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Pump action screwdriver bits

herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,314
in Tools and techniques
Does anyone know of anywhere that sells screwdriver bits with a round shaft?  They are about 6" long and I am looking for a slotted head in particular.

My lovely pump action screwdriver is now very old but the Philips head still seems to grip, however, the slotted head is beyond redemption. Being confined to shopping on-line is frustrating and has not produced any suitable bits thus far. Sadly not expecting to be able to replace it but really want to try.
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
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  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,680
    Is it a Stanley Yankee screwdriver? Bits are difficult to find but there is a German supplier who does 5.5mm and 7mm bits. https://www.fine-tools.com/yankeescrewdriverbit.html Brexit might scupper your chances of getting anything online from them now though. Also try searching for Cromwell and Threadrive.
    There are some adapters made to take standard hex drive bits which might be an alternative.

  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,314
    Thank you @steephill can't believe I couldn't find them!  Not a scooby what make the driver is but closer inspection suggests the bits are 5mm diameter and 7mm length ( I am just so Imperial) and maybe Cromwell is a winner but seems they only sell a pack of 5. The cost is similar though to getting just one from Germany so might bite the bullet.

    Thank you again

    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • KiliKili Posts: 1,045
    Don't know if this link is any help https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=screwdriver+bits+round+shaft&i=diy&ref=nb_sb_noss

    'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.

    George Bernard Shaw'

  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,314
    Thank you @Kili for troubling to search, I had already scoured all the usual suspects but don't think any of those will be suitable.  The driver is close on 50 years old but so easy to use I didn't want to lose it as a tool.

    Since I have no idea what most tools are for, or how they fit together, it has made the search a bit difficult 
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,366
    If unsuccessful the simplest idea could be to start again, perhaps, and the two German supermarkets of Lidl and Aldi are excellent for complete sets of this sort of thing.  The only drawback is that you have to wait until they have them on sale - check their web sites.
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,314
    Thank you for the suggestion @nick615 and the information.  This enforced isolation (nearly a year now!) needs a constant stream of projects to keep me occupied and out of mischief but I don't like on-line shopping.

    My screwdriver is old but solid, easy to use and very reliable, I would want to heft any new driver and make sure it would last long enough to see me out  :D 

    I will keep all options open however but really want to finish kitting out my new shed which was finally installed last autumn after 8 months of Covid messing about. Just a couple of shelves and the guttering to go and mostly I can use Philips screws ( should I say crossthread?) but there are two bits that need a slotted head, ain't it always the way.
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • AngelicantAngelicant Posts: 128
    Do you have a nearby independent (old fashioned) hardware shop? These are often the places to have this kind of thing in boxes at the back. It might be worth giving them a ring to see and they will probably deliver too.
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,314
    Sadly all the local, really useful, ironmongers are now sandwich shops or pawnbrokers @Angelicant a sign of the times.  There was a lovely chap in the next village where I always went for anything non-mainstream, it became a bit of thing for him to always find what I needed.  He retired and his shop is now a 'hair salon'   :(
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,239
    Oooh. That takes me back! . My dad had one of them when I were but a ladette. I remember the handle. I can remember the greasy smell of his toolbox. Sorry can't help but thanks for the memory 😊
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,314
    Glad to oblige @B3 :D   Would you like to see my brace and bit?
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
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