Archimedes' Drill perfect for small boring jobs

"Archimedes' Drill" is a delicate tool used for small jobs — turn the spiraled top to crank the bit on the bottom. You won't get much torque when holding a finger on the top for balance, but it's really just for small holes anyway. It's the same general concept as the Yankee Screwdriver, although according to Toolmonger, Archimedes' Drill predates the Yankee by a few hundred years.

GarrettWade sells two new Archimedes Drills, one with modern trappings and one designed to look like an antique. You can buy both togeter for $18.

Archimedes Screw Drills [GarrettWade.com via Toolmonger]

[#1 posted by strider_mt2k , June 26, 2008 10:24 AM]

Screw that, man.
If this article wasn't so pitched, it'd be hanging by a thread.

No, no the article is fine. _I'M_ the coarse one.

Sorry
(kinda)

[#2 posted by TwoShort , June 26, 2008 10:47 AM]

I've got a great big Yankee that belonged to my grandfather. That thing will easily out-torque my 18V cordless; but eventually your arm gets tired.
The first time I used it driving wood screws I had a tendency to drive the screw-heads all the way through the board I was trying to screw down. Then you flip the switch to turn the other way and get the screw back out, and easily snap the head off. Repeat until you gain some respect for the mechanical advantage at your disposal :)

[#3 posted by mdhatter , June 26, 2008 12:12 PM]

I love my Yankee Driver.

and #2 - Repeat until you gain some respect for the quality of the metal and the workmanship that USED to exist in reasonably priced hand tools.

[#4 posted by grayman23 , June 26, 2008 3:27 PM]

Stanley Tools still makes Yankee Drivers. I bought one a few years ago, only difference between the new ones and my gramp's is the new ones have a hollow plastic handle to store bits in.

[#5 posted by Anonymous , June 26, 2008 4:04 PM]

Is there an umbrella-mounted version for disabling elevators when chased by several thousand police officers, SWAT teams, and the national guard?

[#6 posted by Downpressor , June 26, 2008 6:27 PM]

Elwood?

[#7 posted by Glitterfire , June 26, 2008 9:18 PM]

We generally use these types of screw drivers for jewelery making, it's incredibly handy when you don't have a dremmel around. Sometimes I use one anyway because it grants a bit more control in certain situations.

[#8 posted by eustace , June 26, 2008 10:46 PM]

For drilling small holes I have an eggbeater type in red plastic (bits go in the handle). But a drill that you can put in your shirt pocket - that's extra cool. The "antique" one looks more compact.

[#9 posted by Takuan , June 26, 2008 11:30 PM]

I thought they banned the Yankee drivers because of what happens when the detent fails and the internal spring says "Hi!"

[#10 posted by dhuff , June 27, 2008 6:21 AM]

Garrett Wade is a fascinating company, and their free catalog a choice bit of tool/gadget pr0n ;)

[#11 posted by airship , June 27, 2008 9:25 AM]

I like my grandfather's push drill better. Here's a small one from the same source as the Archimedes Drill in the article:

http://www.garrettwade.com/jump.jsp?itemID=109496&itemType=PRODUCT

Note how it stores bits in the handle.

[#12 posted by eustace , June 28, 2008 11:33 AM]

...you have to go all the way back to the first post in this thread (LOL, BTW) to find someone acknowledging the fine pun in the title.