DECK GUN/DRY WALL GUN – What do you like
Folks,
May have some deck work coming up. What recommendations on guns that will handle deck screws and drywall screws?
Notice our rockers like the DW 272 with 100′ cord. Wonder how that does with deck screws.
The ToolBear
“Never met a man who couldn’t teach me something.” Anon.
Replies
I think you're addressing two different applications here.
There are alot of good DW screwguns....their relatively cheap, operate at fairly high RPM and do what they're supposed to do; set drywall screws efficiently to just past the surface of the paper.
Deck guns are different....the screws are longer, often bigger...and the RPM's are slower....actually variable speed in most cases. And they're usually made so the operator can stand upright to save the old knees and back.
I use a Muro coalated screwgun for laying subfloor, but it certainly wouldn't work efficiently for DW. (and I've never used IT for laying deck planks). When I do hang drywall (rarely), I use a Milwaukie or a PC, but I wouldn't use either on a deck.
For one deck, maybe this is the time to consider a cordless impact driver -- if you don't already own one.
DW - you gotta find what your hands like. I like the Duraspin for ceilings, since it frees up a hand, but regular old cordless on the walls. Probably the only place it gets much use anymore, since I have the Panasonic impact also. Which is perfect for the deck. But if you're doing lots of them, the standup Duraspin, or the PAM gun - which you can buy with the DeWalt drill or just as an attachment. Collated, self feeding, works pretty slick - the PAM is a better performer than the Duraspin there. Harder to get the screw lines nice and straight, I think anyway, but you can overcome that with just a little attentiveness. I'd say the Hilti self feeder is pretty good on DW too. Nice and light, nowhere near as bulky as the Senco, and gets into corners easier, which the Senco does not do well at all. Still have to hit it straight on though. Self feeds don't like trying to go in at an angle.
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain
For outdoor finished deck, use cordless impact and kneepads. Keep regular cordless handy for pilot holes at butt joints. I find standup systems don't place the screws accurately enough for visible work.
For subfloor, use collated standup system. I have used Quikdrive and Bostitch. The Quikdrive was more reliable - the Bostitch had several screw feed hangups and was difficult to set countersink depth.
For drywall, well I try to avoid that stuff like the plague. Local boarders here swear by DeWalt 12V cordless screwguns.
Wally
Thanks to all.
Got the pads. Got the Mak. 12v impact driver. I shall continue to continue.
Was wondering about the DW 257, which claims deck/drywall screwdriver.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
I have the QuickDrive.
Not bad but my guess is there are better ones...Theres an article in JLC about several of them.
With the QD taking the bit out is a bit (no pun intended)of a pain in the arse and its kinda lite duty but it does get the job done and screws are easy to get....even HD carries them.
Be screwed
andyThe secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..
I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides,
I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.
I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Ya mean someone else own one of dem things????
I thought I was the only one............I could write a small book.........not exactly my favorite tool........and it seems everytime I let that fact be known, they're callin me up with newer, better equipment. Geeesss, what was wrong with the old one?
Eric
Ever try stainless steel deck screws in the QD?I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
Well it was one of the first so....
It is kinda rinky dink but it works and the little I use it makes it OK.
My drywall guy has some sort of contraption that goes on the end of any drill. He won't tell anyone where he got it and it doesnt say on it.
He has about half a dozen of them and its the best auto screw shooter I ever saw and my guess is that its not all that expensive. Bet the screws are though.
Be screwed
andyThe secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..
I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides,
I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.
I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
@@ DECK, DRYWALL GUNS... and lots of rot
We should start decking this job today. Demo and joists yesterday. It will be impact drivers and such. I am holding the DW at home, in the box until I sort out the options.
The conditions were interesting to say the least...
THE ROT PIT
Yesterday’s project: Total deck replacement on two condos with superb ocean views. They are built on a hillside. The garage is on the upper level, the two story unit on the next level down. A deck covers the slope in between.
This area is the most perfect environment for rot – which is what they got. The decks were built of common #2 lumber – not pressure treated. The roof downspout dumps directly into the area at the base of the slope, creating a pond and high water marks on the stucco wall of the home below. The deck boards are undergapped. There are plants and a drip irrigation system. Results: two species of brown cubical rot infest the deck, the joists, the beams. Visualize a 4x12 beam, half eating away.
Next door all the deck comes out. Ours retains half the joists. The owners have their front door boarded over so they don’t step out and down, way down. There is a rush to get the new 60% PT joists cut and back in so they can be covered over ply by rollup. We get it done. Now for a new deck.
The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
Andy,
Is this what your are talking about Quickdriver .
I was wonder how well this would work? If it's the
same one you are talking about I might give it a try.
Thanks,
Chad
Quick Driver Webpage
Edited 11/16/2004 9:40 am ET by Chad G
No, but that looks interesting.
The ones my drywall guy had were smaller and more square and all metal.The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..
I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides,
I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.
I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I screwed down my entire house of subfloor with a drywall driver and coated deck screws. It took a long time but in the end was the right thing to do. Yes I was on my hands and knees. I started with my Makita 12v impact but found that the drywall driver was much faster once I got in a rhythm. Even though drywall drivers are usually very fast guns, mine is surprisingly powerful (well, powerful enough to drive and sink any reasonable screw that I have thrown at it). I have the Milwaukee gun. It is simply the best of the drywall drivers and dirt cheap ($89 or so).
So if it's a big deck or you have lots more to do, maybe consider a drywall driver. I wouldn't choose a deck driver (the one that looks like a drywall driver only goes slower and has a different nose piece) cause the drywall one seems to work well for me. My experience with the dewalt guns is that whenever I have seen a large crew of hangers going, the dewalt guns are always the ones making all the racket with their slip clutches ratcheting. The milwaukee doesn't do that nonsense.
Have fun on the deck
Rob Kress
I tried my 4,000 RPM Milwaukee drywall driver on some deck srews, and it just twisted them off.
But me neighbor got a "remodelling gun" that only goes up to 2,000 or 2,500 RPMs, and it works O.K. on deck screws.
Remember the first rule of gun fighting - Have a gun. [Jeff Cooper]
Pam gun... has milwaukee variable up to 2,500rpm removable extension head, take it off for drywall, leave on for waist-high tool for deck work 50ct. collated screw strips, easy loading easy shooting, leave drill running like sheetrock gun, keep pressing down to autofeed & shoot fastener adjust. countersink fast and saves your back ss screws avail.
shorter pins are #6 phillips head black phosphate longer are #12 galv/ hardened square drive i like the gun case it comes in http://www.coastaltool has it for about $350-$360 fasteners are pretty reasonable there bought mine five years ago, shot underlayment for a lot of houses, still running strong