Hello, Will I be able to drive dozens of 1/4" Tapcon screws into predrilled holes in concrete with this size? Or should I get 14v. Thinking Hitachi. TonyG
- posted
15 years ago
Hello, Will I be able to drive dozens of 1/4" Tapcon screws into predrilled holes in concrete with this size? Or should I get 14v. Thinking Hitachi. TonyG
I would go with an 18v. They don't cost much more, and the batteries last much longer. If your concrete has a hard type of aggregate in it, Tapcons can require considerable torque to drive in.
Bill
You won't be able to drive _dozens_ of Tapcon screws with any type of battery drill. Depending on the screw length and size and the material hardness, you might be able to drive only one or two, though I would expect at least 10 to be typical.
Steve, I have already used a Hitachi mini impact to drive a couple dozen tapcons and it had plenty of battery.It was effortless. I just did not notice what size it was. I had 3/16 predrilled holes. Tony
That's impressive. I have the same drill driver, but I've never used it for Tapcons. My batteries, less than a year old, are good for about 50
3.5" deck screws into treated pine. I would have guessed that Tapcons were much tougher to drive into concrete. My big corded Bosch hammer drill really lugs down running Tapcons into limestone, so I'm surprised the Hitachi does so well. I'll have to try the little guy next time.
To install tapcons, first you predrill a hole..then you drive 'em in. I ve done several with my 18V Ryobi P220 Hammerdrill. I'd expect to be able to do at least a couple of dozen (3/16 - 1/4") on a charge..these batts last a LONG time on HD drilling compared to my DeWalt 12V.
Sounds like Heavy duty work, what size are those Tapcons (DIA.) ?
1/4" x 2 1/2"
The blue paint on the screws is a glue that melts from the friction of driving the screw, then sets to hold the screw in place. On the big Tapcons, technique is important. If I don't drive the screw all the way home without slowing down, the glue will grab hold when I'm only partly done, and then I twist the head off the screw. That happens easily when I put big screws into deep holes. Oh, and I _do_ use the correct Tapcon bits to go with the screws. They're an odd size.
Hey Steve, I bought an 18v at HomeDespot. I didn't know about the bit thing and bought a standard sds 3/16. If it doesn't work I will post about it. I am screwing down 2x4 to hold the bottom of a 7' wall in place. I put them on 2' cntrs. The bit that comes with tapcons is not an sds bit so I don't know how "I" would use it anyway. Thanks for the comments. TonyG pt.townsend,wa.
So, you are securing the 2x4 sill plates to a concrete floor. I installed 2x4 sill plates all around the perimeter of my basement using a Remington hand held powder actuated fastener tool.
No, I am securing temp. plates to secure the bottom of concrete forms. I need to get the screws out to strip the forms. I hope to be able to reuse the screw 2 or 3 times. T
I doubt that you will be reusing the tapcons 2 or 3 times. Breaking a tapcon screw while installing is pretty common. You'll be lucky if you can get them out without snapping off a few, much less trying to reuse them.
No, actually they come out nice from a 3/16 hole. I have taken out over
30 of them on my last job and never broke a one. I don't know if they will go in again but they came out fine. They weren't mine so I left them where they fell. T
Just make sure you put a 4" strip of plastic vapor barrier or a strip of poly "sill gasket" under the 2 "BY" before you "shoot" or screw" it down
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