Star Drive Deckamte Screws Suck
DerbyDad03
thing.
Unfortunately, the quality of the Home Depot screws negates that
theory.
While building my shed over the weekend, I found that many of the
screws had 1 of 2 issues:
1 - There was so much gunk on the tip of the screw that it would just
spin and not bite into the wood.
2 - There was so much gunk in the star that the bit wouldn't seat
properly, in many cases causing the drill to slip out of the hole and
slam into the wood.
The gunk in the hole is the worst of the problems. You'd get zipping
along, setting a screw, driving it, setting a screw driving it,
*think* you're setting a screw and -BAM- the bit slips out, the screw
goes flying and the drill slams into the wood, you lose your balance,
etc.
It slows down the job because you have to make sure the bit is seated
each time.
I hear Lowes still has the Phillips-Square drive combo. I'll have to
go see.
Red
I used the star drive screws (not from HD) on one project and won't
use them again. Not the problems you state, but had quite a lot of
them to break while driving them in. Also had quite a few to pop
heads from swelling wood which made a callback for me.
Red
Gordon Shumway
wrote:
>I used the star drive screws (not from HD) on one project and won't
>use them again. Not the problems you state, but had quite a lot of
>them to break while driving them in. Also had quite a few to pop
>heads from swelling wood which made a callback for me.
>
>Red
Red,
Buy some screws from McFeely's and try them. You shouldn't have those
issues with them. They're a lot higher quality.
I've literally used thousands of their screws and so far only one has
broken. However there were quite a few that had the head on the wrong
end :-)
Gordon Shumway
windcrest
I like stainless steel square drives the best for exterior use.
Stainless is softer and gives a little, unlike the hardened screws
which pop the heads off more often. They cost more than a coated or
anodized screw, but then again they are not depending on a coating at
all to not rust. Softer also means that you could potentially round
out the hole if the bit is not seated before you pull the trigger,
though thats not too often.
Back in the 80's the big box stores all used to sell screws by the
pound from big containers, and the overall quality was better than
today where they are boxed and overpriced. I have some stainless
screws that I bought in the 80's and they are immaculately made, they
look like a machinist turned each one on a lathe. Yes there are a lot
of crappy screws out there.
DerbyDad03
>
> - Show quoted text -
re: "boxed and overpriced"
$8.69 for a lb of Deckmate at HD. Ridiculous!
Jon Danniken
>
>
> re: "boxed and overpriced"
>
> $8.69 for a lb of Deckmate at HD. Ridiculous!
There are a lot of "weekend warrior" types out there to whom "DIY" is a
successful marketing strategy. The limited experience and short time they
actually work on things leads them towards more confidence when they pay
that much for a pound of screws.
To those types, the high price is actually a selling point, and the
manufacturers know this.
Jon
George
You might want to investigate if there is a fastener company in your
area. We have an evil family owned business here locally that is now
second generation. They sell quality stuff and they also sell home depot
quality for those folks where price is all that matters. You just need
to ask for the better stuff.
Joe
The advantage of the Torx drive is similar to Allen screws, 6 instead
of 4 pressure points. Since they are so widely adopted in industry,
failures in use are logically due to an off spec product as in this
case, or operator error, like not modulating the impact driver for the
screw size, or simply choosing the wrong screw for the job. Given a
choice, I always use Torx (star) and out of many hundreds set by my
Makita impact driver there have been less than a dozen mishaps, mostly
my fault. We have used screws up to 4 1/2" with Torx and I don't
believe a square drive would live long in those circumstances. FWIW, I
found Menards had the best Torx (star) quality. I thought that the few
that I bought from Lowes were a bit pricey and the selection of sizes
was not that good. No problems either with Torx drives from our local
lumber yard.
Joe
SMS
> In theory, you'd think the star drive Deckmate screws would be a good
> thing.
>
> Unfortunately, the quality of the Home Depot screws negates that
> theory.
>
> While building my shed over the weekend, I found that many of the
> screws had 1 of 2 issues:
>
> 1 - There was so much gunk on the tip of the screw that it would just
> spin and not bite into the wood.
> 2 - There was so much gunk in the star that the bit wouldn't seat
> properly, in many cases causing the drill to slip out of the hole and
> slam into the wood.
<snip>
The Home Depot near me had the star drive Deckmate screws for a short
time, but now has gone back to the square drive.
I use a lot of the Deckmate screws, but for a while I switched to
another product because of the Deckmate change to the star bit. I just
put together a shed for someone, and while it was a plastic shed, I
still had to build a wooden platform for it and I bought the square
drive Deckmate screws at Home Depot.
Ed Pawlowski
"DerbyDad03" <teama...@eznet.net> wrote in message
news:2b8a119d-bc57-49fa...@f37g2000yqn.googlegroups.com...
> In theory, you'd think the star drive Deckmate screws would be a good
> thing.
>
> Unfortunately, the quality of the Home Depot screws negates that
> theory.
>
www.mcfeelys.com Best screws around.
DerbyDad03
wrote:
I'm not sure I fit your "weekend warrior" description, although my
weekday job does involve a desk. <g>
A high price is not a selling point for me, but when all I need is a
pound of a specific size screw for a given project, sometimes I'm
stuck. I could have paid about $5.60 a pound if I needed a 5 pound
box, but I didn't.
Considering that I got the shed for 50% off (open box) and the
shingles for $10 a bundle (open packages, regularly $26) paying $8.69
for a lb of screws is proportionally out of whack! Sure, I could have
used McFeely's or a local fastener company like I've done in the past,
but this was a "got to get it done" project and I needed the screws
"right now".
It sucked on top of suck to pay the high price and then end up with
crappy material.
My only consolation will be that when the shed's done, I will still
have spent less than original $500 price of the shed, which didn't
include the roofing materials, the floor deck, the extra studs and a
few other extras that I added.
Jon Danniken
>
> I'm not sure I fit your "weekend warrior" description, although my
> weekday job does involve a desk. <g>
>
> A high price is not a selling point for me, but when all I need is a
> pound of a specific size screw for a given project, sometimes I'm
> stuck. I could have paid about $5.60 a pound if I needed a 5 pound
> box, but I didn't.
>
> Considering that I got the shed for 50% off (open box) and the
> shingles for $10 a bundle (open packages, regularly $26) paying $8.69
> for a lb of screws is proportionally out of whack! Sure, I could have
> used McFeely's or a local fastener company like I've done in the past,
> but this was a "got to get it done" project and I needed the screws
> "right now".
Heh, no, you're not the demographic to whom I was referring. Sometimes any
of us might get stuck and hafta go get some overpriced and overhyped stuff
from the borg to finish in a timely manner.
I did that today, when I overpayed by two bucks for some cheese instead of
driving the extra couple of miles to wally mart, but it was hot and I wanted
to get home (and not deal with said wally world).
Jon
WW
"Gordon Shumway" <Rho...@Planet.Melmac> wrote in message
news:mnel85h51mihp7slj...@4ax.com...
Gordon.........Those were for use in the ceiling or for the other side of
the house. Keep them in case you need them. Warren
cjt
I encounter that problem with nearly half the screws I buy. It must be
the outsourcing.
benick
"WW" <cc...@nospambresnan.net> wrote in message
news:15GdnQy7dctS0hbX...@bresnan.com...
Yea I've had the same thing happen to me with both star and square head
stainless steele screws at Homedepot...You get a handfull of bad ones in
every box...Thinking I'd be smarter next time I went to Ace and bought a
slightly more expensive box and had the same handfull of bad ones...Next
time I'll try McFeely's if they aren't alot more and it looks like they are
at a quick glance of their website......I'm not gonna spend an extra 10 or
more bucks to save a handfull of screws....Common sense and all.....If I
used them everyday for work it might be a different story...You can pass on
the extra cost or make it up in time saved....Not so for the occasional
DIYer...I've gotten pretty good at twisting out broken off screws with my
mini-vise grips...LOL...Besides it is usually Saturday afternoon when I need
them for a Sunday project which means a quick stop at Homedepot cuz it's the
only one open....
Gordon Shumway
wrote:
>Yea I've had the same thing happen to me with both star and square head
>stainless steele screws at Homedepot...You get a handfull of bad ones in
>every box...Thinking I'd be smarter next time I went to Ace and bought a
>slightly more expensive box and had the same handfull of bad ones...Next
>time I'll try McFeely's if they aren't alot more and it looks like they are
>at a quick glance of their website......I'm not gonna spend an extra 10 or
>more bucks to save a handfull of screws....Common sense and all.....If I
>used them everyday for work it might be a different story...You can pass on
>the extra cost or make it up in time saved....Not so for the occasional
>DIYer...I've gotten pretty good at twisting out broken off screws with my
>mini-vise grips...LOL...Besides it is usually Saturday afternoon when I need
>them for a Sunday project which means a quick stop at Homedepot cuz it's the
>only one open....
I don't know where McFeely's ships from but if I order something on a
Monday I usually have it by Wednesday.
Not only that, if you use the Keycode "M9F2112" you can get any order
shipped through September 1st for $1.
Gordon Shumway
cl...@snyder.on.ca
ANY chinese crap screw is useless at best - and usually dangerous as
well. I have twisted them into pretsels, snapped them off, had the
heads spin out - just about any failure mode you could immagine over
the last 3 weeks doing my daughter's basement. Square drive and
philips no difference.
cl...@snyder.on.ca
wrote:
No, they wer made for the AUSTRALIAN market.
cl...@snyder.on.ca
Sadly the nails are just as bad.
DerbyDad03
> On Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:51:21 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03
> <teama...@eznet.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> In theory, you'd think the star drive Deckmate screws would be a good
>>>> thing.
>>>> Unfortunately, the quality of the Home Depot screws negates that
>>>> theory.
---- Snip ----
>>>
>> re: "boxed and overpriced"
>>
>> $8.69 for a lb of Deckmate at HD. Ridiculous!
> Sadly the nails are just as bad.
re: "Sadly the nails are just as bad."
Star drive nails? <g>
Ed Pawlowski
"DerbyDad03" <Derby...@eznet.net> wrote in message
news:h6golj$c6h$2...@aioe.org...
When I hit my nail with a hammer, I saw stars.
cl...@snyder.on.ca
wrote:
No, but either frozen butter or hard lead.
fri...@gmail.com
The original DeckMate screws with the PSD2-2 heads were made by Phillip's Fasteners. The new ones with the torx head are made by Grip Rite and are not the quality of the old screws. I tracked down the manufacturer today and they are offering the same screw with the patented PSD2-2 head for a dollar less than Home Depot did with no shipping cost and no minimum. Even if the Deckmate screws were quality screws the torx head screws are not good for carpentry work.
1) torx bits do not tolerate off axis/off angle driving which is often necessary with working in tight spaces.
2) torx bits are easily shattered under the load of heavy driving. I have never broken a #2 square drive bit which is my preferred driver for the PSD2-2 screws.
3) if you strip out a torx socket you are "screwed" as you will not be able to back it out. usually I have to drill the head out and cut the shank after disassembly or back out with a pair of "ViceGrips" if I can get a grip. I prefer to use the PSD2-2 with a #2 square driver bit that shines in off axis driving.. and if it strips the head (rare ocasion) you simply reverse and in most cases there will be enough purchase to back the screw out. If it is two striped for that I grap a #3 or #2 Phillips and back it out.
4) If you are out doing some construction in West Undershirt, USA and loose or break your last T25 torx bit there is a good chance there wont be a replacement within 50 miles. If you break of loose your last Square drive bit. It is likely you will still have a #3 or #2 Phillips bit in your tool box and if not you dont have to go to a specialty tool shop to find them.
Problem is Home Depot has screwed up again and the only thing that will change their minds is for the new inferior screws to gather dust on their shelves.
In the mean time. Order what you need directly from the manufacturer and save a couple bucks as well. www.phillipsfastener.com
Don't get me wrong I am not Anti Home Depot. Quite the contrary, I like doing business with them and appreciate their policy of extending a 10% discount to veterans and active duty personnel. Sometime they just make bone headed decisions.
Tekkie®
And I know how to SNIP
>
> The original DeckMate screws with the PSD2-2 heads were made by Phillip's Fasteners. The new ones with the torx head are made by Grip Rite and are not the quality of the old screws. I tracked down the manufacturer today and they are offering the same screw with the patented PSD2-2 head for a dollar less than Home Depot did with no shipping cost and no minimum. Even if the Deckmate screws were quality screws the torx head screws are not good for
carpentry work.
--
Tekkie
rbowman
> 3) if you strip out a torx socket you are "screwed" as you will not be
> able to back it out. usually I have to drill the head out and cut the
> shank after disassembly or back out with a pair of "ViceGrips" if I can
> get a grip. I prefer to use the PSD2-2 with a #2 square driver bit that
> shines in off axis driving.. and if it strips the head (rare ocasion) you
> simply reverse and in most cases there will be enough purchase to back the
> screw out. If it is two striped for that I grap a #3 or #2 Phillips and
> back it out.
I don't own stock in Alden etc. but these things work slicker than snot. I
had a flathead Torx where the Torx socket was completely stripped out after
various unsuccessful attempts to remove it. I was getting ready to go the
classic drill and easyout route when I figured I might as well try a grabit.
The first one I tried didn't work, so I went up to the next size. The 3/8
drill stalled out when it grabbed but then the screw broke loose and spun
out.
It's a lot faster than the easyout route and with smaller sizes like 1/4-20
you're not in danger of breaking off the hardened easyout and really
screwing yourself.
str...@aol.com
str...@aol.com
str...@aol.com
Mary
> teamarrows wrote:
>
> In theory, you'd think the star drive Deckmate screws would be a good
> Unfortunately, the quality of the Home Depot screws negates that
> theory.
> screws had 1 of 2 issues:
> 1 - There was so much gunk on the tip of the screw that it would just
> spin and not bite into the wood.
> slam into the wood.
> etc.
> It slows down the job because you have to make sure the bit is seated
> each time.
> go see.
Phillipsfastener.com sells the original patented Phillips square drive
screws. Free shipping and they ship fast
--
sms
Tekkie®
And I know how to SNIP
>
Tekkie
Ed Pawlowski
> str...@aol.com posted for all of us...
>
> And I know how to SNIP
>
>>
>
>
You know how to snip yet you reposted the SPAM web address.
capt...@gmail.com
Not happy as I built one in Florida with galvanized nails ten years ago and only have to drive the heads flush occasionally.
gfre...@aol.com
>I agree, Deckmake star drive screws are not "guaranteed for life" as advertised or either their life is only a couple of years. I built a large deck around a pool three years ago and now boards are coming loose due to breaking screws and all are rusting. I could understand if in Florida around salt air but not in central Georgia.
>Not happy as I built one in Florida with galvanized nails ten years ago and only have to drive the heads flush occasionally.
notbob
> We made up with South Africa, get stainless and be done with it.
BTW, SS is not cheaper than it used to be. We are selling all our
scrap SS to China. Kills me to watch all those SS corny kegs going
to China. 8|
nb
gfre...@aol.com
>On 2016-05-10, gfre...@aol.com <gfre...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>> We made up with South Africa, get stainless and be done with it.
>
>WTF does S. Africa have to do with stainless?
>
to have white people oppressing South African miners so there was a
boycott but now that black people are doing it, everything is fine.
bsh...@gmail.com
> In theory, you'd think the star drive Deckmate screws would be a good
>
> Unfortunately, the quality of the Home Depot screws negates that
> theory.
>
> While building my shed over the weekend, I found that many of the
> screws had 1 of 2 issues:
>
> 1 - There was so much gunk on the tip of the screw that it would just
> spin and not bite into the wood.
> slam into the wood.
>
> etc.
>
> It slows down the job because you have to make sure the bit is seated
> each time.
>
> go see.
It's because Deck Mate went with a new design which is absolutely terrible. They were thought to cut down on the splitting of the wood when screwed into. Deck Mate needs to go back with the old design. It worked. Another thing is these screws are made in CHINA. We NEED to get away from them and make our own.
dragn...@yahoo.com
> In theory, you'd think the star drive Deckmate screws would be a good
> thing.
>
> Unfortunately, the quality of the Home Depot screws negates that
> theory.
>
> While building my shed over the weekend, I found that many of the
> screws had 1 of 2 issues:
>
> 1 - There was so much gunk on the tip of the screw that it would just
> spin and not bite into the wood.
> 2 - There was so much gunk in the star that the bit wouldn't seat
> properly, in many cases causing the drill to slip out of the hole and
> slam into the wood.
>
> The gunk in the hole is the worst of the problems. You'd get zipping
> along, setting a screw, driving it, setting a screw driving it,
> *think* you're setting a screw and -BAM- the bit slips out, the screw
> goes flying and the drill slams into the wood, you lose your balance,
> etc.
>
> It slows down the job because you have to make sure the bit is seated
> each time.
>
> I hear Lowes still has the Phillips-Square drive combo. I'll have to
> go see.
Bob F
aren't, deal with it.