Deck/Tapcon/Construction screw drives

[rick carpenter]

I do (re-)construction on a volunteer basis, so I find all kind of different fasteners already bought by the host sites. I'm looking to further round out a driver kit for the various deck, tapcon, and construction & lag screws/bolts I encounter. Phillips are everywhere. Deck and construction screws are T20, T25, and T40, plus #2 Robinson for decks. Lags and tapcons are 5/16 hex and up. What other drives/sizes might I encounter?

I'm willing to spend a few bucks in order to spread the load across an impact driver and 3/8 & 1/2 impact wrenches, and avoid daisy-chaining bits into adapters as much as possible. I have the sizes and drives that I want for my impact driver and 1/2 wrench. I would like to find 3/8 sq drive T20 and T25 impact socket bits if anyone makes them. Apex makes 3/8 sq drive phillips bits. 3/8 sq drive 5/16 impact sockets are kinda hard to find but I have Craftsman 5/16 and 3/8 deeps.

 

[MJD1]

7/16" and 1/2" hex for lags. Allen heads on miscellaneous hardware.

 

[Robinson1]

Most common here are #2 Phillips followed by #2 square and T25

Going into a site not knowing what's already in place a safe bet would be Phillip's #1-#3, #2 square, T15-T30, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8 hex, sockets from 1/4-5/8. You'll rarely need a socket bigger than 5/8 unless you are dealing will steel framing or really big lag bolts (timber framing or wood bridges)

No building fastener is going to be metric in the US unless you start dealing with electrical work. Metric is creeping in on things like ceiling fans and light fixtures.

You might also run across some 8mm and 10mm on import commercial doors.

 

[rmsg0040]

I bought some tapcons over the weekend with philips #2 drive, worst tapcons I ever seen, 5 for 5 stripped head, returned them and got the ones with 5/16 hex head.

Only ones I can trust are the tapcons with the hex head or with roberston drive

 

[mobiledynamics]

Call me old school. I don't like tapcons at all....I'd rather take the extra time to put one in with use a sleeve/wedge.

Sure, tapcons are quick. If it don't bite, remove tapcon, out some metal wire, run it down again, etc. I'm not a fan but I know many like it's fast install

 

[rick carpenter]

I've had the chance to use my Ryobi 3/8 and 1/2 impact wrenches lately. I use the M12 impact driver often, but I really like the Ryobi 3/8. Its 150 ft/lbs torque is squarely in the middle of the Milwaukee M18 driver offerings. Regular bit sockets with 1/4 hex bits work fine for all bit-driven fasteners in wood. I use impact sockets on the 3/8 and 1/2 wrenches and I don't have to worry about breaking adapters.

Please pray for the victims and survivors in El Paso.

 

[bonneyman]

Call me old school. I don't like tapcons at all....I'd rather take the extra time to put one in with use a sleeve/wedge.

Sure, tapcons are quick. If it don't bite, remove tapcon, out some metal wire, run it down again, etc. I'm not a fan but I know many like it's fast install

I feel the same way. I sold the Tapcons but wouldn't use them on my stuff. Scary what some people were planning on using them for.

 

[Hytekrednek]

#1 square also for trim head screws. I find the all over and use them a lot too. Quadrex drive, also called combo drive I think. #2 square works, but not as good as the quadrex

 

[theoldwizard1]

IMHO, you are better of buying a 3/8" drive impact and then buy a 1/4" hex adapter. The 3/8" drive has mire torque and works better for hex head screws.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Call me old school. I don't like tapcons ...

For non-structural attachment to concrete, brick or block I use plastic hollow wall (drywall) anchors. Look for ones that will accept a #12 screw (most are #10 or #8) and then use stainless sheet metal screws.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Heh. We've gone full circle on this thead. From the OP discussing tapcons - all the way to talking about #1 squares.

 

[rick carpenter]

Call me old school. I don't like tapcons at all....I'd rather take the extra time to put one in with use a sleeve/wedge.

Sure, tapcons are quick. If it don't bite, remove tapcon, out some metal wire, run it down again, etc. I'm not a fan but I know many like it's fast install

I've had good success using tapcons on closet flanges but not on anything approaching 'structural' tension or shear. There's a specific bit size for each screw size. For closet flanges, I think that sleeves require too large of holes.