91 - Planer Stand, страница 49
Wj' 1M MiM Lock Down. If you're in tight quarters, or simply need more turning power, you can retract the shaft and lock it in place as shown in the inset photo above. Now you can use the Yankee just like a traditional screwdriver. Ratchet Up. The lower photo on the opposite page shows the three-position slider I mentioned earlier. Moving this slider to the lower position (toward the chuck) sets the direction of the ratcheting mechanism that allows the shaft to turn clockwise. This works whether the shaft is extended or locked in the retracted position. With the shaft retracted, the handle "ratchets" without allowing the shaft to turn independently. Then it's used like a ratcheting screwdriver. The upper position of the slider works the same way, except it's used for removing screws. And when the slider is in the middle position, it keeps the shaft from rotating in either direction. New Options. If you look at the bits on the opposite page, you'll notice the unusual notches on their round shafts. This was the design of the original Yankee screwdriver to lock the bits in place. The problem is, that can limit your bit selection. The good news is there are a few vendors that still supply bits or adapters to fit a Yankee screwdriver (refer to Sources on page 51). The better news is you can get Yankee-style drivers with a hex chuck. This means you can use the dozens of hex bits available. Trivia: History of the YankeeThe original Yankee screwdriver is thought to have been invented by Zachary T. Furbish in the late 1800's. He became an employee of North Brothers which was later bought out by Stanley Toolworks. Where did the name "Yankee" come from? The North Brothers catalog from 1908 claimed it was because they were invented by a Maine Yankee, but "more particu larly because they embodied that ingenuity and slickness in their construction and in the doing of work for which they were intended, which has made Yankee inventions famous the world over." Other tool companies like Goodell-Pratt and Millers Falls came out with similar versions. But no matter who made them, most folks still called them a "Yankee." Driving Home. Lock the shaft in its retracted position to drive a screw with more power. You can buy a Yankee-style driver in different sizes to suit specific tasks around the shop and home. But the best news is that once you get your hands on a Yankee-style screwdriver, you'll wonder how you got along without it. A Drill and Driver Bits A Yankee-style screwdriver makes quick work out of driving screws. But its design lends itself to drilling and countersinking, too. The accessories shown below make it easy to use the right driver or drill bit for any job. You can adapt the round-shank, Yankee-style driver to use hex shank bits. Or you can buy a Yankee-style screwdriver with a hex chuck instead of the traditional chuck. Either option opens up endless possibilities for drilling or driving screws. V Drill Chuck Hex Adapter Hex Chuck Adapter Countersink Bit |
