Eggbeater drills

[JAYoung]

I just picked up a 1950s Craftsman eggbeater hand drill for $2 at a thrift store, and the 1950s is about the last time I used one. It cleaned up and works fine.
I think it's a solution to a problem I've had in that every drill bit set I've bought in the intervening years, the first bits to die are the smallest ones (when they're inserted into a power drill).
The balance and slow speed of the eggbeater seems perfect for those small drilling jobs. Also, the fluted bits I found stored in the handle seem more robust than the twist drill bits you can buy today.

 

[Packard V8]

Yes, the fluted bits usually have a larger shank; that is if your drill has a slip chuck

These drills were made in several different sizes, from tiny to huge, with both three-jaw screw and slip chucks.

And yes, I have a couple from Miller's Falls and use them when indicated. They're a nice, quiet, precise method of placing one small hole in wood.

jack vines

 

[toolmiser]

I like to keep a counter sink bit in one for woodworking. Very handy and faster than chucking one up in an electric drill.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I wouldn't want to use one to drill a 1" hole in a 4x4 but for a small holes they're probably just about as fast as an electric drill.

 

[bonneyman]

Egg beater drills are a nice old fart tool to keep around.

I just hope people will also keep an old fart like me around!

 

[Two Sheds]

I concur with Toolmiser. I keep a countersink in one as well; it is much easier to control than an electric drill, and handy to grab.

 

[ttpete]

I have one of the Yankee ratchet drills. It's like new. I have another that I bought for $1 dollar out of an "anything in this box $1" at a gun show. It's a Craftsman that looks like it might have been made by Millers Falls.

 

[Provincial]

I saw this Millers Falls eggbeater drill press at a garage sale today.

Not my area of collecting, but interesting.

 

[toolmiser]

I would have jumped all over that drill press. I missed one at an antique mall 30 years ago. Lack of funds. I have a few other "eggbeater" or "breast" type of drills that can be interesting.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I have a couple of egg beater drills from my dad's estate. I used them more than I ever would have expected

 

[Targa68]

Hi All

Would like to show off my vintage Craftsman eggbeater.

First picture how I found it and last picture after cleaning and lubricating. It works surprisingly well.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Now days, no one young, knows what an egg beater is. I haven't seen one used in 25 years or so. Handy drills to have around for just starter holes in wood. Even the Yankee type push drills had some places where they worked great.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Hi All

Would like to show off my vintage Craftsman eggbeater.

First picture how I found it and last picture after cleaning and lubricating. It works surprisingly well.

That's unusual, I've never seen one like it before. Very cool.

 

[Super Mech]

Hi All

Would like to show off my vintage Craftsman eggbeater.

First picture how I found it and last picture after cleaning and lubricating. It works surprisingly well.

That thing is slick! I would love to get my hands on one of those at a yard sale.

 

[code4pay]

I only just started a thread on the Australian woodworking forums with the same subject a couple of weeks ago.

Here are mine I use them all but the small millers fall which I plan to fix up.


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[code4pay]

One tip I have for using an egg beater with wood is to use Brad point wood drill bits they a more efficient at lower speeds than the general purpose metal type. I haven't tried the spoon bits but I will be I teresred to give them ago.
This is my drill press, I'm half way through making a YouTube video where I drill some metal plate with it in one section. It does a good job sharp bits are necessary of course.

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[bonneyman]

Some of my eggbeaters. A pair of Dunlap's, a Proto flex drill for the military, and a nice old Millers Falls I got for free.

 

[bmwrd0]

I keep a Proto flex drill and a couple of the Yankee push drills in my box. As I start to get back into woodworking, I have found that the slow speed keeps you from making as big a problem for yourself that an electric drill would

 

[bctexas]

Here's an old Dunlap of my dad's. I remember him using it when I was a kid. I know nothing at all about it, other than finding the name "Dunlap" on the crank handle. Any estimate of its age?

 

[Al Borland]

Now I'm all hungry and thinking about omlets.
Thanks a lot Garage Journal!

 

[rsanter]

So you bought a cordless drill

 

[ttpete]

Bill Ruger's first products were hand drills before he and Sturm went into the handgun business. They're quite rare.

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/74/1968/three-rare-ruger-corporation-hand-drills

 

[johninct]

I just dug mine out yesterday. Just saw this post today. I need to get a chuck I think 5/16" shaft.

 

[code4pay]

Bill Ruger's first products were hand drills before he and Sturm went into the handgun business. They're quite rare.



https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/74/1968/three-rare-ruger-corporation-hand-drills

Wow they are different!

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[d42jeep]

Here's an old Dunlap of my dad's. I remember him using it when I was a kid. I know nothing at all about it, other than finding the name "Dunlap" on the crank handle. Any estimate of its age?

Dunlap tools were offered by Sears beginning in 1938 and ending in 1960. Yours looks like a breast drill, maybe a two speed. I see one like it in the 1942 catalog.
-Don

 

[bctexas]

Cool, thanks Don! That appears to be the same tool. I thought the chuck on mine was for the tapered square bits like the one in my picture. But on having another look mine has the three jaw chuck as in the catalog. 1942 - may be from the time when my parents lived in Ypsilanti and my dad worked in the Willow Run bomber plant....

 

[d42jeep]

I was interested in finding the age of your drill because I have a Dunlap tool collection and I like seeing people's various tools.
-Don

 

[bctexas]

Hi Don - well whaddya know - looks like dad left me a second Dunlap drill. The label is worn off of the wooden handle. The only writing I can find on it is "Made in USA" that you can just see in the picture. This one has a two jaw chuck. Sure looks like the ones in your pics....

 

[JimDon]

Those brace and bit drills (augers) shown in the last few pics are actually our ancestors' attempt at close quarter drills. (Ya, ya you say -- you see the length and size of that thing?) There is a (usually) built in ratchet system just behind the chuck. You put a bit in it, set it to ratchet (in the right direction) and you can drill between studs without having to make a complete rotation of the long handle. If it gets stuck, reverse the ratchet action and you can easily back the bit out. Slow going, but it works, and will save those on the Milwaukee Addiction thread from having to go buy one of those expensive Super Hawgs for drilling between close-in 2x4s. Cheers, Jim Don

 

[Straightgrain]

I have two PROTO hand drills that I use for both light metal work in the garage & for drilling holes for drywall anchors in the house, it's actually my go-to drill for light drilling.

 

[6PTsocket]

Now I'm all hungry and thinking about omlets.
Thanks a lot Garage Journal!

My wife collects vintage kitchen gadgets and bought a vintage egg beater wth bakelite handles. She uses it all the time.

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[ttpete]

Those brace and bit drills (augers) shown in the last few pics are actually our ancestors' attempt at close quarter drills. (Ya, ya you say -- you see the length and size of that thing?) There is a (usually) built in ratchet system just behind the chuck. You put a bit in it, set it to ratchet (in the right direction) and you can drill between studs without having to make a complete rotation of the long handle. If it gets stuck, reverse the ratchet action and you can easily back the bit out. Slow going, but it works, and will save those on the Milwaukee Addiction thread from having to go buy one of those expensive Super Hawgs for drilling between close-in 2x4s. Cheers, Jim Don

There was also a corner brace that had a frame and bevel gearing to get the crank handle away from the wall.

 

[Thrumcap]

Here’s a recent arrival. This is a new old stock Stanley 905 two speed breast drill.



These were made 1956-1986. The second gear is engaged by pushing a spring loaded pin that allows you to move the axle and gear wheel to the other axle race in the drill chassis, thus engaging the inner gear. It weighs about seven pounds.

Thrumcap

 

[d42jeep]

Here are three slightly different Stanley Handyman drills and an unmarked Made in USA drill.
-Don

 

[code4pay]

I found these interesting Henry Bok hand drills on ebay that have bevelled gears. Although the company still stocks hand drills they don't seem to do the bevelled gears.

I purchased the one in the second photo I will be interested to see how it performs.
Regards Mike

Mike

 

[mark#3]

I called this a bit and brace drill(saw dust pump), used it to drill holes in wood poles while on a pole(belt and hooks) doing power lineman work, being in shape dictated how fast the job got done, in reference to picture#28

 

[Jc2043]

It’s been a Craftsman hand drill type of month.


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[Leviton]

I posted this one on another thread today. I don't own this, just saw it online. I think it's a beauty.

 

[RTM]

Wow, someone was proud of that. A beauty too.

Wish others would do that, helps as my vision goes down the tubes.

 

[WisJim]

I collect drilling tools, especially eggbeater drills, the larger breast drills, and bit braces and related accessory tools. I probably have a few hundred different drills of various kinds. I'll post a picture or two of some of my favorite breast drills and eggbeaters (I posted some bit braces on another thread a few days ago). First picture is of 6 different unmarked drills all with interesting and almost identical gearing, but with many other differences. Maybe made by individual men using purchased or copied gears? Second picture is two big Goodell Pratt drills and a common size Millers Falls. The biggest Goodell Pratt, on the left, has a 3/4" chuck. Third pic is a McClellan flexible drill with chain drill attachment, and a South Beach (Adams) which also has chain drill attachment but doesn't hinge like the McClellan.