Tool Talk
What's-It Forum => What's-It Forum => Topic started by: coolford on January 03, 2022, 11:00:46 AM
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I have had this drill for some time, even used one like it in my early working days. Has a special purpose. Is not marked although some of the parts appear to be Millers Falls. Over the years have not seen but two others.
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Pipe? or round stock?
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You are correct here also skip-skip. It clamps on a hot water or steam pipe (when not in use) and drills a hole for a petcock to drain off water or air depending on the need. The correct bit has both a drill and threads. Thus, it drills and then threads the hole in one operation. So far I haven't been able to come up with the correct drill.
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Very cool tool !!!! ---- a tool for every job
Thanks for posting and good luck on finding the special drill/ tap
Joe B
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Hello, Coolford. Is it missing a chuck? Or would the bit thread on to the shaft?
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It has a chuck, but it needs a drill with a 3/8" shaft to fit and tighten it correctly. I did see one on another drill a long time ago but not since.
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If you got really creative with your tool grinding skills, a combination drill bit / 1/8 NPT tap could be made from a standard 1/8 NPT tap.
Joe B
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While you’re close on the application it was actually used to drill holes for sprinkler heads on irrigation pipes. The first one I had didn’t have a chuck. Just a hole in the end for the combination drill/tap and a square head set screw to hold it in. I can’t remember what I did with the second one.
I had it at the Flywheelers Antique Engine Show several times and got tired of explaining how it worked so I made up some pipes so I could hang it upside down so people could see how it worked.
I think you can buy the drill/tap’s commercially. We used to use similar ones when I was working at Buick.
It was patented in 1908 by G W Skinner. No. 893,667.
https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/b6/fd/76/cd8786b98a90d4/US893667.pdf
Mike
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Thanks Mike & Joe---I wondered why the level seemed to be in the wrong place, but understand that they were drilling holes in the bottom of the pipe for misters. I my youth I drilled holes in the top of hot water pipes in greenhouses so we could put in a petcock to let off air.
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Was at a tool meet one time, fellow had brought in a half dozen different bench mount Millers Falls drills. Some pretty big, all restored. Looked like some of them could have used the hand crank or other bits from this one.