Push drill questions

[captain14]

I am interested in a push drill. I know Yankee, Miller Falls and others made them. I think the Craftsman was manufactured by Miller Falls at one time. There are several makes listed in EBay.

Anyone have a good recommendation?


I do have a couple of my father’s Yankee screwdrivers but they only have one large standard blade. I see Lee Valley offers a hex head adapter that will allow you to use other bits that have a matching shank. Any comments on this adapter?

Thanks in advance

 

[RTM]

I am interested in a push drill. I know Yankee, Miller Falls and others made them. I think the Craftsman was manufactured by Miller Falls at one time. There are several makes listed in EBay.

Anyone have a good recommendation?

Don’t get Goodell Pratt, their bits are proprietary and don’t interchange with Yankee or MF. Good tools, just hard to use without bits. I have many Yankee push drills, they work great with fluted bits, and ok with twist bits.

I do have a couple of my father’s Yankee screwdrivers but they only have one large standard blade. I see Lee Valley offers a hex head adapter that will allow you to use other bits that have a matching shank. Any comments on this adapter?

Thanks in advance

I have a LeeValley adapter in one Yankee screwdriver of each size, and use them with hex bits, think they are fantastic.

I also have a small box full of bits in each Yankee size.

There are many Made in Germany tools which are almost identical to MF, they seem to work ok as well. Mostly screwdrivers, not drills.

 

[WisJim]

The early Millers Falls push drills used the same fluted base bits that Goodell-Pratt used, but later ones used the same style as the Yankees, so check the chuck first.
The Lee Valley adapters work well, and some others make similar adapters for hex bits.

 

[alinc100]

I agree with what others have said. the Lee Valley adapter allows you to use modern hex bits in a Yankee. A push drill is a similar but different animal. PM me your address and I'll send you a working push drill ( that isn't a Goodell and Pratt)

 

[matthew]

Push drills are great. My dad used one all the time, and I’m glad I learned about them from that.

I haven’t used twist bits in my push drill, but the fluted bits are probably better. The reversing action is less splinter prone in fine work.

Garrett Wade sells replacement bits and reproduction push drills. They’re very good. However they are much more expensive now than when I bought mine.

 

[captain14]

Don’t get Goodell Pratt, their bits are proprietary and don’t interchange with Yankee or MF. Good tools, just hard to use without bits. I have many Yankee push drills, they work great with fluted bits, and ok with twist bits.



I have a LeeValley adapter in one Yankee screwdriver of
I also have a small box full of bits in each Yankee size.

There are many Made in Germany tools which are almost identical to MF, they seem to work ok as well. Mostly screwdrivers, not drills.

RTM,
This is the kind of info I was looking for. I have done a little research and remember one did use a proprietary bit. Most of the eBay listings either have a coupe of bits or none.
I found a YouTube video where someone made a hex adapter using his welder and some stock.

 

[captain14]

The early Millers Falls push drills used the same fluted base bits that Goodell-Pratt used, but later ones used the same style as the Yankees, so check the chuck first.
The Lee Valley adapters work well, and some others make similar adapters for hex bits.

I have did a google search for the hex head adapter but Lee Valley is the only one I’ve found.

 

[captain14]

I agree with what others have said. the Lee Valley adapter allows you to use modern hex bits in a Yankee. A push drill is a similar but different animal. PM me your address and I'll send you a working push drill ( that isn't a Goodell and Pratt)

alinc100,

I sent you a PM

Thank you