Yankee Screwdriver

Kurled collar should slide up, rusted seized?

-- Lifting one end of the plank.

I agree with Andre it is a quick release like an air hose. I have a “yankee” drill that works on the same principle.

-- Les B, Oregon

That’s a tool we used to install hundreds of doors and drawers. Like they note above, twisting the collar should release the driver:

There is also a slide on the barrel that will change turn direction or lock so it doesn’t ratchet.

Flat head screws were a pain, but with Phillips you could punch to start the screw and then finish driving it home (unless we were building an ash or birch kitchen).

We used these until the early/mid 70s. Then battery operated drills replaced them in the shop, but there was a Yankee in the tool box when we did an install because it always worked.

-- Doug - As my Dad taught me, you're not a cabinet maker until you can hide your mistakes.

I believe the collar is pushed up, ie, towards the end of the bit, to release it.

Ok….Time for some “Show & Tell”

Went and picked one out of the tool box, one I could take better photos with…

Stanley/North Bros. No. 131A…some of the features..

On these Yankee screwdrivers…this is where you change direction at, right now it is in reverse, center locks the spiral from turning, forward means just that…next..

This is a locking collar….turn it counter-clockwise…

And this will happen, be sure to be out of the way…when done, push the spiral all the way back in, and turn the collar clockwise. Next

Out on the end…there is a sleeve…knurled for grip…it is free turning….this is where you grasp ahold to guide the screwdriver at…

IF you pull back on the sleeve as far as it can go…

The bit is released. Note on the end of the bit…there are 2 notches….the “D” shaped end will fit into a “D” shaped slot inside the sleeved end…the other engages a ball bearing to lock the bit in place….push the bit into the chuck…rotate it until you feel it slip into the D shaped hole…release the sleeve. Bit should be locked in place.

Millers Falls used a very different mechanism for the direction changer, the rest is basically the same…

Clear as mud, right…

-- A Planer? I'M the planer, this is what I use

The one I have you pull the knurled collar down/towards the handle as well, like what Bandit shows

-- Mos - Twin Cities, MN - http://www.youtube.com/MosquitoMods - http://www.TheModsquito.com

Getting tips is real hard. I finally sold mine to a collector. I used it for years until my first Makita 9V driver/drill. Boeing T-9 dry lube works great. Mine was a Stanley.

Old screwdriver shafts, or long driver bits can be notched to fit. One of my North Bros. had an APEX tip holder installed….takes 1/4” hex bits.

-- A Planer? I'M the planer, this is what I use

Thanks for the help, I got it released. There was some dried grease in the collar that prevented it from pulling all of the way back. It really helped knowing which way to pull it. Working it back and forth a few times got it so it would release the bit.

-- Bondo Gaposis

Just about gave up on the ones I had & then I found this adapter at lee valley to current hex bits; very sweet modification

-- I've decided 1 mistake is really 2 opportunities to learn.. learn how to fix it... and learn how to not repeat it

Just about gave up on the ones I had & then I found this adapter at lee valley to current hex bits; very sweet modification

- ChefHDAN

Forgot about that! Might have to get some as soon I find the size I need? Seeing how much and how often I use mine:)

-- Lifting one end of the plank.

Woodcraft and/or Highland Hardware used to sell bits for these screwdrivers. Haven’t shopped with either company in awhile. They also used to sell hex bit holders made to fit Yankees. There are also videos on YouTube where they notch hex shank screwdriver bit holders to fit Yankee screwdrivers. These are really neat screwdrivers. I have a few of them. Especially like the wooden handled ones.

-- Barry, in Maryland

I’ve got 2 of them and really love them. I sure wish I had learned about them years ago.

I was a young cub and bought one to work with an old journey man, first thing i did while installing a storm door was release the kragen and immediatelly took out the glass with my new tool, ole al smyser was mad sob, he grabbed it and took out the spring, what a fella, taught me so much of the trade before i moved on.
I still have it, in a tool box in garage, might have to lube it up and show it some of my employees, bet they’d never figure out the heck it is. lol, thanks for the walk down memory lane

rj in az

-- Living the dream

Patent No. 2522217 APEX MADE IN U.S.A. #450

Loaded up…

Into a North Bros. Yankee No. 130A, PAT. DEC. 11. 23

Before the Stanley take-over

-- A Planer? I'M the planer, this is what I use