Spax vs TurboGold (Pozidriv)

Andy Jeffries · 2004-01-13T13:42:07+00:00

I just got my first box of TurboGold screws from Screwfix. Althoughthey've already been discussed on this board in various threads, I justthought I'd add that after a quick test, they are fantastic.I've just driven a few 4x30's in to some pine during my lunch-hour andwow!! I got progressively closer to the edge and they only split the woodwhen the head diameter was within a couple of millimeters of the edge (nopilot hole or countersinking).The Spax were splitting the wood a good 2cm away from the edge.They are the only screws I'm going to use from now on.BTW, I also want to send a collective thanks out to all the regulars onthis group! After reading this group for a few months I now feelconfident enough to do some simple plumbing tasks (I've always been happywith electrics and feel quite confident with simple woodworking). Thanks!Cheers,Andy

Jan 13, 2004 26 Replies

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Barley Twist 22 years ago

Saw one of these being demonstrated and in the interval before the next performance had a good look at it - and decided to buy one. Only cost a fiver and another couple of quid for some spare bits.

I've done some heavy duty work with it - three inch number 10s into good wood, corrugated iron straight onto timber, garden timberwork.

Well impressed - but there is a knack - takes 1/2 a dozen attempts to get it right. The "gotcha" is the bits - they are NOT any standard size and even then they need a little O ring ... I bought a bitless one at a car boot sale (50p) and a friend to whom I gave it (having played with the complete one) is still trying to find a supplier of the bits and he has access to all sorts of specialist suppliers.

The build quality does look suspect - I'd love a really nice one. (Tool lust) Wonder who has the patent ... Barley Twist (Please put out the cats to reply direct)

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IMM 22 years ago

At £5 it doesn't sound like the QVC one. Where did you buy one for a fiver?

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Barley Twist 22 years ago

looks v. similar. Bought mine from a chap who was demonstrating them at a huge carboot sale just outside Portsmouth a year or two back.

Demonstrator had a very slick act, and the stall was quite impressive

- more like an exhibition trade stand. AFAICR you *had* to buy the bits as well as the gadget - they were sold separately, but the all-in cost was still only about 7 or 8 pounds max.

No - you can't have it!

Barley Twist (Please put out the cats to reply direct)

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Andy Hall 22 years ago

Did he do any other magic tricks? Spinning plates on sticks, boomerangs, that kind of thing?

.andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

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Barley Twist 22 years ago

[snipped tale of drill attachment vendor at bootsale]

No - but he was certainly an accomplished presenter - that's why I waited until he took a break before asking to have a look at the gadget - he was very good at getting the crowd to part with their cash and had an almost palpable "want ...need ...buy " atmosphere buzzing during the demos. Probably a politician now ... Or an IT systems vendor!

Barley Twist (Please put out the cats to reply direct)

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Simon Avery 22 years ago

Hello snipped-for-privacy@isbd.co.uk

Ah, problem - I'm a cheap bugger. :)

Are they much more expensive?

The heavy galvanised ones work really well even in hostile environs like urine soaked wood. Probably not as bad as saltwater conditions though, where stainless is pretty much all that's used as I understand it.

Maybe I'm getting them confused. (It's raining and the packs are in the car, excuse me for not being bothered to go and check...). Really skinny shanks with excessively sharp ends?

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