Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Seeing a thread where the pocket hold jig was discussed, reminded me of a valuable tool for building TDs, and I finally found mine this afternoon while cleaning my utility room. It's a combination, quick change countersink and screwdriver tool by Makita. It countersinks for screw sizes 6, 8, and 10. I'd recommend this handy tool for anyone who drills a lot of countersink holes for screws.



This next pic shows the main attachment for the drill or electric screwdriver that holds the quickchange drill bit, and one of the 3 combination countersink drill and philips screwdriver bits. The screwdriver bit is changeable to flat or square bits and it is magnetic. The drill bit is a special bit with a flat area on the shank to lock it into place. The #8 bit adjusts for depths of 5/8" to 1 7/16" by loosening a hex lock nut that locks onto the flat portion of the shank. The attachment that goes into the drill has the hex key built into the end of if, so you never have to look for a hex key to adjust your drill bit.



The next pic shows the bit holding attachment in the drill with the quick change piece with the counterdrill drill bit out, then with the screwdriver bit out. All you have to do is adjust the drill bit depth, drill the countersink hole, silp the piece out and reverse it to drill in the screw.



I broke off my #6 bit, but think I can use my grinder or a file to flatten an area on the shank of a regular bit that fits the piece, so that I can lock it in place.

I had a setup similar to this, I don't remember who made it. The problem I had was the holder (drill bit and screwdriver tip) was made out of aluminum. After a while it became very difficult to remove and flip over.

When I went to Sears last week to buy a set of self-centering drill bits. The tool guy wanted to check the clearance rack. He looked at at a set like yours before realizing that it wasn't the same thing. I told him my problems with it and he said, "I guess that's why they are discontinuing them.

Now I just use 2 drills, one for drilling/countersinking and the other for driving the screw.

Maybe the Makita ones will be better built.

I have the set by Makita, never had a problem with them other than their ability to "hide".

Unable to find them one day I purchased a set from Home Depot by Ryobi. They seem to be a bit more heavy duty than the Makita version which, naturally, turned up soon after I got the new ones.....

I have the craftsman version...After useing it a few times the drill bit lockscrews just act like they stripped out... Not on just one,but all three..Needless to say,another tool that sits in a drawer...Might beable to fix it somehow...A winter project..Great tool,while it worked..darn those slipin bits anyway...vinoscooter

I tried using something like that... I finally ended up buying a couple more cordless drillmotors. The first drill motor has my combo drill/csink/cbore. The second one has a clearance hole bit. And the third has my phillip drive bit.

To swipe a saying from Gage... "It works for me!"

Mike...

For this type of work - this is a must tool. Unless you have two drills going I have used the same one for not only this project but many others. Have no problems and is the best investment in little handy stuff for the tool box. But don't buy cheap - get the one shown here or the Porter Cable.

IMHO

BILL

I use a set of these and prefer it to the multiple drills. Bought mine at HD and can't remember now what brand it is. Think it's Ryobi??

Geron

i have been using my set for many years it came from sear. replaced the bit many times. it is a tool that gets alot of use around here.

Good comments. My Makita bit case is green and has the name molded on it if that helps identify it. My bit holders are aluminum where it slides into the attachment on the drill, but hasn't been used enough yet to give problems slipping in and out (but will be used when I start work on the trailer). Nor has the lock nuts worn out.

Using two drills is an option and now, I can do that. At the HF sale this past Saturday, I bought an 18V cordless drill for 18.99 (yes, they're probably not very good, but you can't buy a good cordless screwdriver for less, and the drills are much faster). Then, I went to a different HF on Sunday because I forgot a few things. I saw the same drill in a combo set with jig saw, detail sander (which I've wanted for some time), and flashlight attachments for $34.99. I couldn't find my receipt from the day before, so I couldn't return the first drill, so now, I have two of them. But, the extra battery for the drill costs as much as a drill with battery on sale, so now, I have a backup battery for the HF drill. Three cordless drills? Too many? Nah...you can't have too many. Got a drill holster too. Maybe I should have gotten two...one for each hip.

Those few things I forgot? I get carried away in a tool store. I need to stay out of electronics and tool stores...I have bad cases of techno-lust and gadget envy. I ended up buying nearly $200 worth before I got out of there, and spent over $200 the day before. I did get two float chargers for the camper and boat batteries, but, most of what I bought will be used in my workshop for other projects as well. A variety of clamps made up a good part of my purchase, and a large portion was a bench disc/belt sander combination which will be used to final shaping of curved framing pieces after cutting. That's a tool that I used a lot in the past, and just plain wore out the one I had before.

randy chesnutt wrote:i have been using my set for many years it came from sear. replaced the bit many times. it is a tool that gets alot of use around here.

Randy, did you replaced the bit with one with the flat faced shank, or a standard bit? I'll have to replace my #6 screw bit before I can use my set. The lock nut will hold a flat sided shank bit better than a standard round shank.

I got the old Lowes special, the only one I could find was the Hitachi ones. The first one I bought the quick disconnect coupler broke. The second one worked ok but I would have to make sure the bit was totally clean before I flipped it to drive the screw. All in all not a bad tool, well worth the $12.00.

i use the flat face shank bit. it allso comes with a allen screw to replace the old one. i think they come three to a package. once in a while put some oil on the locking ring.

Hi all,
I've been lurking but I can never keep my mouth shut for very long. Norm Abrams swears by the Jack Rabbit Tool for heavy duty use.

I have a Lee Valley & Veritas Fine Tool catalog (drooling over the pages at the moment). It has a similar countersink/driver kit, but the drill bit chucks into the drill and stays there. Then, a hex bit holder slips over the drill holder to drive the screw. These are more expensive, at $13.95 for each of the three screw sizes, #6, #8, and #10. You'd have to like it pretty darned well to pay $42 for a set of the three.

65 bucks with shipping --Ouch

Here's another handy tool. My leatherman Wave. (It's expensive also) but I found mine a couple days ago and slipped it on my belt when working on the TD. It's saved be a bunch of steps tracking down a screwdriver or pliers etc. Very handy.

Geron