Any decent impact driver offers at the moment?:

[dmc]

Looks like I'll be building a deck this summer - and from the medway handy mans many many posts about decking it seems that an impact driver is the new tool I can now justify ;-)

Given I don't have a decent cordless drill either (old wickes pro one with a few spare bats - served me well but truly knackered now!) a set would be good. Seems Screwfix had a ryobi set a while back that was reasonable and more recently a Makita set for a bit more. Looking now they don't seem to have either...

a possible option though - any ideas? (I'd rather not spend quite that much if possible)

Any other tips for deck building (beyond the "don't" stuff - SWMBO has overruled that one).

Darren

[The Medway Handyman]

You will never regret buying one.

I bought a 12v Makita driver & a 12v impact driver + three batteries for about £150 a few years ago, brilliant deal. There are some good deals about on the interweb, but don't overlook the Makita 230v mains impact driver, about £60. I got mine from ITS London.

option, treat yourself :-) If I didn't have the kit I'd go for that.

Yup. Turbogold coach screws 6 x 90mm from Screwfix for the joists. Use the right decking screws.

I've built dozens of decks, eleven in 2008, happy to help if you want any advice, just let me know.

[SantaUK]

Ebay Item number 230336860822

bought this bugger for my decking last year - its brilliant for the job. No relying on your batteries being fully charged - or getting drained job after job.

[matthew.larkin]

Darren

I did one last year. I had a 12v Makita non-impact driver, and that was fine - I've never used an impact driver, so I don't know how much easier it would have been, but I didn't have any problems driving the

500 or so screws into the deck.

My top tips would be:-

- buy a decent pack of size 2 pozi driver bits

- buy the more expensive "Deck-tite" screws from Screwfix - they were fabulous compared to their lower priced "timbadeck"

- take your time (I certainly did - started last July, still not completely finished!!!)

Matt

[dmc]

Hmm...I'd not considered a mains one. I guess that's an option but I think I'd prefer cordless.

>Great option, treat yourself :-) If I didn't have the kit I'd go for that. I'm a bit worried that it's a Li battery - my only experience of those is in laptops. Are they a good idea in powertools? They sound great but...

Also, this seems to be a little lower powered than many (100Nm compared to

130-150Nm). I guess this is still so much better than a normal cordless screwdriver to not be significant.

On screwfix site I see TimbaDeck screws and Deck-Tite - which do you use? I see one vote for the Deck-tite ones already :) The later is quite a bit more expensive (but not significant given cost of the project).

I'm probably going to go with boards from local yard - and it looks like they offer a double sided one with two profiles. I seem to recall you saying you prefered them "upside down" as they were less slippery..

the ones I'm thinking of using - 32mmx150mm at about 2 quid a metre delivered is their first offer. Sound comparable to prices up on the north side of Kent? :-)

They had some rather nice hardwood boards in when I popped in earlier - daren't show SWMBO those!

Cheers,

Darren

[dmc]

Heh, even more important if using an impact driver I'd imagine :)

Noted (better how out of interest?)

Not sure the boss will allow that ;-)

Cheers,

Darren

[The Medway Handyman]

They are just faster thats about it really. 12v impact driver will have a screw fully in before you have enough time to pick up the next one.

Yup!

I've had no trouble with Timbadeck. seem fine to me. Wickes decking screws are very good as well.

Doesn't do to rush these things :-)

[The Medway Handyman]

I bought the mains one to save the 12v 1.3a/h batteries being constantly recharged. The big turbogolds go in very quickly, but it does knock the batteries out faster. Plus I usually bring in my mate John (aka Desmond) on bigger decks so having two is convenient.

>>> Great option, treat yourself :-) If I didn't have the kit I'd go >> for that.

Reckoned to be the way forward for power tool batteries.

12v driver is prolly 25 - 30Nm. Also, there is not torque reaction back to your hand with an impact driver, so they are nicer to use.

We usually 'pin' the boards down with a few screws first to get the gap right with spacers, then return & finish screwing all the boards down.

Timbadeck or Wickes own brand - or at least I did before I bought my autofeed screwdriver.

Hard to see from the photo, but one surface has raised profiles rather than grooves. The raised profiles up is best.

About right yes.

Heaven forbid - I've seen the price :-)

[fred]

In article , dmc writes

Much, much easier, they're a specialist subset of the Screw-Tite range that features lubricated, easy-drive threads and slim shanks to take the effort our of driving.

Dave is keen on the Turbogold range of screws and has the trade tools that you need to drive them but I've found that the ease of drive of Screw-Tites means that you can get away with cheaper tools on a one or two off job and save a bit of cash.

My recent experience with Screw-Tites is on 100x50 studding so I'd say it reads across to decking joists reasonably well. I recommended them to Tim S here in a recent thread on studding and he appear impressed as well.

I used a 25quid Chinese drill driver which coped fine with STs but would struggle after driving a relatively small number of Turbogolds.

[The Medway Handyman]

Not really seen those before. Twice the price of Turbogolds. I quite like the hex head on TG's, used with a magnetic bit driver they don't narf make life easier.

Never tried the Deck Tite either. No reason too though, I've never had any problems with Timbadeck or Wickes own label.

[Rod]

Well, I have the baby Makita TD020 with a mere 17Nm (and it is Lithium celled). Amazing beast for something not much larger than sonic screwdriver. But I would certainly trade up to a 'full fat' model such as described if doing a deck.

[Archie]

> is a possible option though - any ideas? (I'd rather not spend quite that

IMHO the Makita kit below is better than the Bosch version as the drill/driver has a proper chuck and is two speed. They are very nice to use too but the impact driver is bleedin loud. Presumably so are all the others.

[dmc]

Hmm.... good point. The Bosch doesn't seem to have a chuck - which I assume means it's hex drills or nothing which would be a pain. I'd certainly want something that I can use as a drill occasionally...

Darren

[dmc]

Gah, a bit of digging reveals that the Drill/driver that screwfix are flogging in that set is the "GSR 10.8V-LI" which doesn't have a chuck - bosch have a new version which is the "GSR 10.8V-LI-2" and has a chuck.

Annoying :-/

The Makita is ugly though :-)

Darren

[Archie]

Me. I took them up on the same deal and have no regrets.

Archie

[Archie]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[The Medway Handyman]

>>> is a possible option though - any ideas? (I'd rather not spend quite

[The Medway Handyman]

Beauty is in the eye of the bit holder :-)

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Indeed. Cordless are very handy for the odd job or where mains is difficult. For heavy work like building a deck mains makes far more sense.

[The Medway Handyman]

I found that out the hard way :-) Mains impact drivers are like hens teeth though, I could only find Makita, then had trouble finding a stockist.

I'd agree that we've all gone a bit cordless crazy. I had a large number of

6mm holes to drill in MDF today. Fished out my cheapy B&D mains drill, much faster than a 14.4v driver.