Different drilling tool

[coolford]

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.

[skipskip]

Pipe? or round stock?

[coolford]

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.

[JoeCB]

Very cool tool !!!! ---- a tool for every job

Thanks for posting and good luck on finding the special drill/ tap

Joe B

[lptools]

Hello, Coolford. Is it missing a chuck? Or would the bit thread on to the shaft?

[coolford]

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.

[JoeCB]

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

[mikeswrenches]

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

[coolford]

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.

[john k]

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.