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Jesse Busenitz
12-30-2014, 6:44 PM
I bought this tool at a yard sale and am not coming up with any info on it, so I thought I'd throw it out to you guys....302992
It says H.Heller Germany and to the left, a double ring with an anchor stamped on it. I'd say it's for boring something out but what exactly I don't know.
Mel Fulks
12-30-2014, 6:46 PM
Low rpm drill. Think it's called a gimlet.
Maurice Ungaro
12-30-2014, 6:49 PM
Low rpm drill. Think it's called a gimlet.
What Mel said.
Jesse Busenitz
12-30-2014, 6:52 PM
Was this pre brace and bit days?
Mel Fulks
12-30-2014, 7:05 PM
no, just used for lighter stuff, like starting screws. Don't know if they are still made. I'm guessing most of them are 19th
century that turn up today.
Maurice Ungaro
12-30-2014, 7:26 PM
Lee Valley has some new made ones, as does Highland.
Jonathan Martell
12-30-2014, 7:26 PM
They were mostly for drilling pilot holes for screws. There was a blurb about them on the wood-wrights shop awhile back.
Bill Houghton
12-30-2014, 8:03 PM
Can be helpful if you need to drill a hole where any other tool won't fit.
Frederick Skelly
12-30-2014, 9:34 PM
Lee Valley has some new made ones, as does Highland.

I have a set from LV. I find them helpful. Dont use them every day, but when I need them Im glad I have them.
Frederick Skelly
12-30-2014, 9:46 PM
Another possibility, FWIW. Someone I know had a tire store years ago. He used to "plug", not patch, tires that had nail holes. When steel belted tires had a hole in the tread, he used to prepare the hole to accept the plug using a tool that looked an awful lot like that one. Basically, he'd ream the hole with a borer and then insert a glue covered plug. I think that borer was maybe 1/8 or 3/16 in diameter. (The size always surprised me, but the plug always sealed.)

Fred
Jim Koepke
12-31-2014, 1:30 AM
Like Mel said, it is a gimlet.

I have a few of those around.

One of mine is just the right size for use with small hinges. It marks a good center to be drilled for small screws. It can do a good pilot hole for bigger screws. One of mine is big enough for #10 screws.

jtk
paul cottingham
12-31-2014, 1:53 AM
Gimlet. Also used to drill pilot holes (some call them "scant holes") for cut nails and screws.