Good brand of 3/8" corded drill

[Constant Mesh]

My house has several floor squeaks under the carpet. I'm going to pull up the carpet and install some 2-1/2" screws through the flooring into the joists.

What is a good brand of corded drill for installing a few hundred screws?

I have a cordless 12 volt DeWalt drill (a bit puny) with two battery packs but I think the batteries would be sapped after just a few screws.

 

[Waaane]

My house has several floor squeaks under the carpet. I'm going to pull up the carpet and install some 2-1/2" screws through the flooring into the joists.
What is a good brand of corded drill for installing a few hundred screws?

I have a cordless 12 volt DeWalt drill (a bit puny) with two battery packs but I think the batteries would be sapped after just a few screws.

IMHO if you have standard 3/4 inch subfloor, 2.5 inch screws is way overkill for this job . 1.5 inch bugel head decking screws should work just fine. As far as the drill goes if your Dewalt won't carry that load you might want to consider replacing the batteries. If you really want a new drill I like Milwaukee, Porter Cable or Mikita power tools but there are lots of quality manufacturers out there.

 

[bandito]

Makita

 

[twowheelnut]

A single use item? I'd go rent a drywall screw gun - tops, 25 bucks for the day. Other than that, I love Milwaukee. Big, heavy, manly-man tools. When and if my Craftsman 3/8" drill dies, I will get the Milwaukee to grow my collection. Damn thing is, even a weeks long soak under water can't kill my trusty Craftsman - it'll never die.

 

[Constant Mesh]

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, the flooring is 3/4" or more likely 23/32". T/G Flooring installation instructions from AdvanTech include:

Fasteners should penetrate framing members at least 1".

I suppose a 2" screw would be more appropriate. But I hate squeaks and decided to go for another 1/2".

I bought drywall, all purpose screws -- phillips drive, bugle head, coarse thread, sharp point to secure the flooring. I may have paid too much -- $2.50 /lb. Supposed to be 119 screws per lb.

 

[Bob Hughes]

I bought a 1/2" drill at Harbor Freight recently for about $25 that is pretty nice to use. May be overkill but hey your next project could be drilling into concrete.

 

[Waaane]

A little extra penetration whilst screwing can't be a bad thing I guess

 

[stormrider]

A single use item? I'd go rent a drywall screw gun - tops, 25 bucks for the day. Other than that, I love Milwaukee. Big, heavy, manly-man tools. When and if my Craftsman 3/8" drill dies, I will get the Milwaukee to grow my collection. Damn thing is, even a weeks long soak under water can't kill my trusty Craftsman - it'll never die.

ditto on the Craftsman... Can't kill mine either

 

[sonicspeed]

the only thing bout craftsman is you never know who the manf. will be for the year you buy it.........for drills it's hard to beat makita or milwaukee. for circular saws i would go with dewalt or makita. i have used them all and have sold them all. 2.50 a lb is not a bad price for ya screws. i get 2.99 lb here in tn

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

Milwaukee

I went and checked the MSC flier for ya, and they're in there. On sale.

Check it out: October Super Savers

I prefer the 1/2" over the 3/8"

 

[Old Michael]

A little extra penetration whilst screwing can't be a bad thing I guess

I saw that comin'!

My humble advice. NEVER buy a one use power tool. You'll use it if you have it-lots. And Milwaukee stuff is ultra-durable

and well made. That would be my choice. And a 1/2 inch one! As is often said, you never say later "Damn, I wish I'd bought a cheaper one."

Tools for life. You should smell the fajita marinated chicken I'm grilling right now.

 

[Fencer]

I will buy three brands (and I have been through alot) Pretty much anything you get for house duty will be fine yes even dewalt (even though I wont by it)

Craftsman - for those who don't know is mfg by several of the to makers depending on the item depends on the maker. you may be gettig a makita, milwaukee or something else.

I would buy without hesitation milwaukee, bosch, or porter-cable.

Porter cable would prob be most econmical for a homeowner.

Stay away from Ryobi, and I wouldn't by dewalt, but that is me.

Another trick you can use on a squeeky floor, if you can get under it, is to get some expanding foam insulation in a can (Great-Stuff or other brand) and squrt it along the joist.

 

[v65]

CM, before you pull the carpet up have you tried some of the underfloor fixes?

 

[drjfjr]

Milwaukee all the way. I bought a craftsman 1/2 hammer drill 2 years ago. I was working with a group installing a deck at a womans center last year. 1000 square foot deck and we used carridge bolts for the joist to posts. First use of the hammer drill was smoking after eight post. It is useless now. Out of warrentee and smoked using it the first time.

 

[TriggerT]

Thanks for your reply.
Yes, the flooring is 3/4" or more likely 23/32". T/G Flooring installation instructions from AdvanTech include:

Fasteners should penetrate framing members at least 1".

I suppose a 2" screw would be more appropriate. But I hate squeaks and decided to go for another 1/2".

I bought drywall, all purpose screws -- phillips drive, bugle head, coarse thread, sharp point to secure the flooring. I may have paid too much -- $2.50 /lb. Supposed to be 119 screws per lb.

Phillips Drive, YUCKY! I try to avoid anything other than square drive. They key with the square drive is to get good driver bits. Dewalt makes ones with tapered edges that I think are the best.

Milwaukee 1/2" drill, AKA "The Hole Shooter" will last till your great, great grand kids, but they don't give them away.

 

[Kilroy]

Thanks for your reply.
Yes, the flooring is 3/4" or more likely 23/32". T/G Flooring installation instructions from AdvanTech include:

Fasteners should penetrate framing members at least 1".

I suppose a 2" screw would be more appropriate. But I hate squeaks and decided to go for another 1/2".

I bought drywall, all purpose screws -- phillips drive, bugle head, coarse thread, sharp point to secure the flooring. I may have paid too much -- $2.50 /lb. Supposed to be 119 screws per lb.

You might break the heads off of drywall screws if you're using them for flooring. Better off with general purpose or decking screws, and 2" would have been fine. And yep, Milwaukee all the way (18V 1/2" cordless or 1/2" corded hammer drill are my weapons of choice)

 

[Geezer]

Many deck screws have a coating on them which prevents them from coming loose. I think the coating actually softens from the heat of screwing it in and then sticks to the wood. They are worth the extra money.

 

[Bayou Boy]

Thanks for your reply.
Yes, the flooring is 3/4" or more likely 23/32". T/G Flooring installation instructions from AdvanTech include:

Fasteners should penetrate framing members at least 1".

I suppose a 2" screw would be more appropriate. But I hate squeaks and decided to go for another 1/2".

I bought drywall, all purpose screws -- phillips drive, bugle head, coarse thread, sharp point to secure the flooring. I may have paid too much -- $2.50 /lb. Supposed to be 119 screws per lb.

Phillips Drive, YUCKY! I try to avoid anything other than square drive. They key with the square drive is to get good driver bits. Dewalt makes ones with tapered edges that I think are the best.

Milwaukee 1/2" drill, AKA "The Hole Shooter" will last till your great, great grand kids, but they don't give them away.

+1

Phillips drive sucks, even the Phillips 2 designer stuff.

Go with square drive or torx drive.

I built 350 square foot of deck last fall and only used one bit for the entire decking. It just wouldn't slip. One torx bit. I would have gone through 4-5 phillips bits for the same area.

 

[NightShine]

CM, before you pull the carpet up have you tried some of the underfloor fixes?

You have to pull the carpeting?

You might break the heads off of drywall screws if you're using them for flooring. Better off with general purpose or decking screws, and 2" would have been fine. And yep, Milwaukee all the way (18V 1/2" cordless or 1/2" corded hammer drill are my weapons of choice)

Seems to me I've seen some specialty screw advertised in the wood working magazines for use when you don't have access under the flooring. Something like a screw that was scored a short ways down the shaft. Drive the screw in to a specified depth (using a guide that came with it), and then snap off the protruding head.
edit: Found it here. Works for both carpeted and hardwood flooring...

Squeek No More