I am looking for a very good quality, smooth action “Yankee” style spiral push screwdriver. I want it to be about 9 to 11 inches long fully extended and able to store the bits in the handle. I have seen several examples, but without better descriptions and trying them out personally, I can’t decide. Does anyone have thoughts on what I found below or have other sources?
This will be a present for my son who at 31 is reliving his childhood and recalls me using one for years.
Garrett Wade has two
69P01.01 that is all metal and stores bits in the handle, but I don’t see the length and I don’t know how smooth the action is.
19S17.01 is the “original” Yankee, is the right length, but I don’t think you can store bits in the handle.
Lee Valley
28K02.01 has bit storage in the handle and is 9 7/16 inch long extended. This looks perfect, but I don’t know how smooth the action is and the end cap is plastic. My old ratcheting screwdriver had a metal cap that I could use to pound a plastic fastener into the wall which was very convenient.
By the way, Lee Valley has an adapter for the Yankee screwdriver to allow hex bits to be used. Very cool. Anyone use this adapter?
Replies
Get a real one from eBay or an antique tool dealer.
Yes, I just received the bit adapter. I have my father's Yankee. He bought it in'54 I think. I don't have it in this building but I think it is the #131. US made and with the plastic handle.
He used to install storm doors and windows, also aluminum awnings. The tool still works as well as the day he bought it and the hex bit adapter is a dandy.
The beauty of this tool is I don't need to worry about batteries being charged. :0)
I also have my granddad's brace and bits that he used at the Oakland Automobile factory in the early 20's (?). They are all rough looking but still operate. Just old family memories. He used those to drill holes into the wooden crates in which parts were shipped. The crates were then recyclled into floorboards and body parts for the autos.
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