qwerty said:
daedalus said:
It would take me longer to gather the stuff I would need from my garage than it would to install these things.
i think Mr Zlot and me just got called chumps by Daedalus :-(
Not at all. I wasn't being polite about getting better tools. Any job I've found to be either impossible or unduly difficult usually has a tool that makes it much easier. Not saying there's no skill involved, because there often is, but a better tool gives an immediate bump in quality and/or productivity.
I would install this thing exactly as you did Qwerty, except I'm guessing my tools would make it easier for me. Magnetic stud finder for a quick find, 18V (or 20V, if I'm in the house) Dewalt drill for the pilot hole to pin 1 corner, a dedicated Dewalt driver to sink the 1st screw, a "good" laser level on a tripod to get it level, and then drive all the other screws home.
I suspect the drill bits being used are dull. They are consumables, like razor blades and driver bits. Most people buy the coated drill bits because they are cheap. For wood drilling I do too, but I buy in bulk. Once the coating is worn off, they're done. The metal substrate will not hold an edge and isn't worth sharpening. For this reason I don't buy the quick change bits; extra cost for something I'll throw away and replace. I keep sets like these on hand to keep my job site sets fresh and full:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_562307-67702-115209_4294613704__?productId=50138360&AID=10935405&PID=404255&cm_mmc=AFF_CJ-_-404255-_-403658-_-10935405
ZeroLot said:
The Black & Decker PD600 Pivot Plus 6-Volt Nicad Cordless Screwdriver with Articulating Head:
I wanted a light drill so I can use it too.
A 6V drill is not very powerful. One of my 3 Dewalt drills is 12V (garage sale lot), and I won't even bother with it. When I got my first cordless set, my wife wanted a small cordless drill too, so I got her her own 7.2V, but we both quickly wised up on our respective competitive advantages with regard to labor output. E.g., she's not very good at carpentry, so lets me do it. I can't stand painting, so I let her do it.
For driving screws, I can't say enough about this thing:
It'll knock the lug nuts off a 1/2 ton pickup and I have driven 3/8" lag bolts 3" deep into the framing with it when building my balcony. I used to rely on the "driver" function of my drill/driver before buying these, but there's just no comparison.