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Press Firmly and Maintain Steady Pressure
Click image to enlarge.
Good technique is essential for driving concrete screws. Not enough downward pressure and the bit could slip off the head, especially if you’re using Phillips head screws. For the best results, keep constant pressure on the screw and run the drill at slow to medium speed.
It takes a light touch to avoid snapping screws. Heavy-duty drills work best because they can maintain a steady slow speed. Stop as soon as the screw is flush to the surface and your material is firmly attached. Driving at high speeds results in overdriving the screw and can strip the threads or break off the head. You’ll develop a feel for the right amount of speed after driving a few screws.
Use Two Drills or Buy an Installation Kit to Speed Up the Job
Install the masonry bit in your hammer drill and a driver bit in a variable speed drill. Then you won’t have to switch bits constantly. Another option is to buy an installation tool. It allows you to switch quickly from drilling to driving mode and back again, and includes Phillips and hex head bits to drive both 3/16-in. and 1/4-in. screws. We found an installation kit ($24) alongside the concrete screws at the home center. See the Buyer’s Guide below to locate a local retailer or buy on-line.
Click image to enlarge.
Click image to enlarge.
Drill the hole, then slip the tube over the bit with the correct-sized hex driver facing out.
Keep a Handful of Plastic Anchors in Case of Strip-Out
Occasionally the threads of a screw won’t grip and the screw will spin in the hole. Usually you can just abandon this hole and drive another screw a short distance away. But if relocating the screw isn’t a good option, simply enlarge the hole and slip in a plastic anchor. Then drive the concrete screw into the anchor.
Buyer’s Guide
Concrete Fastening Systems: (888) 498-5747. www.confast.com. Order discount concrete screws and the installation
tool by phone or on-line.
Seven Corners Hardware: (651) 224-4859. Order concrete screws by phone. 7cornershdwe.com.
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