Push screwdriver

[Windows]

A dumb question for those that know, but what are those screwdrivers that you push called? Are they any good? Is there a particular manufacturer? Thanks!

 

[Lons]

Stanley Yankee type, I have a couple of old ones never use anymore, a cordless drill is much better.

 

[AndyT]

Most of the specimens you're likely to find in the UK will be the Yankee brand, sold by Stanley. Various sizes and options. You can still get bits (inc Posidrive) and adaptors for them but I think they have been widely abandoned in favour of battery power. Many users will have bad memories of flat bladed models skidding when pushed, ruining finished surfaces.

In the US there were more makers and models.

 

[Mike Jordan]

Spiral ratchet screwdriver is the correct term I think, normally called a pump screwdriver in the workshops I worked in. As already mentioned they were used with slotted screws since posidrive was years away. Their use was not easy, but when mastered they speeded up the job. The drawback being that if it slipped then the job or operator could be damaged!
I remember laughing at a friend who bought one of the battery drivers, but in next to no time they took over.
The photo shows the largest and smallest types which I still have. The larger one is a replacement for one I managed to wear out.

 

[Mike G]

Brilliant bits of kit. Sometimes, there is nothing else which will shift a stuck screw, or get one in in a difficult position.

 

[Mike Jordan]

As you say Mike very useful on the rare occasions I need a screwdriver 600mm long.

 

[AJB Temple]

I still have my dad's Stanley versions of these. Must sell them, as the two types of impact driver I have (oil and normal) cope with everything except gun screw and slotted cabinet screws for which old cabinet maker's tools or gunsmith tools are my go to. In some situations - such as fitting a hinge on a fold back grand piano lid where some 120 screws need clocking, only one tool will do.

 

[droogs]

I have 3 a 12", an 18" and a 20"the first 2 are Stanley which take specific bits and the last is made by Faithful and this takes the modern "normal" hex bits.

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

They are also carnivorous...improperly held, the shaft extending from the handle can trap bits of finger between it and the knurled hand grip...DAMHIKT. It is particularly prone to happen when you are tired, it's the last screw of the day(shut-up in the cheap seats!!) or it's above your head....think plaster ceiling board. It is GUARANTEED to happen if you don't keep the shaft clean and lubricated (Oi! Cheap seats!)...push, shaft jams half-way down, you push harder, shaft SUDDENLY slams shut...on your finger.

 

[Woodbloke]

My dad was an artificer in the Fleet Air Arm and Yankee screwdrivers were banned by the RN; one slip and you could go clean through the thin aluminium skin of an aircraft - Rob

 

[Raymedullary]

When I was doing my yacht joinery apprenticeship in the early 80's "pump" screwdrivers were a totally completely must have tool. No such thing as drill drivers!
I did hear of some foreman taking a dim view of them due to the possibility of them slipping. I still use my Yankee when I'm feeling nostalgic.

 

[Windows]

Thanks all. Is it my imagination that I’ve seen them with a cylinder that surrounds the screw to prevent slipping? (I’ve never seen one in real life, only on video).

 

[Trevanion]

I think the (small) Yankee screwdriver has become favorable with some people that make or work on computers as they're quite quick and don't generate static.

 

[Windows]

I’m in the market for one of these. Looks like there’s good availability on the auction site. Buying new there’s fewer options in the UK apparently (Silverline plus a few no-name Chinese sellers), but maybe my search is still missing something. If anyone wants to offload, let me know; otherwise I’ll hit the auction site later this week.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Pity. I gave two 131s away a couple of months ago.

 

[Mike Jordan]

Windows - I’ve also seen the locating collar you mention, they were fitted to early mains powered electric screwdrivers. The collar was spring loaded and located with the screw head, they worked until the screw head was flush with the timber. They were reserved for jobs like screwing risers to the backs of treads where the resulting scars were not seen.

 

[Alf]

Stanley, and probably others, used to sell models both with, and without the spring. So the 130,131, and 135 would all have a spring, while the 30, 31, and 35 did not. Some trades were quite specific about not having a sprung one - can't recall the details just now. iirc it was North Brothers (?) who originally made the Yankees, who were then bought up by Stanley. Millers Falls certainly made a spiral ratchett screwdriver or two. More recently Schroeder made an okay one, iirc, tho' probably not any more. The little "handyman" transparent grip ones are quite fun to have, and with the bonus of often having the handle full of bits - the drill bits are quite handy, actual push drills being a bit hard to find in the UK.

Mind you, the "handle full of bits" thing can lead to trouble. I once bought a big Yankee from a car boot, and did my habitual "How much?" Well, he took it from me and shook it next to his ear. "Sounds like there's some bits in here" he sez, ready to charge extra. To my horrified fascination he swiftly takes up a screwdriver and starts unscrewing the handle. While I'm still saying "Er, I don't think you want to do..." he loosens the screw and PING, the massive spring shoots past his ear and lands two stalls down in a pile of Beanie Babies. Luckily we able to retrieve it and the screw, and all was reassembled. He was a teeny tiny bit embarrassed and I may have got a better deal as a result, but I bet he never checked a handle for bits again!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

The little drill bits in the clear handled ones were useful. One very useful bit often overlooked is a snail countersink - sharpened, they are brilliant, one "whack" and you've a near half inch countersink. Both my large Yankees were Spiralux, they were both fine. If you're ever tempted to use a Yankee PZ or PH bit in a power drill, don't - you'll likely crack the wings off in a split second. Damhikt.

 

[Lurker]

Here’s mine, inherited from Dad.
Note the obligatory tobacco tin of bits.
I use the small one quite frequently.

 

[Lurker]

Thanks all. Is it my imagination that I’ve seen them with a cylinder that surrounds the screw to prevent slipping? (I’ve never seen one in real life, only on video).

These are similar, but not for the Yankee.
I have never used them.

 

[AndyT]

Back in the workshop, I'll add a few photos too.

These are my two. The large one is marked Millers Falls 610A patented Mar 30 1926 and the small one (with a fixed flat bit) is a North Brothers Yankee Handyman 133H. There were loads of models made, too many for most of us to collect, but in theory it's nice to have one or two, and what else is the back of the screwdriver drawer for?





Picking up on the question of things to hold a screw on the driver, these are really good and simple. Marked Stanley USA and Patent Pending, I would have bought them in the 80s. They used to be a set of three; I should have bought a second set so I never would have lost any

 

[Woolf]

Bought some of these adapters from Axminster many years ago.
Makes it easy to use Pozi screws

https://www.axminstertools.com/hex-bit- ... -32-504596

 

[Windows]

Thank you. Really appreciate all the pictures and other information.

 

[Steve Maskery]

I was always fascinated by them when I was a kid, but dad never let us use his. He was once fitting some bar seating, on his back underneath a bench and his Yankee slipped and got him in the eye. He nearly lost his eye.
S

 

[CStanford]

Don't use one without a pilot hole is all I can say. Get the screw started by positioning the driver in its locked setting and giving the screw a few turns, then you can move the switch and start "pumping."

 

[Pete Maddex]

As used by Harrt Tuttle

Go to 2:50


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Pete

 

[Alasdair]

No one has mentioned the bit slipping off the screwhead usually when your thumb was still infront of it. When i started my apprenticeship these were the desired tool you saved for.

 

[AndyT]

As used by Harrt Tuttle

Go to 2:50


[youtubessl]VRfoIyx8KfU[/youtubessl]

Pete

That's one of my all time favourite films. Enjoyable on so many levels!

 

[Pete Maddex]

As used by Harrt Tuttle

Go to 2:50


[youtubessl]VRfoIyx8KfU[/youtubessl]

Pete

That's one of my all time favourite films. Enjoyable on so many levels!

The tec is similar to the stuff in 12 Monkeys, something to do with the director

Pete

 

[clogs]

that spring thingy is also used on a powered dry wall screw driver....
once the screw has seated flush it disconects the drive...

 

[Hawkeyefxr]

Pump action screwdriver, you were not allowed to use them on site years ago as people stabbed themselves with them. Bit Fred Flintstone these days.