I have been looking at screwdrivers, and some are called "drywall
screwdrivers". What does "drywall" mean?
--
I can't go on, I'll go on.

On Jun 6, 12:51*pm, Frederick Williams
wrote:
I have been looking at screwdrivers, and some are called "drywall
screwdrivers". *What does "drywall" mean?
Its likely to be an Americanism because the traditional wet trade of
render, bonding and skimming are not used aren't used in their stick
built houses. If you watch any of the US DIY shows you'll also hear
sheetrock mentioned. We call it plasterboard. Many newbuilds are now
done finished in plasterboard, joints are taped and then its just
painted.

Dave.

Frederick Williams wrote:
I have been looking at screwdrivers, and some are called "drywall
screwdrivers". What does "drywall" mean?

Dry wall is the process of fixing plasterboard to internal stud walls &
ceilings. No 'wet' plaster is used, hence 'dry wall' - allthough it is
often skimmed.

A drywall screwdriver is specifically designed for fixing the plasterboard,
it has a depth stop & a clutch which countersinks the screws to a constant &
predetermined depth.

Specialists tool.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On 6 June, 12:51, Frederick Williams
wrote:
I have been looking at screwdrivers, and some are called "drywall
screwdrivers". *What does "drywall" mean?

They drive "drywall screws" into "drywall"

Drywall, aka sheetrock, is plasterboard.

Drywall screws have a trumpet-shaped head, a bit like a countersink.
They're self-countersinking (by compression) into soft materials.

The screwdrivers have a depth stop, so that they can quickly drive
these bugle-head screws to the right depth, They may also have belt-
feed mechanisms. Many are Phillips head, not Pozi, so watch that they
match your particular screws. They don't work well with conical
countersinks though.

"Frederick Williams" wrote in message
...
I have been looking at screwdrivers, and some are called "drywall
screwdrivers". What does "drywall" mean?

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.a...C&pf_id=22819&
converts a normal electric screwdriver into a drywall screwdriver and/or
roofing screwdriver.

Bought 2, one is still working but the other is suffering from 'torque
slip'.
Probably O.K. for plasterboard screws but not man enough for screwing
roofing bolts through a tin roof.

Cheers

Dave R

A drywall screwdriver is specifically designed for fixing the plasterboard,
it has a depth stop & a clutch which countersinks the screws to a constant &
predetermined depth.

Like he says.

I have mixed experience with them. In ideal conditions, they're fast.
The moment you have to work in awkward corners, the slightest bit off-
centre or take a funny grip, they tend not to drive screws cleanly
home.

For all those spots, I find a compact Li-ion cordless with a good
torque clutch, though slower to drive, gets it right more of the time
- so is better overall.

David WE Roberts wrote:

[..] but not man enough for screwing
roofing bolts through a tin roof.

What would you recommend for that?

--
I can't go on, I'll go on.

"Frederick Williams" wrote in message
...
David WE Roberts wrote:

[..] but not man enough for screwing
roofing bolts through a tin roof.

What would you recommend for that?


Two suggestions:

(1) Buy two or three of the adapters - I have two and one started playing up
whilst the other is still fine. They are remarkably cheap.

(2) Buy a mid-range cordless drill/screwdriver with a good trigger control
and wind the bolts in slowly until the washer just starts to squish.
You will need something like a 1/4" drive 8mm socket and a 'hex to 1/4"
converter' where you put the hex end in the chuck and the socket on the
other end.
You then have a powered socket set :-)
I got a set of 3 converters at the local hardware store, for 1/4", 3/8" and
1/2" sockets.
Cost me £3.99.

Oh, and if you are screwing down a tin roof with self drilling screws it
still works out quicker and easier to drill a pilot hole first with another
cordless drill.

Cheers

Dave R
--
No plan survives contact with the enemy.

Helmuth von Moltke the Elder

David WE Roberts wrote:

"Frederick Williams" wrote in message
...
David WE Roberts wrote:

[..] but not man enough for screwing
roofing bolts through a tin roof.

What would you recommend for that?

Two suggestions:

(1) Buy two or three of the adapters - I have two and one started playing up
whilst the other is still fine. They are remarkably cheap.

(2) Buy a mid-range cordless drill/screwdriver

I cannot find such things. Can you recommend a make and model?

with a good trigger control
and wind the bolts in slowly until the washer just starts to squish.
You will need something like a 1/4" drive 8mm socket and a 'hex to 1/4"
converter' where you put the hex end in the chuck and the socket on the
other end.
You then have a powered socket set :-)
I got a set of 3 converters at the local hardware store, for 1/4", 3/8" and
1/2" sockets.
Cost me £3.99.

Oh, and if you are screwing down a tin roof with self drilling screws it
still works out quicker and easier to drill a pilot hole first with another
cordless drill.

Cheers

Dave R

--
I can't go on, I'll go on.

On 06/06/10 13:01, Dave Starling wrote:
On Jun 6, 12:51 pm, Frederick
wrote:
I have been looking at screwdrivers, and some are called "drywall
screwdrivers". What does "drywall" mean?
Its likely to be an Americanism because the traditional wet trade of
render, bonding and skimming are not used aren't used in their stick
built houses. If you watch any of the US DIY shows you'll also hear
sheetrock mentioned. We call it plasterboard. Many newbuilds are now
done finished in plasterboard, joints are taped and then its just
painted.

Dave.

I thought the yanks called it "sheetrock"? I've heard it called drywall
by contractors here a few times.

--
Tim Watts

Hung parliament? Rather have a hanged parliament.

"Frederick Williams" wrote in message
...
David WE Roberts wrote:

"Frederick Williams" wrote in message
...
David WE Roberts wrote:

[..] but not man enough for screwing
roofing bolts through a tin roof.

What would you recommend for that?

Two suggestions:

(1) Buy two or three of the adapters - I have two and one started playing
up
whilst the other is still fine. They are remarkably cheap.

(2) Buy a mid-range cordless drill/screwdriver

I cannot find such things. Can you recommend a make and model?
snip

Your idea of 'mid range' may not be the same as mine. :-)
I've just bought
https://www.screwfix.com/prods/59749...ss-Combi-Drill
which has been praised (and not) in a couple of other threads.
It costs £100.
However the big boys toys cost quite a bit more.

So far I am very pleased with it as it out performs my cheaper B&D 12V
drills in performance, recharging time, and has 3 batteries included.

Some others prefer the Makita with the Makita badge on.

HTH

Dave R

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Tim Watts saying
something like:

I thought the yanks called it "sheetrock"? I've heard it called drywall
by contractors here a few times.

Usually called 'slabbing' here.

David WE Roberts wrote:

I've just bought
https://www.screwfix.com/prods/59749...ss-Combi-Drill
which has been praised (and not) in a couple of other threads.
It costs £100.

The reason I have difficulty finding these things (by "finding" I mean
finding on the Internet) is that I'm not familiar with the jargon. Does
"combi drill" always mean combined drill and screwdriver?

--
I can't go on, I'll go on.

"Frederick Williams" wrote in message
...
David WE Roberts wrote:

I've just bought
https://www.screwfix.com/prods/59749...ss-Combi-Drill
which has been praised (and not) in a couple of other threads.
It costs £100.

The reason I have difficulty finding these things (by "finding" I mean
finding on the Internet) is that I'm not familiar with the jargon. Does
"combi drill" always mean combined drill and screwdriver?


I would think so - however this particular item is a screwdriver, drill, and
hammer drill so 'combi' may sometimes be used for the '3 functions' ones,
perhaps?

Probably a good idea to wander into your nearest large B&Q and survey their
stock and how they are described on the packaging.
Then go and search for the same/similar on t'Internet :-)

HTH

Dave R
--
No plan survives contact with the enemy.

Helmuth von Moltke the Elder

David WE Roberts wrote:

Probably a good idea to wander into your nearest large B&Q and survey their
stock and how they are described on the packaging.
Then go and search for the same/similar on t'Internet :-)

Good thinking batman!

--
I can't go on, I'll go on.

David WE Roberts wrote:

"Frederick Williams" wrote in message
...
David WE Roberts wrote:

"Frederick Williams" wrote in message
...
David WE Roberts wrote:

[..] but not man enough for screwing
roofing bolts through a tin roof.

What would you recommend for that?

Two suggestions:

(1) Buy two or three of the adapters - I have two and one started playing
up
whilst the other is still fine. They are remarkably cheap.

(2) Buy a mid-range cordless drill/screwdriver

I cannot find such things. Can you recommend a make and model?
snip

Your idea of 'mid range' may not be the same as mine. :-)
I've just bought
https://www.screwfix.com/prods/59749...ss-Combi-Drill
which has been praised (and not) in a couple of other threads.
It costs £100.

That's ok, thanks.

However the big boys toys cost quite a bit more.

So far I am very pleased with it as it out performs my cheaper B&D 12V
drills in performance, recharging time, and has 3 batteries included.

Some others prefer the Makita with the Makita badge on.

HTH

Dave R


--
I can't go on, I'll go on.

Frederick Williams wrote:
David WE Roberts wrote:

I've just bought
https://www.screwfix.com/prods/59749...ss-Combi-Drill
which has been praised (and not) in a couple of other threads.
It costs £100.

The reason I have difficulty finding these things (by "finding" I mean
finding on the Internet) is that I'm not familiar with the jargon.
Does "combi drill" always mean combined drill and screwdriver?

Nope! If we are talking cordless you have a 'drill driver' which will drive
screws & drill holes in wood or metal - but it won't drill holes in bricks
etc very well. A 'combi drill' will drive screws, drill holes and have a
hammer action for drilling masonry etc.

HTH


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On 7 June, 00:10, Grimly Curmudgeon
wrote:
We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Tim Watts saying
something like:

I thought the yanks called it "sheetrock"? I've heard it called drywall
by contractors here a few times.

Usually called 'slabbing' here.

Not sure where 'here' is for you, I thought it was usually called 'dry
lining' in the UK.

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember pcb1962
saying something like:

Not sure where 'here' is for you,

The headers contain a clue.