DIYbanter - View Single Post

wrote:
I'm sure I have the right screws - with the sharp point; I have used
them for other projects as well.

I also tried what RicodJour suggested (I still have access to the stud
so I didn't have to cut anything). I placed a piece of wood behind the
stud flange, and used coarse grade drywall screw. There was no spin
out, but I couldn't drive it deep enough (either with the drill or with
the screwdriver) to make a dimple. It is as if the drywall is really
hard there.

Anyway I'm going to try to create a dimple probably with a hammer
first, and then see what happens.

Don't. There's something weird there. If you're screwing into the
wood backing, and it's reasonably thick wood (not a paint stirrer),
then you should be able to drive the screw right through the drywall
with no problem. If it was a plaster wall you'd still be able to sink
the screw and drywall is nowhere near as hard as plaster.

You switched to coarse drywall screws with the wood backing, which
shows you understand how it's supposed to work. Don't start trying to
set screws in metal studs with a hammer, even if they have wood
backing. You'll get pops and end up having to patch and paint.

The tapered edge of the drywall is denser and harder due to the rolling
process that tapers it, but that should not prevent the screw from
sinking correctly. I don't know what exactly you're doing, but it's
very unlikely that the problem is too hard drywall.

R