Folks
Any recommendations on Depth Stops to add to the chuck on my hammer drill. If you look at the Windlock catalogue you will see one for wind-devil screws with plastic caps; I need one to set screw depth into vinyl siding. Its a deep drive: 2 1/2″ and needs to be guaged 1/32 . I use Makida, DeWalt and Panasonic hammer drills.
Thanks
Bright fish
Prescriptive codes don't address the connection at less common angles, so base the connection off more typical ones using bolts, structural screws, blocking, and steel tension ties.
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Replies
When I need a depth gauge I usually just put a piece of tape on the bit.
I've never seen a stop similar to those pictured here: http://www.wind-lock.com/DSN/wwwwindlockcom/Content/PDF/EIFS/Wind-Devil-WindLoadFastenerSelectionGuide.pdf
Perhaps you could improvise with a screw collar and a fender washer (and maybe a dab of gooey glue).
I don't know why you use a hammer drill to drive screws. I'd probably use a deck gun with an adjustable nose cone.
The problem with a depth stop is the bit will start to cam out as the stop actuates and eventually the screw will stop turning, but I don't think you could get accurate depth setting that way.
Maybe no such product exists?
This is not a commercail job, by the way.
I am installing vinyl siding (split shakes profile) with the hammer drill. I don't think a deck gun can't give me the precision for this application and its too heavy and awkward to use horizontally.
I am using #8's, 2 1/2" screws, though rigid insulation and sheathing into studs. As you know, vinyl siding cannot be tight fitted - needs to move - hence I was looking for a depth stop that might leave that 1/32" space between the pan head screws and the vinyl face. Rrelying on the clutch or on camming out will not guage the space between screw head and vinyl A depth stop in this application would have to guage the screws length, not the set depth or resistence of the receivng material.
Bright fish
The tool for this is an Impact Driver. If you already have a cordless toolset you like, you should be able to buy the bare tool for cheap. An impact driver is NOT a hammer drill.
A hammer drill taps the bit forward as it spins. An impact driver hammers in the rotational axis, similar to an impact wrench on lug nuts for your car.
The real key to the impact driver is control - you can advance the screw as fast or slow as you wish, there is very little inertia to overdrive a screw. Once you get a feel, you can advance the screws by quarter turns.
Dry wall gun?
You might be able to adjust the depth setting on a drywall gun, to leave them proud.
The other thought I had is a peice of mettal strap with a slot. You would drive the screw until it started to snug up, and then pull it out, leaving a slight gap.