A positive feed tool configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode, the feed tool comprising: an elongated spindle adapted to carry a tool bit and to rotate and to move axially along a feed path, the spindle configured to operate in a first mode to move axially along the feed path in a first direction and a second mode to move axially along the feed path in an opposing second direction, the spindle further configured to prevent movement in the first direction beyond a stop position; a spindle drive mechanism (41, 31) connected to the spindle to rotate the spindle; a differential feed gear that engages with and is rotated by the spindle drive mechanism (41, 31), the differential feed gear spaced away from the spindle; a spindle feed gear connected to the spindle to axially move the spindle along the feed path, the spindle feed gear engaged with and rotated by the differential feed gear; characterized by: the first mode including the spindle drive mechanism (41, 31) engaged with the spindle to rotate the spindle and engaged with the differential feed gear to rotate the spindle feed gear, the spindle feed gear being located at a first axial position along the feed path, the spindle drive mechanism (41, 31) and the differential feed gear being a first axial distance apart; the second mode including the spindle feed gear at a different second axial position along the feed path and the differential feed gear a greater second distance axially apart from and disengaged from the spindle drive mechanism (41, 31); the spindle configured to transition from the first mode to the second mode in response to the spindle feed gear axially being moved along the feed path from the first position to the second position. an elongated spindle adapted to carry a tool bit and to rotate and to move axially along a feed path, the spindle configured to operate in a first mode to move axially along the feed path in a first direction and a second mode to move axially along the feed path in an opposing second direction, the spindle further configured to prevent movement in the first direction beyond a stop position; a spindle drive mechanism (41, 31) connected to the spindle to rotate the spindle; a differential feed gear that engages with and is rotated by the spindle drive mechanism (41, 31), the differential feed gear spaced away from the spindle; a spindle feed gear connected to the spindle to axially move the spindle along the feed path, the spindle feed gear engaged with and rotated by the differential feed gear; characterized by: the first mode including the spindle drive mechanism (41, 31) engaged with the spindle to rotate the spindle and engaged with the differential feed gear to rotate the spindle feed gear, the spindle feed gear being located at a first axial position along the feed path, the spindle drive mechanism (41, 31) and the differential feed gear being a first axial distance apart; the second mode including the spindle feed gear at a different second axial position along the feed path and the differential feed gear a greater second distance axially apart from and disengaged from the spindle drive mechanism (41, 31); the spindle configured to transition from the first mode to the second mode in response to the spindle feed gear axially being moved along the feed path from the first position to the second position. the first mode including the spindle drive mechanism (41, 31) engaged with the spindle to rotate the spindle and engaged with the differential feed gear to rotate the spindle feed gear, the spindle feed gear being located at a first axial position along the feed path, the spindle drive mechanism (41, 31) and the differential feed gear being a first axial distance apart; the second mode including the spindle feed gear at a different second axial position along the feed path and the differential feed gear a greater second distance axially apart from and disengaged from the spindle drive mechanism (41, 31); the spindle configured to transition from the first mode to the second mode in response to the spindle feed gear axially being moved along the feed path from the first position to the second position.