Yankees

[Kermit]

I've got all I need in this lifetime, but you, on the other hand...

http://garrettwade.ip07.com/form/garrettwade/viewhtml/9z1zl4fksq2elvfjoh9mre3pcem1unujn7r29uv5llg

[Jay Greer]

While many of you may not think there is a place for the old style Yankee Screw Driver in todays world of power drivers, there is a sensitivty that this old style tool transmits to the user when doing critical work that might, other wise, split or damage a component. A well ground Yankee Bit allows for either withdrawl or driving of a fastening with little chance of having the bit jump out of the slot. That is if the user knows his stuff.
Jay

[johngsandusky]

I refastend my yawl with a yankee, not out of nostalgia.

[Ian McColgin]

I keep four yankees in my basic bag - two longish and two of the short size with the bits and drills stored in the handles. Some drills I milled a bit so they will form the countersink. It's not uncommon for me to use three for a job - drill, short for starting the screw, and long to drive it home. I love the fact that you get the screw torqued just right without stripping the wood around the threads.

And as to that other matter, I grew up on the Island in the days before the Mets. WASPS, mostly Republicans, were Yankees fans. Catholics, Jews and Democrats were Dodgers. We sorta knew there was a minor team north east of us, gave us a good hitter once, but they were not really on our horizon since the World Series was really a New York event.

Now I am all Go Sox but the whole big deal about the Yankees still seems a bit one-sided. Boston is lovely and walkable and all that, but NYC is The City.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

How do you store the bits in the handle, Ian?

Mine have handles that are full of spring!

In fact the curse of the Yankee is losing the bits, I find.

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

Some people remove the spring - there is real merit in this if the bit slips - and its a two-hand tool anyway.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Ah!

For a bonus mark, can you recall the name of the English maker of them; not Stanley but another maker, who stopped a few years ago?

[Kermit]

TAKE THE SPRINGS OUT! None of mine are "new" enough to even have them. IMHO those springs were a sorry early marketing ploy to attract the lazy. If you get rid of 'em, you'll be a happier person and ding up surfaces much less frequently.

[Jay Greer]

Taking the spring out is a matter of personal taste. I have tried both ways with my own tools and find that the spring allows for more delicate control in keeping the bit snugged against the sides of the screw slots when not using the push drive. This is when I merely torque a fastening on rachet.
Jay

[Bob Cleek]

I used my all metal little one to drill pilot holes for some eye bolts I was putting into the wall and a china cabinet to make sure it didn't fall over in an earthquake today. Fitted a bracket the same way using my mid sized Yankee with a Phillips bit in it. Two tools and a handfull of screws and eyebolts. No cords, no power drills, no muss, no fuss. Fifteen minute job.

I believe Lee Valley is now offering hex bit converters that fit into the old Yankees. I plan to get me some.

Forget professional boatbuilders, you know, it is really amazing how many home handymen seem to think they need a battery powered drill motor to drive a screw these days. There's a place for power, but for those many jobs where you have a few screws to drive and don't want to develop carpel tunnel syndrome twisting a screwdriver, the Yankees are just the ticket. Blame Norm and his sponsors for tricking people into thinking you have to use a powertool to do anything.

[skuthorp]

I have 3, of various sizes, 2 without springs and one is by that english maker I can't remember either! I got used to using them in the bush framing up before power drills were common and there was often no power. Hardwood house frames were put up green because dry you'd never get a nail, let alone a screw into them!

[john l]

i've got my dad's old yankees and enjoy using them for several reasons. he had the small one set up with an interesting cutting/drill bit
to drill pilot holes. the big yankee did the actual screwing. i started using them as a young architect student and carpenter shortly after my dads death in the early 70's. i still use the small yankee as a pilot hole
drill! great tools and "very green."

[John Meachen]

For a bonus mark, can you recall the name of the English maker of them; not Stanley but another maker, who stopped a few years ago?

That may well be Spiralux.When I lost my 131A Yankee a few years ago-and may a plague of boils be visited on it's current custodian-I bought a fairly old replacement which was made by North Bros and is probably fairly ancient.It has rested in a box in the shed since I first bought a cordless drill with adjustable torque.

[Ian McColgin]

My little ones have bit storage in the handle around the central shaft. One of my long yankees has no spring. I use it and like it but I like the spring better where a screw takes more than one run-down to get home.

The yankees that carry the metal of the central structure right to the top of the handle - both my littles on one long - also double as terrific light impact drivers. Most handy for loosening a recalcitrant screw.

[Bob Cleek]

Oh, definitely keep the spring. There are few things as satisfying as drawing your big Yankee screwdriver in front of a "battery boy" who's never seen one and releasing the catch.... zap! Switchblade screwdriver. Drive a drywall screw with one plunge and reset the extension lock before you take the bit out of the slot... VERY impressive. I just LOVE doing that!