Any experiences with Fastfix Depth stop?

[mantonuc]

Hello all,

  So, I was my local Woodcraft yesterday and was playing with the FastFix Depth Stop chuck (#493539)...  I tried running several screws into some type of wood.  I believe it was maple but that should not be important to this discussion.  So, my goal was to just countersink the screws into the wood so that the head of the screw was just even with the surface.  Not too countersunk and not standing proud of the surface...  We set the depth to accomplish this with the first screw and got it just where I wanted it...  However, I tried two more screws (of the same type) and they all sank to different levels...  One was significantly proud of the surface of the wood (maybe somewhat less than the thickness of a dime...

  So, I was wondering what others experiences have been.  I could see using this feature a lot and especially on drywall jobs...  Any thoughts or experiences?

Matt

P.S.  I was verrrrrry disappointed that there was no Kapex on hand (but did not really expect to see it)...

 

[Michael Kellough]

I haven't used the FastFix chuck but it is very similar in function to a drywall guns depth adjustment. You need a combination of consistent feed pressure and consistent density of the material you are setting the screw into. Natural wood will vary in both density and hardness. To get consistent results you need to drive the screws into something like drywall or MDF. And, you need to apply the same amount of pressure on the screw.

 

[Dan Clark]

Matt,

You might want to take a look at my Depth Stop Chuck Review.  Overall, thought it was a great accessory to my C12.  That said...

I agree with Michael - you need to maintain constant pressure, fairly heavy pressure on the drill.  If you get tentative or slacken up pressure, it will leave the screw proud.  The best technique I've found is to "go for it".  Drive the screw like you're going to ram it completely through the board.  Let the Depth Stop Chuck do it's work.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[mantonuc]

Thanks - I guess will need to play with it some more when I get to the Woodcraft store again...  Good review of the tool.  Thanks for the link...

Matt

 

[Eli]

I used it last week to drive a few hundred screws into a subfloor material they call 'yellowtongue' here. It's an engineered board, dense, but very consistent. I 'went for it' with constant pressure on the hilt, using both the C12 (which felt too light for the job) and the TDK. I liked it, but I just really couldn't get consistent results with it, as you said. With the depth set to max, some heads would bury 2-3 mil, and some would be snagging height proud. I didn't like that there was no reference marks for depth. I did like the green lockout ring, which allows you to back out a flubbed screw easily, a fault of most flush driver chucks. It would be much better for drywall install I bet.

 

[mantonuc]

Hey Eli,

  That sounds consistent with what I saw.  The guy demoing it mentioned that it was not a depth set by torque, but rather by distance from the surface.  But, when I questioned that it was not consistent in the depth it was driving the screws, he mentioned it could have something to do with the density of the wood, the screws being used, etc.  They all seem inconsistent with something that is stopped by depth...  However, as someone mentioned in a previous post to this thread, I can see how the downward pressure one applies to the screw gun could affect the depth the screw is driven.  That is why I was asking the question here.  I wanted to know if it could be technique...  The next time I am at the store, I want to re-try and pay specific attention to the pressure I apply.

  In a reply I did under the "tool review" section today, I mentioned that it might be cool if the design of the DSC was such that it only applied the "turn-off" of torque in the forward direction.  That way, if it was in reverse, it would always apply torque and allow for back-out of (as you say) "flubbed" screws.  That happens a lot when I do drywall, although that only turns out to be once or twice a year...

  Has anyone used other depth stops that are more/less consistent?  I still think it is a very cool accessory, but was curious of how others behaved...

Matt

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I have not tried the Festool chuck, but have used the drywall screw setting adapters by Bosch that release the Phillips head screws when they reach a certain depth.  Constant pressure is needed to get good and consistent results.

Has anyone evaluated the Panasonic battery operated drills/impact drivers that claim to have some sort of sensing and control features that allegedly allow the operator to set a fastener flush then rotate the fasterner a predetermined additional amount?  I've seen brochures but not any demonstration of their effectiveness.  They are using Li Ion NiMH batteries and are a primary battery manufacturer.

Dave R.