Makita Autofeed Screwdriver - Update
The Medway Handyman
Regulars may recall the horrendous trouble I've had with a Makita 6844
autofeed screwdriver.
Its never actually got through a belt of 50 screws without jamming or
developing some other kind of fault - like screwing itself to a deck board
which took 15 mins to free off.
I bought it brand new from a seller on EBAY who was just a box shifter, not
a proper tool shop, somewhere in Poole. Mistake. Had I bought it from
Screwfix, Axminster, Lawsons etc I would have had easier redress.
It went back to Makita for repair, who promptly claimed I was using the
wrong collated screws. Screwfix confirmed that their collated screws were
perfectly suitable for the machine, so I was stuck in the middle.
To their credit Makita sent me 2 boxes of their own brand screws and a
square head drive bit to try.
The machine worked reasonably well on one decking job, but on the one after
that it played up again, jamming every third or fourth screw, inserting some
only half way, the guide head falling apart & finally screwing itself to a
deck board - twice. Nightmare.
Another e mail snottogram to Makita last night provoked a call from them at
9:00am this morning.
Guy from the service dept was highly apologetic & couldn't understand why
I'd had so much trouble, why a normally perfect machine should play up etc.
He suggested there wouldn't be much point in them exchanging it for a new
one - I agreed.
TBH I don't think he was fully confident in the reliability of the product
either.
After discussing my application - speeding up the fastening of deck boards -
he agreed to swap it for a brand new 14.4v impact driver with 2 x 3a/hr NiMH
batteries.
Great shame really, it would have been the answer to a maidens prayer had it
worked. I've progressed from drill drivers through impact drivers through
to an autofeed in an effort to speed up the job. Impact drivers are fast,
but not as fast as this beast would have been, had it worked.
So, what do I think of the Makita autofeed screwdriver? The one I had was a
pile of crap, caused me endless grief, cost me time & money.
What do I think of Makita? - an excellent honourable company fully prepared
to back up their products, do the decent thing and solve a customers
problem.
Anyone want a box of Makita collated screws?
--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
BigWallop
"The Medway Handyman" <davi...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:N_Q4m.52933$OO7....@text.news.virginmedia.com...
>
> Regulars may recall the horrendous trouble I've had with a Makita 6844
> autofeed screwdriver.
>
>
> So, what do I think of the Makita autofeed screwdriver? The one I had was
a
> pile of crap, caused me endless grief, cost me time & money.
>
> What do I think of Makita? - an excellent honourable company fully
prepared
> to back up their products, do the decent thing and solve a customers
> problem.
>
> Anyone want a box of Makita collated screws?
>
Have you tried one of these things
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axminster-Axminster-Drywall-Screw-Adaptors-22691.htm
? They hold the screw firm and let it go only when the head of the screw is
just below the surface of the material you're fixing. They're designed,
primarily for dry lining jobs, but mine has helped lay floorboards, hang
doors, fix ceiling boxes etc. etc. etc. Along with a few boxes of these
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/range/details/decking-screws-2/path/screws-fixings
your jobs a good un'.
Great little thing to have for the chuck, no matter what pozi-screws your
using.
John Rumm
The bits are indeed vey handy, but it is worth bearing in mind that
drywall screws are Philips head, and the bit is designed to match. They
don't engage in posi screws as well. Having said that some "decking"
screws are also Philips.
--
Cheers,
John.
/=================================================================\
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|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\=================================================================/
John Rumm
> So, what do I think of the Makita autofeed screwdriver? The one I had was a
> pile of crap, caused me endless grief, cost me time & money.
Shame really - sounds like it would have been handy. Are there similar
tools available from others you could try?
> What do I think of Makita? - an excellent honourable company fully prepared
> to back up their products, do the decent thing and solve a customers
> problem.
Indeed, been my experience as well.
A mate had a 14.4V combi that seemed to be getting very poor charge
retention from the three batts after only a year of moderate
(commercial) use. They suggested he send it back for them to test. They
found no explicit fault with the tool or charger, but replaced all
three batts FoC just to be sure. Given these were 2.6Ah NiMh packs that
represented a fairly significant value.
The Medway Handyman
> The Medway Handyman wrote:
>
>> So, what do I think of the Makita autofeed screwdriver? The one I
>> had was a pile of crap, caused me endless grief, cost me time &
>> money.
>
> Shame really - sounds like it would have been handy. Are there similar
> tools available from others you could try?
Great shame, if it had worked properly it would have taken hours off a big
decking job. The two market leaders are Makita & Senco AFAIKS. I went for
the Mak since most of my stuff is theirs & I like it all. Haven't got the
heart to try anything else after all the grief I've had.
>
>> What do I think of Makita? - an excellent honourable company fully
>> prepared to back up their products, do the decent thing and solve a
>> customers problem.
>
> Indeed, been my experience as well.
>
> A mate had a 14.4V combi that seemed to be getting very poor charge
> retention from the three batts after only a year of moderate
> (commercial) use. They suggested he send it back for them to test.
> They found no explicit fault with the tool or charger, but replaced
> all three batts FoC just to be sure. Given these were 2.6Ah NiMh
> packs that represented a fairly significant value.
Yup, good company to deal with, they really tried hard to sort it - maybe I
just had a duff one. The impact driver they offered is �100 more than the
autofeed.
The Medway Handyman
> "The Medway Handyman" <davi...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> wrote in
> message news:N_Q4m.52933$OO7....@text.news.virginmedia.com...
>>
>> Regulars may recall the horrendous trouble I've had with a Makita
>> 6844 autofeed screwdriver.
>>
> <<<snipped>>>
>>
>> So, what do I think of the Makita autofeed screwdriver? The one I
>> had was a pile of crap, caused me endless grief, cost me time &
>> money.
>>
>> What do I think of Makita? - an excellent honourable company fully
>> prepared to back up their products, do the decent thing and solve a
>> customers problem.
>>
>> Anyone want a box of Makita collated screws?
>>
>> Dave - The Medway Handyman
>> www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
>>
>
> Have you tried one of these things
> http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axminster-Axminster-Drywall-Screw-Adaptors-22691.htm
> ? They hold the screw firm and let it go only when the head of the
> screw is just below the surface of the material you're fixing.
I have got one & very useful as you say. Wonder if it would survive the
pounding an impact driver would give it?
> They're designed, primarily for dry lining jobs, but mine has helped
> lay floorboards, hang doors, fix ceiling boxes etc. etc. etc. Along
> with a few boxes of these
> http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/range/details/decking-screws-2/path/screws-fixings
> your jobs a good un'.
I've tried various brands & prefer the Screwfix ones.
--
The Medway Handyman
Also decking screws tend to be longer and start in a harder material. I
bought a box of B&Q decking screws once (distress purchase) which were
Phirrips. They included a bit in the box, but the 'cam out' was much worse
that with Pozi.
IIRC Phirrips were designed to cam out when used in the automotive industry?
--
John
>The impact driver ...........
All this talk of impact drivers got me thinking. What's the difference
between an impact driver and a cordless drill/driver or is it just different
terminology?
Cheers
John
RubberBiker
I'm shortly going to be doing a lot of plasterboard and had been
thinking of getting one (if I do, it'll be Screwfix for the easy
warranty support). As you say, the work it's doing is a good deal less
demanding (easier starts, and shorter screws), than your needs with
decking. I've seen the Mak autofeed shown off at trade shows - but
that was usually 18mm particle board into joists, so again probably a
little less demanding.
BTW - is there some reason you're averse to using a gas nailer
(Paslode etc) for fixing decking? They do stainless steel nails now
(not tried them), along with hard galvanised (use them a lot, very
good), and a variety of lengths and plain/ring nails. Soft noses help
on face work, and ammo can be changed quickly (though changing from
soft nose to regular one is slow).
I did all my floorboards, and virtually all my studwork with a Paslode
(apart from where the nailer is too big, or a few screws are needed
for a stiffer joint). There can be the occasional stoppages with them,
but in normal use that would be once in several hundred nails - and
particularly for flooring, it's *fast*.
dennis@home
"John" <jo...@idontlikespam.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Tf2dnUV-tOB47cnX...@bt.com...
They are different.
An impact driver uses a rotting hammer and anvil to deliver impacts to the
screw.
This allows it to deliver more torque than a similar sized drill/driver.
However some impact drivers don't offer much control so you can't drive
small screws (having said that I have used my Ryobi 18V impact driver on 4
mm screws).
>
> Cheers
>
> John
>
Dave Plowman (News)
John <jo...@idontlikespam.co.uk> wrote:
> All this talk of impact drivers got me thinking. What's the difference
> between an impact driver and a cordless drill/driver or is it just
> different terminology?
Think of a hammer drill. That basically hits the drill on the end as it
turns - vibrates it if you want. An impact driver does something similar
but in a rotary direction. Using kinetic energy to overcome friction.
--
*The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up *
Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
John Rumm
The Medway Handyman
> I've been reading your feedback on the Mak autofeed with interest, as
> I'm shortly going to be doing a lot of plasterboard and had been
> thinking of getting one (if I do, it'll be Screwfix for the easy
> warranty support). As you say, the work it's doing is a good deal less
> demanding (easier starts, and shorter screws), than your needs with
> decking. I've seen the Mak autofeed shown off at trade shows - but
> that was usually 18mm particle board into joists, so again probably a
> little less demanding.
>
> BTW - is there some reason you're averse to using a gas nailer
> (Paslode etc) for fixing decking? They do stainless steel nails now
> (not tried them), along with hard galvanised (use them a lot, very
> good), and a variety of lengths and plain/ring nails. Soft noses help
> on face work, and ammo can be changed quickly (though changing from
> soft nose to regular one is slow).
Several reasons. Cost was one, both for the nailer and the consumables.
Secondly I don't think nails are as strong a fix on joists as coach bolts
and they don't have the 'pull together' ability. Thirdly, my mate who owns
2 hire shops and has been in the game since God was a boy tells me they are
horrendously unreliable. He reckons they are the spawn of satan & he will
repair them, but not sell or hire them out. Lastly, you sometimes get a
joist or board in the wrong place & with screws/bolts they can be easily
realigned.
dmc
>between an impact driver and a cordless drill/driver or is it just different
>terminology?
http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/video/testing-cordless-impact-drivers.aspx
is a pretty good video to show how they work. I bought one recently to build
a deck - fantastic!
Darren
RubberBiker
I'd accept the unreliability as a hire tool - they're certainly a
beast that requires a little accustomisation to their quirks. But mine
will go several hundred nails without a jam. Cost of consumables (gas
and nails) works out about £35 per 1100 - so lets say about 3p each (a
bit less in larger quantities).
I'd agree about the non-reversability and lack of pull-together
though. You'd have to put in a few screws first, then go over doing
fixing at every point when you're ready. The speed of working is quite
something though.
The Medway Handyman
> I'd accept the unreliability as a hire tool - they're certainly a
> beast that requires a little accustomisation to their quirks. But mine
> will go several hundred nails without a jam. Cost of consumables (gas
> and nails) works out about �35 per 1100 - so lets say about 3p each (a
> bit less in larger quantities).
Sounds much more reliable than the autofeed I had :-) I tend to accept
Brians word for things like this, he knows his stuff, sensible bloke.
Collated decking screws from Screwfix were around �25 per 1000, the Makita
screws were a fair amount more. Not much difference overall I guess, but it
gave me another variable to think about, making sure I had enough gas.
>
> I'd agree about the non-reversability and lack of pull-together
> though. You'd have to put in a few screws first, then go over doing
> fixing at every point when you're ready. The speed of working is quite
> something though.
I use these for joining joists;
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/46700/Bolts/Turbo-Coach-Screws/Turbo-Coach-Screws-Zinc-Yellow-Passivated-M6-x-90mm-Pack-of-100
12v impact driver will put one in <4 seconds, no pilot at around �5 per 100,
and they will pull togetger a 6 x 2 joist easily.
I think thats the benifit of the impact driver with decking, equally at home
with coach screws for joists & decking screws.
I'd love to increase the speed, 2,000 screws are a PITA to put in manually,
the autofeed should have sorted it, but just didn't work, so its back to the
impact d
--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
rivers.
Bolted
> On 2009-07-07, The Medway Handyman <davidl...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > Anyone want a box of Makita collated screws?
>
> into order)?
>
> --
> http://hyperangry.blogspot.com/
> [email me, if you must, at huge {at} huge (dot) org <dot> uk]
No, he means collated.
If you do enough to justify the investment, I think you'd be better
off with Senco, Muro, BeA, or something like that. It's a bit of a
specialist tool, and while Mak are OK, they are a bit mass market for
a decking gun.
http://www.collatedfasteners.co.uk/duraspin-ds300ac-decking-tool-i97.html
RubberBiker
come in handypacks, 1100 nails plus a gas cartridge (which have always
IME slightly outlasted the nails in the pack).
Actually trade packs look rather better value:
auct...@sheldononline.co.uk
> I've been reading your feedback on the Mak autofeed with interest, as
> I'm shortly going to be doing a lot of plasterboard and had been
> thinking of getting one (if I do, it'll be Screwfix for the easy
> warranty support). As you say, the work it's doing is a good deal less
> demanding (easier starts, and shorter screws), than your needs with
> decking. I've seen the Mak autofeed shown off at trade shows - but
> that was usually 18mm particle board into joists, so again probably a
> little less demanding.
>
We use a Makita one for plasterboarding, and it's fantastic. Gradually
gums a bit with plaster dust so the nose gets slower to pop out, but
as long as you clean it every few thousand screw, it's fine.
We use the collated screws from leofixings -
http://leofixings.com/fixings-products_Screws_Collated+Drywall+Screws-21-209.html
They're the same as Toolstation sell, but cheaper.
A
The Medway Handyman
> On 2009-07-07, The Medway Handyman <davi...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
>> Anyone want a box of Makita collated screws?
>
> into order)?
I meant 'collated' as in
http://www.screwfix.com/search.do;jsessionid=FBLHXQA2JLPVYCSTHZOCFGA?_dyncharset=UTF-8&fh_search=collated+screws&searchbutton.x=11&searchbutton.y=9
The Medway Handyman
>
> We use a Makita one for plasterboarding, and it's fantastic. Gradually
> gums a bit with plaster dust so the nose gets slower to pop out, but
> as long as you clean it every few thousand screw, it's fine.
Reckon I just had a duff one.
>
> We use the collated screws from leofixings -
> http://leofixings.com/fixings-products_Screws_Collated+Drywall+Screws-21-209.html
> They're the same as Toolstation sell, but cheaper.
Makita specifically stated that the machine would only work with their
screws, they supplied some - and it still didn't.
The Medway Handyman
Looks like the kiddie, but a bit out of my price range, decking market has
slowed during the cwedit cwunch. Makita actually sell an extension handle
for their autofeeds, implying that its suitable for decking/flooring.
The Medway Handyman
> On 2009-07-09, The Medway Handyman <davi...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk>
> wrote:
>> Huge wrote:
>>> On 2009-07-07, The Medway Handyman
>>> <davi...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Anyone want a box of Makita collated screws?
>>>
>>> Do you mean "colleted" (having collets) rather than "collated"
>>> (sorted into order)?
>>
>> I meant 'collated' as in
>> http://www.screwfix.com/search.do;jsessionid=FBLHXQA2JLPVYCSTHZOCFGA?_dyncharset=UTF-8&fh_search=collated+screws&searchbutton.x=11&searchbutton.y=9
>
Always a pleasure, never a chore...
Grimly Curmudgeon
drugs began to take hold. I remember "The Medway Handyman"
<davi...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> saying something like:
>So, what do I think of the Makita autofeed screwdriver? The one I had was a
>pile of crap, caused me endless grief, cost me time & money.
And yet, when used on p/bd are faultless, at least the ones I've seen.
Methinks the decking was just too much for it, even if it nominally was
supposed to handle it.
The Medway Handyman
You might well be right. I deliberately bought the one with the largest
screw capacity (75mm) and used 65mm screws. I can't believe I had so much
trouble with a Makita product TBH.
Last deck I tried it on, my mate John took it away & hid it in his van. I
was about to batter it to death I was so cross.