I typed a similar question in an earlier post, sorry if you’re reading this twice. I am building a deck and need to drive well over 1,000 screws for the deck boards. What’s the best tool for this?
I already own corded and cordless drills. I’ve considered buying a drywall screwgun; seems as though some are only strong enough for drywall some are strong enough for deck screws. A cordless impact driver is more than I care to spend. For those that build decks here, what do you use?
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Replies
Hammer?
cordless impact... 18v...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I set the boards in place with a my cordless Makita, then go back and chalk very light white lines and do the rest with a corded drill cuz it's still faster - tape the cord junction together so you can drag it around and go to it.
Or rent a Quick-Drive or Pam gun 'specially if your knees or back hurt.
btw this is not for south american hardwoods where pre-drilling has to happen - cedar and pt spf only.
j
A cordless impact is vastly superior to ANYTHING else for this. A drywall screwgun would be my last choice.
look on Amazon for factory recons......1/3 to 1/2 normal price plkus full manufacturer's warranty.......
I've done this with the CPO lines
fwiw: a few years ago I rebuilt and expanded a second floor deck...using my old Bosch 14.4 (that won't die)....jinx.....
over 3000 ss screws from below.........sweet & easy
I'm not flippin' you off.........just counting cubits
If you already own a cordless drill, chances are you can buy the bare impact driver that matches your existing set.
For instance, the Ryobi 18v impact driver can be had for as little as $20 if you look around, it it is very highly rated for the price.
Tu stultus es
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
Which cordless drill/driver do you have? Many of them have a low speed setting which will probably work OK to drive deck screws. Of course, it may take a little longer to drive each screw, but that's a trade-off that may be acceptable if it's your own deck.
As I mentioned in the other thread, you should take a look at testing impact drivers by FHB
"A cordless impact driver is more than I care to spend."
But once you have one, it'll be worth 5X what you paid. Drills are for making holes and stirring paint. IDs are for fasteners. Especially deck screws. An ID will make this job a stroll.
That said, 1,000 screws isn't all that many. An ID may save you a couple of hours and a bunch of mucked screws. If avoiding that is worth $200 to ya, go for the ID. If not, use your drill (the clutch on the cordless helps) and good screws. In my experience, the type/quality of the screws means a lot more than the driver.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Everything fits, until you put glue on it.
how about an auto-feed screwgun? I own the quik drive and it is phenomenal. You can rent these tools as well.
Why are you doing this twice? You were getting answers in the first one. You should delete this thread as you are wasting folks time.
I answered about the DW dw/deck gun but would agree on the impact. I have had at least 6 of them and loved them all. Only one I was not too hot on was a series of Makita Nimh that just did not fit my hand. DW & Bosch have served me beyond my wildest expectations. And these are just nicads.
I did a deck last year and used my Ridged impack and borrowed my boys nice Makita impact.
So i had them both charging, The Makita was 30 percent better but my Ridged still was ok but got a bit hot so i switched.
I got it for 139.00 with drill and 2 batteries.
at HD on sale .
The Makita was a LOT more.
I tried useing a regular drill, No way, only the impact is the way to go.
If you've got easy access to power, this would be my choice:
http://makita.com/en-us/Modules/Tools/ToolDetails.aspx?ID=455
Scott.
For years I have used a Milwaukee 0-243 Magnum drill for all kinds of variable speed applications. It has enough power that it can turn a screw in at about 10 to 850 RPM. It has a lot of power and is easily controlled.
Look at the RPMs on the screw guns. The ones for DW will have higher RPMs meaining a whole lot less torque.
If you can find a Quickdrive use that. I've got one and it's hard to beat.
I highly recommend finding deck screws with torx heads. Vastly superior to phillips and square drives. Will make your task much easier esp. if you don't go with a cordless impact driver.
Rent, borrow or steal a QuickDrive. It is faster and a lot more comfortable, particularly if you don't do this everyday. Short of that you can get a Ryobi Impact driver from home despot very reasonably.
My first choice would be my corded screw gun with the release cup. This is not a drywall gun, those are not as powerful. Much quicker than an impact and you have plenty of torque.
Quickdrive is great if you want to spend the $.
18v impact is fine, but if you have thousands of screws to drive, it's simply not as quick.
Do as suggested, tack the boards, snap white lines and screw away.