I was making a large box out of plywood this weekend. The plywood was old and scavanged, as were the screws I using. The problem was the screws had some paint over the heads. The Philips tip on the my cordless screw driver did not want to insert into the screw, so installation was difficult. I ended up hammering in the screws slightly so they would "grip" the wood sooner and the awkward balancing act of driver-to-screw was hastened.

It would have been even easier if my cordless drill had a hard steel surface on the bottom of the grip so I could use it like a hammer. The battery pack is there now, but it is too fragile & I now have slight grooves from in the plastic from the nail heads.

The parts would have to be made to withstand some vigorous impacts. A warning sticker would be placed on the drill stating not to use it as a hammer, but everyone would know why the steel is there on the bottom. OR maybe they would'nt know, and they would hate the steel for making there drill so heavy and someday discover it's usefullness and decide it's not so bad after all.
-- macncheesy, Jun 28 2004

Impact driver ? http://www.epinions...s_Impact_Driver_Kit
There are tools...... [normzone, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004]

impact screwdriver e-bay so may vanish http://cgi.ebay.co....2239&category=20774
[engineer1, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004]

impact screwdriver, much better way, allows screws to be hammered in correctly.
-- engineer1, Jun 28 2004


Where was your weighty spirit level while all this was going on?
-- dpsyplc, Jun 28 2004


Or you could just buy a hammer.
<today's pointless trivia>Screws were invented before the screwdriver. They were intended to be set using a hammer.</tpt>
-- angel, Jun 29 2004


so that explains the old birmingham screwdriver thing (it's a hammer).
-- engineer1, Jun 29 2004


[macncheesy] i'm a bit puzzled. how had you removed the screws with paint over the head ? just plucked using a set of pliers ?
-- vedarshi, Jun 29 2004


if this idea is not really some kind of super camp double entendre fest...it should be.

Where's [PhilMckraken] when we need him?
-- ConsulFlaminicus, Jun 29 2004


Drill schmill. A guy cheap enough to reuse painted screws (a man after my own heart) has shelled out the dough for a cordless drill?

The solution: big screwdriver with weighty metal flatsided handle. Reverse screwdriver for use as hammer. Flat sides also prevent rolling of weighty screwdriver off bench and onto foot. Weighty handle also facilitates throwing screwdriver so as to stick in the wall.

Other option: reinforce shop shoes with metal heel. In a pinch, shoe can be used for a hammer.
-- bungston, Jun 29 2004


[macncheesy] i am still anxious to know how had you removed the screws with paint over the head ! just plucked using a set of pliers or any other special method ?
-- vedarshi, Jun 29 2004


Remember: according to Red Green, ANY tool can be a hammer. +
-- swimr, Jun 29 2004


Hey, [ConsulFlaminicus], are you taking the mickey out of my name?
-- philmckraken, Jul 12 2004


(1) why are you re-using the screws, you moron? just buy some new ones. shouldn't cost more than 35 cents. I'll buy you some if you need. modifying the cordless drill design to accomodate your rare, bizarre requirement will never pay off. (2) the "balancing act" you describe is probably because you used a cheap-ass driver bit or one that didn't fit the screw heads in question, perhaps exacerbated by the lack of a magnetic driver shaft. When you have the right driver bit for the right screw, this is rarely a problem. (3) even in rare cases of wanting to hammer a screw, say setting screws for cementaceous backer board for tiling, it's still so much easier and faster to use a hammer to set a bunch of "hardibacker screws", then follow up with the cordless drill, rather than redesign the drill so that it's heavier or more cumbersome than it already is. Maybe I had too much coffee this morning. sorry.
-- musicator, Jul 12 2004


[phil] yes.
-- ConsulFlaminicus, Jul 13 2004


[ConsulFlaminicus] Well, ok. That's alright then.

(just checking)
-- philmckraken, Jul 13 2004


Why not just put the hammer portion on the BACK of the screw? You need a flatish spot there anyway to hold the thing, and the handle seems the best place for the batteries already.

Then you just swivel the drill backwards so the bit is pointing you, take aim, and... Let me rephrase. Then you just TURN OFF THE DRILL, swivel the drill backwards so the bit is pointing you, take aim, and hammer your screws into place.
-- ye_river_xiv, Aug 03 2006



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