Shopsmith Forums

I recently had to drill some holes in some very tight spaces where a drill with a large chuck would not fit. Neither the Shopsmith nor my handheld Ryobi nor even an old egg-beater could get where I needed to go.

Enter the Garrett Wade Yankee Push Drill. I gather this is a re-issue of a tool that Stanley made for decades. Comes with 8 double flute bits that fit in the handle. The 8 bits are from 1/16th to 11/64th in 1/64th increments. Obviously this is for drilling small pilots holes. Works like a
charm. Seems very well made.

A couple of pics are attached.

I have a similar design push drill in my toolbox for about 40 years. If I remember correctly, mine is a Sears Craftsman one. It doesn't get used often, but when I need it, I appreciate it. Like you said. It drills holes in tight quarters better than anything else I have.

I have(had?) one made by miller falls(sp?). Have not had my hands on it recently.

garys wrote:I have a similar design push drill in my toolbox for about 40 years. If I remember correctly, mine is a Sears Craftsman one. It doesn't get used often, but when I need it, I appreciate it. Like you said. It drills holes in tight quarters better than anything else I have.

Me too.

But the first thing I often go for is my small awl that I've ground to a sharp edge, like a sharp screwdriver. Push in and twist. Very accurate placement for pilot holes for small screws.

I have two or three of the push drills and some of the Yankee screw drivers.

davebodner wrote:

garys wrote:I have a similar design push drill in my toolbox for about 40 years. If I remember correctly, mine is a Sears Craftsman one. It doesn't get used often, but when I need it, I appreciate it. Like you said. It drills holes in tight quarters better than anything else I have.

Me too.

But the first thing I often go for is my small awl that I've ground to a sharp edge, like a sharp screwdriver. Push in and twist. Very accurate placement for pilot holes for small screws.

Sounds similar to a square or birdcage awl.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCC-95EJvGk[/youtube]

rpd wrote:I have two or three of the push drills and some of the Yankee screw drivers.

pushdrills.jpg.jpg

davebodner wrote:

garys wrote:I have a similar design push drill in my toolbox for about 40 years. If I remember correctly, mine is a Sears Craftsman one. It doesn't get used often, but when I need it, I appreciate it. Like you said. It drills holes in tight quarters better than anything else I have.

Me too.

But the first thing I often go for is my small awl that I've ground to a sharp edge, like a sharp screwdriver. Push in and twist. Very accurate placement for pilot holes for small screws.

Sounds similar to a square or birdcage awl.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCC-95EJvGk[/youtube]

I very interesting and informative discussion about square awls. I'll have to locate mine and use it.

dusty wrote:

rpd wrote:I have two or three of the push drills and some of the Yankee screw drivers.

pushdrills.jpg.jpg

davebodner wrote: Me too.

But the first thing I often go for is my small awl that I've ground to a sharp edge, like a sharp screwdriver. Push in and twist. Very accurate placement for pilot holes for small screws.

Sounds similar to a square or birdcage awl.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCC-95EJvGk[/youtube]

I very interesting and informative discussion about square awls. I'll have to locate mine and use it.

I am gonna make one!

dusty wrote:Sounds similar to a square or birdcage awl.

Same function, different mechanics. Paul Sellers' awl uses the square edges of the shaft to cut the wood fibers. Mine uses the knife-edge of the tip to cut the fibers. Roy Underhill taught to introduce the awl I use into the wood cross-grain first, so the fibers would be cut rather than be pushed aside.

I make no claim as to which one works better; however, that Paul Sellers demonstration does seem pretty slick.

davebodner wrote:

dusty wrote:Sounds similar to a square or birdcage awl.

Same function, different mechanics. Paul Sellers' awl uses the square edges of the shaft to cut the wood fibers. Mine uses the knife-edge of the tip to cut the fibers. Roy Underhill taught to introduce the awl I use into the wood cross-grain first, so the fibers would be cut rather than be pushed aside.

I make no claim as to which one works better; however, that Paul Sellers demonstration does seem pretty slick.

Okay, equal time for the Chisel Point Brad Awl, https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/to ... t-brad-awl

The write ups says they are better for softwoods, and the square for hardwoods. https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/to ... -hardwoods

There are a lot of push drills available new. If you have the adapter to hold hex shank bits in your screwdriver, you can use hex-shank drill bits.

https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3A ... push+drill
https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/to ... rewdrivers