Driver Head Slippage

[Joe L]

I am having some issues with slippage when driving in my pocket screws.  I have used two different drills, with the same results.  I feel like I am putting enough pressure as well.  I end up using a ratchet screw driver to screw the screws.  Any thoughts?

[Jay Boutwell]

Hi Joe, slipping bits in screws can be due to a couple major causes.  Providing that you are using enough downward pressure and that you are exerting the pressure straight down into the driver bit then the cause may be due to a rapid start on the screw with the drill starting with a sudden burst of power,  This will cause the "cam out" of the bit from the screw.  Another cause may be due to the actual bit it's self of which it is worn on the square portion of bit.  Another cause in a bit is one of which has the very tip of the bit being too long causing the bit to have a shallow grip on the sides of the screw's square drive sides.  To fix this I have often taken a grinder and ground off a slight amount of the tip thus allowing the bit sit further into the screw. 

When doing this take a close look at the fit of the bit into the screw as I have found some bits to be smaller than they should be.  Even though they are designated to be a number 2, which you should be using,  They do not always fit well with the screw.  This can be the same with the screws as they are not always an exact #2 square drive either.  This is often found in inferior screws such as those often found in discount places.  That is usually the case as to why they are there in the first place.

Providing that you have a good fitting driver bit and name brand screws and using a slow start up of the drill driver  you should have no problem driving screws into the hardest of woods.  I drive them all day long into the hardest of woods such as hickory, oak and several others as well,  in my cabinet work and have limited problems with this operation.  I do however change out the driver bits often when I start having any issue with slipping (cam out).  I use hardened bits such as Kreg sells and use kreg screws to insure that I have no problems.  The best drivers as the ones that a slow even trigger start up and one that has enough power to drive the screws.  Remember to use a fine thread screw in the hard woods and course screws in soft wood  including plywoods .  A wrong screw thread in hardwood, such as course thread, will cause hard driving and sometime lead to a drill bit cam out and or insufficient power to drive the screw and ofter will lead to a cam out of the bit in the screw head.

[Joe L]

Thanks for all that information, I am using Kreg Screws and the Kreg bit that came in my Kit. I am only on my second project with it, and didn't seem to have much problem until today, so maybe It has worn down some, I also will try starting a little slower. 

[KregRep]

Hi Joe. Jay had some great advice. If you continue to have issues with the bit, contact our Customer Service department. If the bit is defective, we'll certainly replace it for you. You can reach them by phone at 800-447-8638, or contact them online here.

KregRep

[Tom Mahaffey]

Joe:

Good tips here.  Another is to drive the screws in spurts as opposed to trying to seat them with one constant pressure.  Good luck.

[Ken Darga]

It's important to keep the driver tip/shank in the same plane as the screw shank, 

when driving any screws.

[Cheryl Coleman]

Great tips, because I have the exact same problem when driving the screws in the driver head would constantly slip marring my wood.  I'm pretty sure my culprit is starting everything too fast instead of spurts.

[steve kidd]

This is just my preference but I like to use my impact driver to set screws. For me I have better control of depth of screw. However I have a lot of experience with both my impact driver and kreg screws so this may not work for your application.

[Jay Boutwell]

Hi Steve sure was good to see you back on the site after all this time.  I for one missed you as you were so good at helping the ones who wanted help and your experience on here has been missed.    Most that are now on here do not know how good it was back two or three years ago when every member  contributed to  everyone else and how good the projects were that were created due to this. 

I read your post and I agree as sometimes I use an impact and also use an air driver.  It is especially useful when driving a  couple hundred in a couple hours.   I Seen a notice today where there is plans on removing repetitive information, what ever that is. I guess it means that no one even bothers to read anything anyone writes if it is not in the immediate reach but there some who requests the same information time after time and requires someone to write the same thing over and over.    It also indicated that a survey indicated that most just  liked to look at photos so this indicated to me that that this should become a picture book site.

I guess if you look at a photo then you know everything about it and don't need to know how and why it was built that way.  I keep hoping that the old crew will return and make this a learning site again and one where everyone would help each other.  If not then why am I spending my time here?  I am sure looking forward to the new streamlined site.  Come back and watch it with me.
 
steve kidd said:

This is just my preference but I like to use my impact driver to set screws. For me I have better control of depth of screw. However I have a lot of experience with both my impact driver and kreg screws so this may not work for your application.

[PJ]

Although I kind of figured it out for myself. It's good to hear this from experience person to reassure myself.

Thanks for the tip.

Jay Boutwell said:

Hi Joe, slipping bits in screws can be due to a couple major causes...

[Ken Prout]

I agree with Steve, an impact driver is just what I use mostly with the exception of an occasional hand held ratcheting screwdriver.  

steve kidd said:

This is just my preference but I like to use my impact driver to set screws. For me I have better control of depth of screw. However I have a lot of experience with both my impact driver and kreg screws so this may not work for your application.

[Tom Mahaffey]

Sometimes a non seasoned wood worker using an impact driver over a power drill to set screws may strip the screws in the pocket holes due to the power of the impact driver.  If you are new to woodworking, you may want to stay with a drill driver until you are comfortable with getting the screws to set correctly.  I too use my impact driver to set screws but I'm comfortable on the pressure to use, etc.