The Medway Handyman wrote:
Hi All

Just received some 10 x 100mm Turbo Coach Screws from Screwfix.

The catalogue description reads:
"Make any job faster with Zinc-plated, Yellow-passivated Coach Screws,
combining the unique design of the Turbo Screw along with a self-cutting
point. (May require pilot holes in harder substrates.) Unique Rifled Shank
for Easier Driving & Reduced Splitting, Self-Drilling Point".

You simply cannot drive these into softwood without a large pilot hole!!!!
Let alone 'harder substrates'.

I tried with my 14.4v driver (loads of torque), a 350w mains driver and a
500w variable speed drill. No chance at all, they go in for about an inch
and thats it.

Screwfix have responded to the problem by offering a credit without
collection to be fair to them, but I'm still going to lose time on a large
decking job. I've ordered some 6.3 x 100 Exterior Timber Screws at double
the cost in the hope they will drive OK.

Never trust a catalogue description!


--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

I'm using the same coach screws from Screwfix (10x 160mm) and never
considered that they could be driven with anything else but the ratchet
thingy from my socket set.

When you consider that they are 10mm in diameter then it is hardly
reasonable in my reckoning asking an electric screwdriver to put them
in - I would actually say that I think Screwfix are being quite
reasonable in offering a credit as I think you have translated the
advert as you wanted to.

I'm screwing edge on into 100 x 50 softwood and again with that
diameter of screw I reckoned that a 5mm pilot hole and lubrication with
beeswax was good practice anyway and I've had no difficulties.

Rob