yankee screwdrivers do you still use them

diyguys · Post by **diyguys** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:00 pm

just sorting out my diy tools came across a stanley yankee screwdriver my dad had.Do you guys still use them when do you think cordless drivers took over from these manual screwdivers.

Mozzy Jones · Post by **Mozzy Jones** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:07 am

The one and only time I use mine is when stubborn old screws either slot or X head are seized solid. On max extension you can control the amount of torque to remove without kerkackering the groove. Mind you they usually shear off anyways so don't know why i bother really.

Mozzy

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:00 am

I always found a Yankee hard to use directing the force without it jumping off the screw head and damaging the work. I used a Phillips screwdriver shank in my mains electric drill (not recommended for limp wrists) and this worked quite well as the screwdriver cammed out as it got tight. I still use this method from time to time as need arises

The first cordless screwdrivers were those silly 3.6 v things but with the advent of cheap cordless drill drivers about ten years ago it has cast the Yankee to the boot sales, Cash in the Attic and Flog It of tomorrow.

DWD

DIY_Johnny · Post by **DIY_Johnny** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:17 am

My Dad is asking me at the moment to search ebay for Yankee Screwdriver Bits. You can get some in B&Q too.

I have no clud why he uses them, waaaaayyyy to old school. Then agin he still has a 2 handed saw

jg · Post by jg » Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:17 pm

You can get adapters so that they take standard hex bits.

Here is a US site. Not sure about over here.

I've got a yankee, but never used it.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:17 pm

i have 2 slotted bits you can have just pm your address and you will get them by xmass foc

1kt · Post by **1kt** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:41 pm

I bought one about 4 years ago and have used it on many occasions for various reasons.PZ2's are £3.50 each from my local diy store.I use the bits in my cordless for light use and there great.

royaloakcarpentry · Post by **royaloakcarpentry** » Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:57 pm

I remember showing my grandad my Yankee with pride. He nearly had a heart attack. Told me they were banned from his site when they first came out as too dangerous!!!

I do actually wish I still had one. I was thinking about trying to find somewhere that sold them, a few weeks ago.

Simon Site Manager · Post by **Simon Site Manager** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:08 am

Hi RoyalOak,

I was given a Yankee when i was doing my apprenticeship (Lovell Farrow) that was early 80's didn't think they were banned 'till well after that. I still bare the scars from my Yankee days.

Came a across a Plumber 2 years ago- doing a school in Sidmouth, he was using a Yankee, told him they were banned, he said he would continue to use it until his firm bought him a power driver, bet he's still using it.

S

royaloakcarpentry · Post by **royaloakcarpentry** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:26 am

I didn't know they had been banned now. Shows how well I manage to avoid big sites.

My grandad was retired before I started work. He just gave me a look of disgust, said they were dangerous and that his site had banned them when they came out.

I think he worked at a large family home. I have seen pics of him with lots of machinery in the background. So must have been like a stately home.

What he didn't know about timber wasn't worth knowing. If I read timber technology every day, I wouldn't know half as much. He knew how each species reacted in different climates. Intimate knowledge that has died along with all the old boys. His first year apprenticeship was spent learning to sharpen planes and chisels and set saws lol....a year of it.

Simon Site Manager · Post by **Simon Site Manager** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:32 am

Hi Royal,

My first year was the same as your Grandads, was always being told ''Go sharpen your saw''. Guess I was useless for anything else!

Was at Term 2 Heathrow for about 2 years, taught to be a chippy by Indians.

S

ajstone · Post by **ajstone** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:07 pm

Glad to see the back of them as were my poor fingers got rid of mine when the first makita's came out early 80's? only thing worse was the rawl tool.

Simon Site Manager · Post by **Simon Site Manager** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:46 pm

Yes, was given a Rawltool too, bet it's somewhere at the bottom of my toolbox....still in its packet!

S

fin · Post by **fin** » Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:28 am

haha i remember using a rawl tool once. fookin nightmare. im 28 and i remember when i first started out back in 1997 a lot of joiners i worked with still had them brace and bits, yankee drivers. etc. very few had cordlesses even then. price i guess maybe.

the old makita 9.6v (iirc) drivers were the boys like. wouldnt mind a spare one of them just for a laugh.

emergency back up to the dewalt drills i have.

the time i used a rawl tool an old lad had told me about em. i didnt beleive him lol. so next day he bought the rawl tool. an old flat driver and a real old style screw in.

said put that bit of timber onto that wall using those tools.

took a canny while like lol. nd it will still be there behind someones stud wall somewhere.

wrinx · Post by **wrinx** » Sun Feb 14, 2010 5:57 pm

Simon Site Manager wrote:Yes, was given a Rawltool too, bet it's somewhere at the bottom of my toolbox....still in its packet!

S

One of these?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rawlplug-108-No ... B0001P0K18

If so, thank you! I've had a tool like this in a drawer for years without knowing what the hell it is

As for Yankees, hated them with a passion, always used to slip out and go face first towards the piece of work

wrinx