Wooden Screwdrivers

[matthew]

Adapters for old Yankee screwdrivers to use hex bits are available from Lee Valley Tools.

Steve, do I count right - is that SEVEN of the Yankee push-drills? And I thought I was a big fan of those... one of my favourites.

TireTracks, if you like using Yankee screwdrivers, you might want a Yankee push drill to add ot your collection. If you can't find one used, there are reproductions (and new bits) available from Garrett Wade.

 

[Crizzle]

From my father's toolbox, several Mac and two Proto's. I'd guess they date from the '70's. I've always liked using them, the Mac's in particular are surprisingly comfortable. I think wood is sometimes underrated as a tactile material these days. Lee Valley offers some nice ones nowadays.

Have some of the same ones it looks like.

 

[matthew]

Have some of the same ones it looks like.

Very nice set of screwdrivers. Sure looks like the one marked Matco is right off the same production line as the Mac's. And I'll bet that even if there's another drawer crammed with plastic or rubber handled screwdrivers in that box that the wood handled ones are the tools of choice

 

[Crizzle]

Yeah, I do think they came off the same production line as well. And yes, they are the drivers of choice most of the time.

 

[jsaw]

Here are some pics of a wooden handle screwdriver I inherited from My Grandad

 

[wyndycity]

Here are some pics of a wooden handle screwdriver I inherited from My Grandad

That's a hell of a handle! I bet you can generate a lot of torque with a handle that fat.

 

[matthew]

Stumbled across this and thought it was interesting - Wilde Tool apparently makes wood handled screwdrivers, see their catalog at http://wildetool.com/cat-43.cfm. They look a lot like the old Mac ones, which is probably a good thing.

 

[dolfans]

My father had some and now i have them. They are about 40 yrs old bc i can remember them and i am 39. I think it is 6 or 8 screwdrivers. Looks like the ones Matthew has on the 1st page

 

[Hawk321]

Oh I love them, my Pozidrive 1, 2 + 3 has a wooden handle. Very popular here in germany. All brands producing them.
My Set is from WIHA.
Know people who prefer more the wooden handles as any other.
A real big advantage is that those screwdrivers can be abused as a chisel...not to forget, the top is made of real leather!

 

[dede2897234]

Lee Valley sells wooden screwdrivers for woodworkers. They aren't cheap -- a set of nine screwdrivers which include three slot, three Philips and three Robertson (which some of you who are not Canadians will refer to as "Square") each goes for about $42.00. They are made in Japan and steel end caps. Here is the link:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=32208&cat=1,43411,43417&ap=2

I believe the wooden screwdrivers that Lee Valley sells are made by Anex Tool. Here is a link to screwdrivers on the Anex Tool website: http://www.anextool.co.jp/products/pdf/3/180.pdf.

Does anyone own the Japanese wooden screwdrivers from Lee Valley?

If someone does, can you please comment on the quality and durability of these screwdrivers.


Thanks,

Dave

 

[Old Donn]

Dave, what is that?

I've always seen them referred to as cabinet maker's screwdrivers. Got a set of three from Sears several years back. Now I'm gonna have to find them. As I mentioned in another thread, I've got a set of USA made Irwins with wood handles. They were my first set of decent drivers, and are still my favorites.

 

[lauver]

Yes, There is not better screwdriver then this one. I'm still looking for the rest of the set

Dave,

You are absolutely right about these drivers...they fit your hand like no others. I'm also looking for a few more of them. Just don't make the mistake of using them on anything high voltage or high amperage... Ouch!

 

[paramedic]

i have a set of buffalo wood handles 6 of them i think, one i use and would never wanna part with. no i just need some screw drivers i can put a wrench on then i will be happy

 

[Randy_che]

http://www.garrettwade.com/x-hd-screwdriver-set-4/p/05R01.03 /

Garrett Wade sells the heavy duty wood handled drivers that everyone is looking for. They are on backorder though.

 

[scottg1952]

Re: Wooden Screwdrivers - Links

The Perfect handle drivers were invented by a guy named H D Smith around 1890. He made screwdrivers, from 3 3/4" up to around 28". He also made monkey wrenches from 6 to at least 24". There was a prybar, hammers, single size wrenches, draw knives and a trippy valve spring compressor outfit.
A couple of German companies copied them at the time.
When the patent ran out a few more American companies made them too.
The original H D Smith tools are all so marked.

But nobody remembered how the wood handle slips were fitted to the curved frames so tight it looks like they were cast in place. It took me over a year to figure it out. I have taught lots of guys now though so you see them around.
The instructions are on my web page.

Prices?? Well I have bought them for 25 cents when they needed work and I have seen really mint ones offered for 100 dollars but I doubt they had many takers.
They aren't that hard to find if you start looking, but you certainly aren't waltzing up with a credit card and buying a set in a blow molded tray. They don't come -that- easy!
http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/screwdrivers.htm
Here is the page with handle fitting instructions
http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/awl.htm
yours Scott

 

[scottg1952]

Oh ps
These drivers are all regular old fashioned oil hardening tool steel. Probably O-1.
So you can heat them up cherry and reforge if you need to.
Then harden and temper same as any other forged tool.
Screwdrivers want spring temper. Namely deep even blue temper, all except the very tip.
Leave that at brown with purple spots. Knife edge temper.

Here is an article about this very subject.
http://www.wkfinetools.com/tCare/heatTemper/heatTemper1.asp
yours again Scott

 

[Monte]

Felo, Paramo, Anex, SKG

 

[lbgradwell]

yankee drivers from Lee Valley made in japan: click

I just returned from Lee Valley...

I have my grandfather's old Craftsman-branded, West Germany-made "Yankee"-style screwdriver. It came with one worn flat bit.

I noticed those same Japanese drivers on the website & sure enough, they sell just the replacement bits too! I picked up a new flat bit and #1 & #2 Phillips bits. Made in Japan by VESSEL!

Adapters for old Yankee screwdrivers to use hex bits are available from Lee Valley Tools.

I also grabbed one of these since I have loads of those otherwise useless 1" bits...

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Bull, I always love the very original threads you make and the unexpected but very interesting things that always come up. Thanks for keeping things interesting!

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

i think theyre ugly pieces of you know what

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Are the Garrett Wade screwdrivers American made?

 

[dede2897234]

Felo, Paramo, Anex, SKG

Monte,

Have you had a chance to use the Anex wood handle screwdriver? If so, how do you like it?


Where did you purchase the Anex screwdriver? Does this dealer carry or have the ability to order other Anex hand tools?


Thanks,

Dave

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Answered my own question...they are imported. Dang.

 

[Monte]

Monte,
Have you had a chance to use the Anex wood handle screwdriver? If so, how do you like it?
Where did you purchase the Anex screwdriver? Does this dealer carry or have the ability to order other Anex hand tools?
Thanks,
Dave

Hi Dave,

i played around a little bit, they have a nice triangular "Witte-style" handle which is nice to hold and to turn. The design is also very nice, too beautiful to work with

I think i get a set of the Felo drivers since they`re about 50% cheaper and i also like the Felo handle very much which is also smaller which i prefer.

The dealer i found is a distributor of "****" hand tools which is a wholesaler of mostly japanese hand tools for woodworking. I didnt ask about other Anex tools but "Chreese" special ordered "IPS" long nose slip joint pliers through "****". So i guess Anex should be no problem. But I will find out soon since i need these "screw pliers" from Eingineer but in this "Neji-saurus" design and maybe 1 or 2 other Anex drivers which also have to be special ordered since they carry only 6 of the "Anex Hyper" screwdrivers.

 

[blueflame6]

Had my camera in the garage today so........these drivers came from my Pop (grandfather) now I'm a grandfather myself. I've probably had these for a good 40 years. I don't see any markings on these at all to identify the mfg's. I use them only once in a while to reflect. Any experts out there to I.D them? thanks....Peter

 

[blueflame6]

What happened to my pics??? Here goes again.....Peter

 

[jpilgrim]

I found these nice guys in a fleabay lot recently.

 

[DavidB]

There was a link earlier in the thread to some screwdrivers on Rockler. They're on sale for almost half off if anyone liked them ($20 instead of $35).

Link:
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=21412

 

[Gary S]

I have one. I don't remember where I got it, but it didn't impress me, so I ground the tip off the phillips so it fits the oriental messed-up phillips screws and I now use it for working on my computers.