Millers Falls #3

[jay]

There was me feeling all superior for spotting the afore mentioned Millers Falls hand drill on the eBay when nobody else seemed to and snatching it for the princely sum of £2.oo (there was an iffy looking Stanley saw set on offer as well, but some dastardly swine beat me to it). I'd been looking for a pretty little drill and I'm not really aware of a similar English tradition for egg-whisks (perhaps Alf can put me right) so the little Millers Falls it was. The drill arrived today and it seems everyone else new something I didn't - actually that's not quite true, I had my suspicions - it's junk.

On the up side it's all there including the side handle that always gets lost and the seller forgot to include the box of random shed stuff in the parcel which I consider a blessing in disguise. On the down side it's loose and wobbly except for the bits that are supposed to move which are variously tight, awkward or seized. There are cracks and splits and also it smells. All things considered I've never really understood what purpose the little side handle on these things serves. Anyhow, after an hour or so I'd got it in little bits (except the secret compartment which remains a mystery - though there is rattling, there must be stuff in there), squirted penetrating spray and citrus cleaner all over and rubbed it with assorted rags. It smells different now.

Though I seem to have lost the side handle already. More later.

[Alf]

Find that side handle! It's probably worth that two quid alone to someone with a spiffy model but minus the side handle. And yes, it's true hardly anybody uses them, but these collector types... ;D

These old egg beaters/hand drills/wheel braces can involve an awful lot of pot luck, so it's just as well they don't command high prices. Wobble between the gear wheels is a common problem - worth holding out for the double pinioned models 'cos they're less wobbly to start with. Missing springs or stick chuck jaws is another favourite. But they do look so cool... Arguably the pick of the British eggbeaters would be the Footprint 160a with the keyed chuck, but Stanley GB and Record both did them and they're okay too. My own personal hand drill desire lies with the Yankee ratchetting 3 and 5 speed drills with the reverse gearing. One day one will be mine, I tells ya. Mine! Mwahahahahaaaaa!

Ha hum. Sorry. Anyway, "boring" neanderthals might find George's Basement an interesting read.

Cheers, Alf

[paulchapman]

Ah, the humble egg beater hand drill - possibly the ultimate hand tool for drilling precise, small holes.

Alf mentions Footprint and Record. My Footprint and Record/Marples have been in continuous use for more years than I care to remember - I wouldn't be without them



I consider them indispensible - but always get one with a keyed chuck to avoid the frustration of slipping bits.

Cheers

Paul

[dunbarhamlin]

<oink> You wouldn't have liked the 42X really - it has definitely seen good use (and will continue to do so - once the plunger's undergone surgery)

Question is, should I get some blades to justify the circular saw attachment?