What do you use? I've been driving most of my deck/drywall screws
with a 3/8 variable speed drill for 15-20 yrs.

I finally killed it last week. [it drives deck screws pretty good- but
I really should have gone to the garage and grabbed the 1/2" to remove
those 20 yr old screws]

So I'm 'in the market'. I've got a nice assortment of cordless
dril/driversl for sheetrock, but I'll be doing 2 decks in the next few
years so I thought it was time to get something that will make those
jobs go easier.

Both decks will be trex- or trex-like material- over PT lumber.

I've looked at these 2 on Amazon-
http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW257-H...=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
A $50 Dewalt DW257. 9 reviews and only scored 3 stars- one guy had
his fall apart on his first deck.

So then I look at the $50 Milwaukee-
http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-6742...ref=pd_cp_hi_1
Milwaukee 6742-20 - 11 reviews and scored a 5 star rating-- but I
don't know if it will hold up to deck screws. One guy mentions decks
and though he likes the driver he doesn't think it is up to that task.

I don't want to spend more than about $70 bucks. Should I just get
another 3/8 variable speed or is a crew gun a real plus?

Thanks,
Jim

On Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:58:38 -0400, Jim Elbrecht
wrote:

What do you use? I've been driving most of my deck/drywall screws
with a 3/8 variable speed drill for 15-20 yrs.

I finally killed it last week. [it drives deck screws pretty good- but
I really should have gone to the garage and grabbed the 1/2" to remove
those 20 yr old screws]

So I'm 'in the market'. I've got a nice assortment of cordless
dril/driversl for sheetrock, but I'll be doing 2 decks in the next few
years so I thought it was time to get something that will make those
jobs go easier.

Both decks will be trex- or trex-like material- over PT lumber.

I've looked at these 2 on Amazon-
http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW257-H...=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
A $50 Dewalt DW257. 9 reviews and only scored 3 stars- one guy had
his fall apart on his first deck.

So then I look at the $50 Milwaukee-
http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-6742...ref=pd_cp_hi_1
Milwaukee 6742-20 - 11 reviews and scored a 5 star rating-- but I
don't know if it will hold up to deck screws. One guy mentions decks
and though he likes the driver he doesn't think it is up to that task.

I don't want to spend more than about $70 bucks. Should I just get
another 3/8 variable speed or is a crew gun a real plus?

Thanks,
Jim


I would go for the Milwaukee, but a 1/2".

What do you use? I've been driving most of my deck/drywall screws
with a 3/8 variable speed drill for 15-20 yrs.

I finally killed it last week. [it drives deck screws pretty good- but
I really should have gone to the garage and grabbed the 1/2" to remove
those 20 yr old screws]

So I'm 'in the market'. I've got a nice assortment of cordless
dril/driversl for sheetrock, but I'll be doing 2 decks in the next few
years so I thought it was time to get something that will make those
jobs go easier.

Both decks will be trex- or trex-like material- over PT lumber.

I've looked at these 2 on Amazon-
http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW257-H...=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
A $50 Dewalt DW257. 9 reviews and only scored 3 stars- one guy had
his fall apart on his first deck.

So then I look at the $50 Milwaukee-
http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-6742...ref=pd_cp_hi_1
Milwaukee 6742-20 - 11 reviews and scored a 5 star rating-- but I
don't know if it will hold up to deck screws. One guy mentions decks
and though he likes the driver he doesn't think it is up to that task.

I don't want to spend more than about $70 bucks. Should I just get
another 3/8 variable speed or is a crew gun a real plus?



*I love my Bosch impact driver. It is much lighter than a drill and
requires less effort.

On Jul 6, 5:58*am, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
What do you use? * * *I've been driving most of my deck/drywall screws
with a 3/8 variable speed drill for 15-20 yrs. * * * *

I finally killed it last week. [it drives deck screws pretty good- but
I really should have gone to the garage and grabbed the 1/2" to remove
those 20 yr old screws]

So I'm 'in the market'. * * I've got a nice assortment of cordless
dril/driversl for sheetrock, but I'll be doing 2 decks in the next few
years so I thought it was time to get something that will make those
jobs go easier.

Both decks will be trex- or trex-like material- over PT lumber.

I've looked at these 2 on Amazon-http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW257-Heavy-Drywall-Screwdriver/dp/B0000...
A $50 Dewalt DW257. * * 9 reviews and only scored 3 stars- one guy had
his fall apart on his first deck.

So then I look at the $50 Milwaukee-http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-6742-20-6-5-Drywall-Screwdriver/dp/B0...
Milwaukee 6742-20 - 11 reviews and scored a 5 star rating-- *but I
don't know if it will hold up to deck screws. * One guy mentions decks
and though he likes the driver he doesn't think it is up to that task.

I don't want to spend more than about $70 bucks. * Should I just get
another 3/8 variable speed or is a crew gun a real plus?

Thanks,
Jim

Impact drivers do a better job for deck screws , but why not use what
you have and burn them out first, 70$ wont get you the best of
anything.

Phisherman wrote:
-snip-
I would go for the Milwaukee, but a 1/2".

I should have mentioned- I've got a couple 1/2"ers- corded and 18v.
But I'm old and my forearms aren't what they once were, so I was
looking for something a little lighter.

Though that might still be the way to go- newer 1/2's might be lighter
than my old ones.

thanks,
Jim

"John Grabowski" wrote:

-snip-
*I love my Bosch impact driver. It is much lighter than a drill and
requires less effort.

Thanks for the thought-- I like Bosch so I looked at them. Ouch! If
I was going to build decks for a living--- or if I was 20 yrs younger-
i might go for one, but they look a little pricey for my limited use.


OTOH- now I've got another driver I'm looking at- A reconditioned 7amp
Bosch for $70
http://bosch.cpotools.com/screw_guns/sg25m-rt_spec.html

Jim

On Jul 6, 5:58*am, Jim Elbrecht wrote:

snip

Don't even think about doing serious deck building or framing without
an impact driver and a good nail gun. King of the Hill in our area is
the Makita 18V Li ion impact driver. Coupled with Torx head screws you
can screw together up to three 2 x 4's in a just seconds. Exercise
care though, not to bury the screw heads too deep. If you can't afford
the upfront price, try used on eBay or a tool rental place. Odds are
you'll want one in your arsenal like our local farming pros. Bottom
line, the impact driver is fast becoming a real necessity for ease of
use, saving time and neater work.

Joe

Joe wrote:

On Jul 6, 5:58*am, Jim Elbrecht wrote:

snip

Don't even think about doing serious deck building or framing without
an impact driver and a good nail gun.

I'm long past any *serious* work.g I've been here 25yrs and will
likely die here. I've got a deck, a porch & 3 windows to go before I
start building birdhouses for entertainment.

King of the Hill in our area is
the Makita 18V Li ion impact driver. Coupled with Torx head screws you
can screw together up to three 2 x 4's in a just seconds. Exercise
care though, not to bury the screw heads too deep. If you can't afford
the upfront price, try used on eBay or a tool rental place. Odds are
you'll want one in your arsenal like our local farming pros. Bottom
line, the impact driver is fast becoming a real necessity for ease of
use, saving time and neater work.


OK- you're the second person to recommend a tool I've never seen in
action. I'll look into them a bit more.

Thanks,
Jim

"John Grabowski" wrote:


-snip-
*I love my Bosch impact driver. It is much lighter than a drill and
requires less effort.

Which one do you have? Do you drive big screws into yellow pine? Now
That I've started really looking at them I see they make a selection
from a $90 reconditioned driver to the $3-400 beasties.

Jim

*I love my Bosch impact driver. It is much lighter than a drill and
requires less effort.

I d go with the impact driver too, but look for a used one on Craigslist
(but watch for OLD TIRED batteries !!) If laka money for one of those, I'd
go with a regular corded 3/8" VSR drill. See what they have for RENT at home
Depot if its a ONE TIME job. I ve had a 9.6V DeWalt, 9.6V Craftsman
"Professional" series VSR, 12V DeWalt dual speed VSR and a Ryobi 18V P220 3
speed hammer drill at various times. I'm about TIRED of buying rechargeable
batteries every 2 years or so but right now, I'd use my RYOBI on 'hammer'
setting as its very much like an impact driver. I ve started to use my 3/8
Craftsman CORDED drill a lot more lately..where I'm finishing the basement,
its only a slight inconvenience to drag a cord.

IMO, those "screwguns" are made for shooting #6 drywall screws thru
sheetrock and maybe an INCH into the framing, NOT for doing decking.

BTW, I saw a HD flyer the other day with a 18V RIDGID hammerdrill for $ 129
or 149. A friend has one and said his is guaranteed "lifetime"..even the
batteries.
Now thats a good deal !

On Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:04:27 -0500, wrote:

There is a much simpler and cheaper solution. !!!! USE NAILS !!!!

Cheaper maybe. Definitely not simpler.


*No electricity needed.
*No drill to ruin.

The right tool won't be ruined--- and you can mess up the decking
pretty good if you use a hammer as infrequently as I do.

*Nails are cheaper than screws.
*You get exercise which you'd have to pay for at a gym.

I can do push-ups if I find my arms too weak for everyday tasks.

*You will impress women if you can drive a nail with two hammer blows.

I'm long past impressing 'women'-- though SWMBO has an appreciation
for a good tool now and again.

I'll stick with screws despite the price because they hold better, are
removable, and *I* can do a much better looking job with them.

That they are easier to place than nails is a bonus.

Jim

In article ,
says...
What do you use? I've been driving most of my deck/drywall screws
with a 3/8 variable speed drill for 15-20 yrs.


The Dewalt is the way to go. You really want a dedicated screw gun, not a
variable speed drill. I bought the Dewalt 257 just to put in my large Trex
porch and really like it. The slower speed (from deeper gearing) is the key. A
drill gun that spins 4000 rpm is not needed for deck screws, and will probably
not have enough torque for them unless it is a very high amperage gun.

The difference between a drill and a screw gun is huge. Just lean on it, don't
let up, and let 'er rip. In fact, it helps to press hardest as the screw
head sets. Let the adjustable clutch set the screw. I used color matched
TrapEase screws with square drive and highly recommend them. They have a
special head that prevents raising areas around the head. Every one is
perfectly flush set with the Dewalt. I did pre-drill the deck boards to lessen
the drive torque with the long TrapEase screws, but I would recommend that
with whatever you use to drive the screws.

And, I have done a ton of drywall with it, and find the 2500 rpm is much
easier to control than the high rpm guns.


--
Dennis

*I love my Bosch impact driver. It is much lighter than a drill and
requires less effort.

Which one do you have? Do you drive big screws into yellow pine? Now
That I've started really looking at them I see they make a selection
from a $90 reconditioned driver to the $3-400 beasties.


*I forget what model it is, but it is a 10.8 volt that I bought at Lowes. I
did not see it in the new Bosch catalog online. It looks as though it has
been replaced with the PS40-2.

I mostly drive into 2"x4"s for attaching things or mounting plywood. The
biggest that I have driven is 6" x1/4" lag screws without a problem. What I
like about the impact driver is the light weight and less effort required.
Before I had this I would use my 18 volt Ridgid drill for driving screws.
It is much heavier and I always had to put some muscle into it. The impact
driver is much lighter and does all of the work and there is no cam out and
screw heads getting stripped.

If I was doing a deck I would want an impact driver because at the end of
the day you will have accomplished more and ache less.

Jim Elbrecht wrote:

I don't want to spend more than about $70 bucks. Should I just get
another 3/8 variable speed or is a crew gun a real plus?

A drill really doesn't have the torque for deck screws.

The last project I did that involved a lot of screwing I used an
air-gun, but it was pretty heavy. Next time I do a lot of screwing I'll
buy an air-screwdriver from Harbor Freight.

In article ,
wrote:

There is a much simpler and cheaper solution. !!!! USE NAILS !!!!

*No electricity needed.
*No drill to ruin.
*Nails are cheaper than screws.
*You get exercise which you'd have to pay for at a gym.
*You will impress women if you can drive a nail with two hammer blows.



yabbut,

Nails are often driven using electricity ...

Screws can still be driven without electricity ...

In article ,
SMS wrote:

A drill really doesn't have the torque for deck screws.

Lemme loan you my Milwaukee Hole Shooter and let you reconsider ...

Smitty Two wrote:
In article ,
SMS wrote:

A drill really doesn't have the torque for deck screws.

Lemme loan you my Milwaukee Hole Shooter and let you reconsider ...

The one I have has an auxiliary screw in side handle
for a very good reason. Letting a small person use
a Milwaukee Hole Shooter is akin to letting a child
fire a 12 gauge shotgun.

TDD

On Jul 9, 3:35*pm, wrote:
On Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:57:27 -0700, Smitty Two
wrote:
In article ,
wrote:

There is a much simpler and cheaper solution. !!!! USE NAILS !!!!

*No electricity needed.
*No drill to ruin.
*Nails are cheaper than screws.
*You get exercise which you'd have to pay for at a gym.
*You will impress women if you can drive a nail with two hammer blows.

yabbut,

Nails are often driven using electricity ...

WTF...... Where did you buy an electric powered hammer? *How does it
work?

Google it. It's basically a palm nailer on a stick.

Screws can still be driven without electricity ...

Yea, use a screwdriver and ruin your wrists if you got a hundred or
more to drive. *I can hammer in 100 nails in no time at all.

I can drive 100 screws in less than no time at all...'course we're
both exaggerating to the point of meaningless, but it's fun, right?

(and if you are referring to a battery operated drill when you say
"without electricity", you're full of ****. *That IS electricity and
it takes electric power to charge them. *

Then you can have all the fun of stopping the job everytime the
battery runs out of power. *The last time I was driving screws to
install a steel roof, a major storm was coming and the goddamn battery
went dead just when the rain was starting and I was sliding around on
the wet roof, while strong wind was lifting the sheet of metal I had
just started to screw down. *Thats when I took that #&%king drill and
threw it off the roof, smashing it into pieces, and used a hammer to
drive the rest of the screws. *I have never bought another battery
operated tool. *I hate them! *I now use an electric (plug in) drill on
the rare occasion I use screws. *Most of the time I use nails.

So...you go up on a roof without a spare battery, and it's the tools
fault? Then you smash it? Sounds like you need a class in anger
management and need to take a moment before you climb the ladder.

People have used nails for hundreds of years, and there are many
buildings that are well over 100 years old, which are still strong and
in good shape. *In most cases, nails hold just as well as screws as
long as the proper nail is used. *It's just more false advertising
that has brainwashed people in the past decade or so, about screws
supposedly being better. *Of course anyone with half a brain knows
that they do this because they make more profit selling screws than
selling nails. *I use screws when I install steel barn siding and
roofing, simply because its easier to replace the steel if it gets
damaged or I add on to the building. *I NEVER use screws to join
lumber in building construction. *Not even for drywall. *When I built
my deck, I used galvanized spiral nails and not one nail has popped.

A screw will hold in new lumber far better than a nail will. I don't
have a major problem with nailing drywall on old, seasoned framing,
but new framing shrinks and the nails pop. If you had ever used a
auto screwgun for fastening drywall, instead of throwing out the baby
with the bath water, you would have found that the screw gun is faster
and you get perfectly set fasteners whether you're paying attention or
not.

People throw out the "well, they've been building buildings that way
for hundreds of years" and fail to mention that most of those
buildings are long gone. If you truly want to be a retro-grouch you
should start touting timber framing and pegged mortise and tenon
joints. That's better than nails or screws.

R

On Jul 6, 7:53*am, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
"John Grabowski" wrote:

-snip-

*I love my Bosch impact driver. *It is much lighter than a drill and
requires less effort.

Thanks for the thought-- I like Bosch so I looked at them. *Ouch! * If
I was going to build decks for a living--- or if I was 20 yrs younger-
i might go for one, but they look a little pricey for my limited use.

Shop for a deal. Borrow one before you buy. They really are far
superior for driving screws.

R

wrote:

-snip-
Lets see any of your screws out hold my ribbed 8 inch pole barn nails.

I'll match a 6" Timberlok against 'em -- and I'll drive 'em twice as
fast with my 1/2" drill. And then I'll take it all apart in about
the same amount of time. And re-use the timber.

and nails dont crack in half. Like when I made a small section of
shed roof 2x4 framing using black drywall screws.

What part of *drywall* didn't you understand. They have about zero
shear-strength.

When I lifted the
section in place it all fell apart because the damn screws broke.

Yeah, that's what they do. Try some decking screws next time.

I
had to start over, and used 30D ribbed pole barn nails. No problems
after that.

30 penny pole barn nails to hold 2x4s? Did you use just one per
stud to save money? [And you say screws are expensive?]

I'm beginning to think you're just making all this up on the fly.
Enjoy--

Jim

On Jul 10, 12:46*am, wrote:
RicodJour wrote:

A screw will hold in new lumber far better than a nail will. *I don't
have a major problem with nailing drywall on old, seasoned framing,
but new framing shrinks and the nails pop. *If you had ever used a
auto screwgun for fastening drywall, instead of throwing out the baby
with the bath water, you would have found that the screw gun is faster
and you get perfectly set fasteners whether you're paying attention or
not.

Lets see any of your screws out hold my ribbed 8 inch pole barn nails.
and nails dont crack in half. *Like when I made a small section of
shed roof 2x4 framing using black drywall screws. *When I lifted the
section in place it all fell apart because the damn screws broke. *I
had to start over, and used 30D ribbed pole barn nails. *No problems
after that.

30d nails aren't even close to 8" long.
I can't make up my mind whether you're stupid or just pretending to be
stupid.
Okay, I've made up my mind - it doesn't really matter.

R

wrote:
On Thu, 9 Jul 2009 21:09:34 -0700 (PDT), RicodJour
wrote:

A screw will hold in new lumber far better than a nail will. I don't
have a major problem with nailing drywall on old, seasoned framing,
but new framing shrinks and the nails pop. If you had ever used a
auto screwgun for fastening drywall, instead of throwing out the baby
with the bath water, you would have found that the screw gun is faster
and you get perfectly set fasteners whether you're paying attention or
not.

Lets see any of your screws out hold my ribbed 8 inch pole barn nails.
and nails dont crack in half. Like when I made a small section of
shed roof 2x4 framing using black drywall screws. When I lifted the
section in place it all fell apart because the damn screws broke. I
had to start over, and used 30D ribbed pole barn nails. No problems
after that.

Wrong screws for the job. Drywall screws are good for holding drywall,
and that is about it. They are BRITTLE. For framing a shed roof, decking
screws were called for, and would have worked fine.

--
aem sends...