I've got a bit-and-brace drill on the wall above my drill press for that.

-Brad

Now that is a great idea. I've had a cheap drill chuck on a Wood grip handle with a countersink in it for hand deburring and chamfering holes for years, but for aluminum generally; it was never that effective for steel. I'll definitely be trying that out

 

[Brad54]

Now that is a great idea. I've had a cheap drill chuck on a Wood grip handle with a countersink in it for hand deburring and chamfering holes for years, but for aluminum generally; it was never that effective for steel. I'll definitely be trying that out

You will be amazed! It's so fast and so easy... I got the tip from a machinist friend. One of my favorite shop tips of all time.

If you use a bit and brace style drill, you can put the round handle on your gut or hip, hole the piece in one hand and sandwich the drill between the piece and your body, and then crank with your free hand. Works pretty slick.

-Brad

 

[street131]

outlaw, you by chance live in michigan?

 

[Outlawmws]

outlaw, you by chance live in michigan?

Nope, I'm in the Kommie State of Kalifornication. (We desperately need our own revolution...)

Why the Michigan guess?

 

[street131]

i went to a flea market on the same day as you and for some reason there was a more than normal amount of hand drills there. Thought maybe i would have a lucky guess

 

[mrb]

i have a NOS millers falls one still in the box. some guy on ebay had a bunch as gov surplus. I probably paid too much but i just had to have it.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

for what ? to use ? no way

 

[Roddy73]

After my fancy-dancy 18v dewalt's batteries crapped out I pulled the ol makita with the foot long battery out of storage. Charged her up and used it all week! That's about as vintage as I get in the drill dept, my dad had one of those yankee drills and we used it all the time.

 

[Outlander]

I have a few of the Yankee's also. When properly greased they can work quite well for light work like installing drapery rods, (Which I did for a short time in HS) I have one adapter to let them take modern hex drives.

I just learned something new, again, from GJ! Never new these were called 'Yankee drills'. I have one (from my Dad) in my tool box.

Can you still buy bits for these?

 

[Steevo]

I have the same one from Sears as the O.P., but mine says Sears rather than Dunlap on it.

I also have a couple of yankee drills/drivers and like them a lot for quick jobs.

 

[hickmlg09]

i went to a flea market on the same day as you and for some reason there was a more than normal amount of hand drills there. Thought maybe i would have a lucky guess

I was just going to say that we had gone to a flea market today and that I had seen lots of them. I thought you should have got one.

To me I thought they kind of look cool. At first I thought it was a kitchen tool until I relizied it wasnt and was some kind of tool.

 

[Honda 1]

Nice drills and I agree with Packard V8 regarding using these type drills for quick light projects.

 

[7echo]

Those old hand drills were pretty cool. We still use the small ones in a shop.

The Cole drill is pretty sweet for a hand drill as well, I am sure they have been discussed on this site in the past?

 

[matthew]

I just learned something new, again, from GJ! Never new these were called 'Yankee drills'. I have one (from my Dad) in my tool box.

Can you still buy bits for these?

Yes - you can get the old style fluted bits from Garrett Wade.

A hex adaptor for Yankee spiral screwdrivers is available from Lee Valley, not sure if it also fits the push drills.