Rechargeable tools and decking advice please

and, having counted up the number of long screws that will need to be dealt with, I've decided to > > look at an rechargeable screwdriver or drill/driver for the job as I don't feel the current rechargeable that I have is up to it. :-((

want to spend a wheelbarrow full of cash on it. Anyone with deck building experience or anyone > who's had to drive a lot of long screws who would care to offer any tips and/or advice please on what to buy?

building tips would be much appreciated. The deck is at ground level and not attached to any > > structure.

I did some decking work recently and found that the battery in my small, sturdy but elderly Bosch drill/driver would drive decking screws for about

I did most of the screwdriving work using a cheapish mains-powered Bosch drill that was also designed to drive screws. I used Spax decking screws with Torx heads - no complaints. You might also want a compatible manual screwdriver if you accidently drive the screws too deep and then want to remove the boards for some reason.

Use a mains powered one. Since it must be close to a mains outlet.

Good cordless tools do cost a shedload of cash compared to the average. Mains not.

Dr TMH will be along shortly, please take a number...

That's how I tackle vast amounts of screwing or drilling too. If you want to avoid cost you can use a regular mains drill - they have lousy positional control, and you need to get the hang of that or you'll end up with screws far too deep. But its not hard to get used to. Or if you're doing the job a bit at a time, a half decent cordless should manage no problem.

NT

Gaah noooo! I tried that and ripped the heads off the screws. Maybe if you had a sooper dooper mains drill with pretty low reduction gears you might be OK but IME cordless drills are much more the speed and torque you need for driving.

having counted up the number of long screws that will need to be dealt with, I've decided to look at an rechargeable screwdriver or drill/driver for the job as I don't feel the current rechargeable that I have is up to it. :-((

spend a wheelbarrow full of cash on it. Anyone with deck building experience or anyone who's had to drive a lot of long screws who would care to offer any tips and/or advice please on what to buy?

building tips would be much appreciated. The deck is at ground level and not attached to any structure.

I use an Makita impact driver, actually two of them, but only because I build decks for a living & they are so fast.

Decent brand (Blue Bosch, Makita, DeWalt, Hitachi) drill driver 14.4v or above would do the job easily, you can pick one up for £100. B&Q have an 18v Mak for £89, Screwfix have a blue Bosch for £99.

Depends what you consider a wheel barrow full of cash. If you buy a decent combi you have a tool for life with DIY use after the deck is built.

Deck screws I use Screwfix tubs of 1300 for £20

If you want any deck building advice contact me off list. I've built around 30 - 40 in the last 6 years, so I'm getting the hang of it - happy to help.

I do - it's an old B&D which vary speeds down to 50 rpm for screwdriving. True it has much more torque than a cordless - but I've not found this a problem in practice.

critcher said..................... dip the screw tips in vaseline before you drive them in, it cuts down the friction.

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Yes, if your tool is struggling. Any grease or oil will do

NT

messagenews:wYTzp.6915$ snipped-for-privacy@newsfe05.ams...

Oooh Errr Missus....

Thanks one and all for the suggestions, especially the "if it sticks a bit grease it".

Am putting it all together slowly and making a list of tips.

So far - combi drill spend around =A3100 and buy a 14,4v brand name - cordless not mains as they are more easily controlled and can run backwards.

Screws from Screwfix and if I'm having problems whilst screwing, a bit of grease helps.

Do please keep posting suggestions and tips as I really only want to build this deck once and that means getting it almost right first time.

p.s. A sub-question - why impact rather than combi please?

I'm sure it does... :-)

Decking's so sort of 1980s ish...

Impact drivers are just so fast. 3" deck screw goes in so fast you haven't got time to pick up the next one before its home.

Impact drivers are a bit specialised, better off with a combi for general purpose use

driver is a quick way of getting screwless heads!{1} If anything needs torque settings, an ID does.

The mains drill I'd use for this sort of thing reverses.

But it's your call. I got the impression you didn't want to spend more than needed.

Your present cordless drill obviously isn't up to it for whatever reasons. Keep in mind that even with a good make one, the batteries don't last for ever.

=A0 London SW

Hi Dave - as you say, don't want to spend more than I need to on the "screwdriver" as I am buying it to do the job and any additional use I get out of it before the batteries die will be a bonus. I've had my current NiCd drill/driver for 5 years and it really isn't up to it: it cost me not a lot of money and it is fine for small jobs. The mains drill that I have has been drawing an old age pension for a number of years now. Combine these two facts and, basically, I'm starting with a clean slate. :-)

I've been reminded that Focus have gone into Administration and so I'm going to see if there are any "bargains" to be had there.

One thing no-one has mentioned is WEIGHT. The reason I use a 14V (Metabo BSZ Impulse L-ion - expensive but I use it a lot) cordless for this kind of thing is that over a day or two of driving screws the old muscles get a good workout. A bigger drill is heavier. Mind you, I'm in my 60s, so it might not be a problem for you.

R.