DWC-2500 vs DWC-4500 / General Problem

[dankae]

Hey all,

I am new here, so please excuse any stupid questions!

Regarding my question. I am at the moment building a house. Currently doing the drywall installation. It is a woodframe construction.

Structure: Insulation - Fermacell (gypsum fiberboard) - Vapour barrier - plasterboard.

Right now attaching the Fermacell.

I ordered a DWC-4500 and tried doing this. No chance to get the screws in (3,9x40 fermacell screws). I sent it back and ordered the DWC-2500. Got it today. Again: Absolutely no chance to get the screws in perfectly. Had to use my TPC…

Wood is normal stuff used for those houses (prefabricated house)…

I of course now that DWC-4500 is specialised on plasterboard to metal. The 2500 is said to be more of an allrounder and perfectly suited for fiber to wood…

Long story short: Neither the 4500/2500 get the job done. I am pretty sure they would be able to screw the plasterboard to fermacell in the next step, but it really is bothering me that I cannot use it now despite the claims it perfectly fits.

Any experience on that? Or is Festool simply not the tool for drywalls…

Thanks!!

 

[tsmi243]

What's the actual problem?

 

[dankae]

Trying to understand, if I am stupid/doing something wrong or if it really is the case that I cannot use either one for drywall.

Every video I check, it seems to work. But not for me.

 

[tsmi243]

What does "No chance to get the screws in" mean?

Drill not strong enough? 

 

[dankae]

Sorry. Maybe lost in translation…

The screws cannot be screwed in all the way. The tool stops before and I cannot get them any deeper. So yes - not enough „power“ / torque I guess it is called. I need to use my TPC to screw in the last milimeters.

And I am a bit confused. The DWC-2500 is built for fiber to wood base-construction. But no chance

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[neeleman]

I assume you use the screw gun with the magazine adapter AF 55-DWC?
1. I assume you use the right setting on the nose of the adapter according to the screw length?
2. and also use the large depth setting (green) ring to adjust the screw depth adjustment?
[attachimg=1]

 

[squall_line]

The DWC-4500 I purchased from Festool had the wrong bit holder for the depth stop chuck and the deepest I could get any screw was 1/4" proud.  Festool sent me the correct bit holder and that bit of concern was sorted.  The magazine feeder would not have caused me the same issue.

I used mine on regular gypsum board into pine 2x4s without any issues.

It sounds like you're trying to drive drywall screws through drywall, then through lath & plaster, and then into the studs?  Or just attach drywall to lath and plaster?

The plaster might be the issue if you're actually trying to drive through the drywall and into the plaster, especially depending on how strong it is.

But I may be misunderstanding the issue.

 

[dankae]

I assume you use the screw gun with the magazine adapter AF 55-DWC?
1. I assume you use the right setting on the nose of the adapter according to the screw length?
2. and also use the large depth setting (green) ring to adjust the screw depth adjustment?
[attachimg=1]

I did not even attach the magazine. I wanted to check the „power“ beforehand. I used it without the
magazine adapter and adjusted it to full depth.

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[dankae]

The DWC-4500 I purchased from Festool had the wrong bit holder for the depth stop chuck and the deepest I could get any screw was 1/4" proud.  Festool sent me the correct bit holder and that bit of concern was sorted.  The magazine feeder would not have caused me the same issue.

I used mine on regular gypsum board into pine 2x4s without any issues.

It sounds like you're trying to drive drywall screws through drywall, then through lath & plaster, and then into the studs?  Or just attach drywall to lath and plaster?

The plaster might be the issue if you're actually trying to drive through the drywall and into the plaster, especially depending on how strong it is.

But I may be misunderstanding the issue.

Thanks for the reply - Does not seem to be the wrong holder. I checked the length. It theoretically does not reach depth stop and could go further. It simply does not have enough power anymore. It then acts like an impact drill and trys to hammer in the screw.

No, I just wanted to let you know about the general structure. First of all you attach Fermacell (gypsum fiber) to wood using 3,9x40 screws. Then staples to attach the vapour barrier. Then attach plasterboard on top using 3,9x30 screws.

According to the description of Festool the DWC-2500 should be suited for both steps (Fermacell to wood, and plaster to Fermacell).

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[Mettes]

I have the 2500 and place Fermacell with it.  Fermacell to wood I mostly use a pneumatic contructionstapler, this is by far the fastest way.  But occasionally it happens that I screw the Fermacell to wood or when needed metalstud.
This is one of those times you don't let the machine do the work, you really need to push, put some back into it.
Try some scraps before starting to juggle with full panels.  To be clear I use the magazine all the time.

Hope this helps!

 

[Coen]

I've worked with a Festool DWC-2500 and a Bosch GSR 18v-EC TE + MA 55 (4200 rpm). In my experience... if you don't put enough pressure on the Festool and it stops... then press again it will "pulse", which is annoying as hell.

If using old wood (recycled from 80 years ago) keep in mind that is has dried and might be a lot harder to screw into.

I get a higher success rate with the Bosch machine than with the Festool, and so did the family member that owns the Festool DWC and used it a bunch after using my Bosch for a minute. Before I bought my Bosch I have borrowed his DWC. I eventually got the Bosch because I have no 18V Festool but plenty of 18V Bosch. Also, the low hitrate made me doubt the Festool.

The Bosch I have was recently discontinued in favor of the new model that does the same "turn motor off" thing that Festool has on the DWC. Maybe that is (partly) at the root of the problem?