Screw guns are an integral part of any drywall contractor's
arsenal. Over the years, I've tried many makes and models of
drywall guns, but I heard about Hilti's only recently. I'm
something of a tool fanatic, so when the folks at JLC asked me
to test some Hilti drywall guns, I was eager to do it.
A box of tools arrived last fall and I hung drywall with them
for about three months. The carton contained an SF4000 corded
screw gun, an SF4000A cordless screw gun with a charger, an
SF4000A BAP battery adapter, and two nickel metal hydride
(niMH) batteries. It also contained an SMI 55 Plus magazine
with an optional SME extension; the magazine fits both guns and
is used to drive collated fasteners.
Corded Screw Gun
I like the SF4000 corded screw gun. It's very light and
comfortable to use, with a two-finger trigger, rubber grips,
and a roomy hand opening. Cooling air enters through vents at
the rear of the tool and exhausts through the housing that
encloses the grip. This directs the air blast away from the tip
so you don't get hit with drywall dust when working near the
floor.
The SF4000 drywall gun can be used alone
(left) or with an optional SMI 55 Plus magazine for driving
collated screws (far left). The magazine, which also fits the
cordless model, snaps into place and installs without
tools.
A high-quality 15-foot rubber cord is standard, but the tool is
also available with a 50-foot cord. The longer cord is a smart
feature that eliminates the need to lift plugs when working up
high. Depth of drive is easy to adjust; you just turn the cone
on the nose of the gun. At 0 to 4,300 rpm, the SF4000 is faster
than average but not as fast as my favorite Makita, which does
6,000 rpm.
One thing I don't like about this tool is that the trigger lock
and forward reverse switch are hard for me to reach without
shifting my grip. This is aggravating, because there are times
when I need to run the screw gun with one hand and hold up the
board or hang on to the scaffolding with the other.
Cordless Screw Gun
Cordless drivers are popular in many trades, but they're not a
traditional drywall tool. The SF4000A is the first dedicated
cordless drywall gun I've used. Like the corded version, it has
a positive clutch that engages when pressure is applied to the
tip. The tool I tested came with a one-hour charger and
3.0-amp-hour niMH batteries. It's also available with less
expensive 2.0 amp-hour nickel cadmium (nicad) cells. According
to Hilti, the gun will drive 900 to 1,400 screws with a niMH
battery and 600 to 1,000 with a nicad. At 0 to 4,000 rpm, it's
on a par with most corded models but is still slower than I
would like.
The SF4000A has enough power to drive screws in both wood and
steel studs. Like the corded model, it's equipped with handy
scaffolding and belt hooks. The tool is quiet and has a
comfortable grip, but the trigger lock and forward/reverse
switch are as hard to reach as they are on the corded model.
Also, the weight of the battery makes this tool heavy and
poorly balanced, a real wrist-buster.
Battery adapter. The
battery-adapter accessory allows you to clip the battery to
your belt and connect it to the base of the tool with a coiled
wire. This reduces user fatigue by placing the weight on your
hip. Unfortunately, the cord gets hung up on things, and I
found this so annoying I could hardly bear to use it. What's
the point of going cordless if you have to use a cord?
Autofeed Attachment
Autofeed guns are the pneumatic nailers of the screw-fastening
world. With collated fasteners, people who aren't drywall pros
can drive screws as quickly as the guys who hang board every
day.
I'm equally proficient with loose and collated screws, but I
prefer autofeed guns. Anyone can be productive if there are
helpers to hold the board. But when you work alone, it's much
easier to use collated fasteners. I can grab the autofeed gun
off my belt and push in a few screws while holding the board
with my other hand. With a regular gun, I'd have one screw on
the drill and a couple more in my teeth.
The SF4000A (left) is shown here with a
3.0-amp-hour battery, but it's also available with less
expensive 2.0-amp-hour cells. An optional belt-worn battery
adapter (below) reduces the effective weight of the tool by
shifting some of the load to your waist.
Autofeed guns are also better for fastening drywall to
heavy-gauge steel studs. This application requires
self-drilling, self-tapping screws, which momentarily spin in
place before penetrating the stud. It takes a lot of force to
drive these screws, and a tiny pause can cause the tip to slip
off the screw and damage the board. With an autofeed model, I
can lock the trigger on and drive a full strip of 50 screws
without fear that the tip will slip.
The SMI 55 Plus autofeed attachment can be used with either
Hilti gun. The magazine drives 1-inch to 21/4-inch screws
— an acceptable range for single- or double-layer drywall
applications. The screws come 50 to a strip and are
interchangeable with the fasteners used in Grabber, Hitachi,
Makita, Milwaukee, PAM, and Senco guns. The fasteners are
attached to a floppy strip that is not compatible with
QuikDrive, which takes a more rigid strip of screws.
I like how simple it is to remove and install the magazine and
bit. With some models, it takes additional tools to perform
these operations. On the Hiltis, all it takes is a firm push or
pull.
Depth of drive is easily adjusted by turning a threaded sleeve
at the base of the magazine. I used this feature a lot: I like
to sink fasteners deeper at inside corners, since screws tend
to stick up when the gun isn't perpendicular to the board. This
ease of adjustment is a must-have feature; some other tools
require using a wrench to change the depth of drive with
collated fasteners.
Type of collation. There are
aspects of the Hilti attachment I don't like. Loading the
screws is awkward and time-consuming — although no more
so than with any floppy-collation model. To reload, you must
feed a new strip of screws through a pair of guides while
pulling a release lever on the nosepiece. In this regard, it's
easier to use a QuikDrive attachment, because you can load it
with one hand. That can save your bacon if you run out of
screws before the board you're holding is safely
fastened.
On the other hand, floppy collation folds back freely, so it
stays out of the way when you're fastening three-way inside
corners. With rigid strips, you need to cut off the spent
portion of the strip to get into those areas. This is such a
nuisance, it overshadows the advantage of being able to load
strips quickly.
I had trouble with the particular autofeed attachment I tested.
The strips had a tendency to jam and leave small remnants of
plastic (from the collation) under screw heads. Periodically, I
had to stop taping and remove these pieces. In terms of design,
I wish there were a convenient place to put my other hand: It's
nice to share the load when you're driving 2,000-plus screws
per shift.
Subfloor/ceiling extension.
The autofeed mechanism comes with an optional extension that
allows you to fasten subfloors and ceilings without bending,
climbing, or wearing stilts. The 2-foot extension works
smoothly, and I recommend purchasing it if you buy Hilti's
autofeed magazine.
Pricing
A plastic case is standard with either gun. The corded model
sells for $125. The cordless version comes with two batteries
and is $350 with the 2.0-amp-hour cells and $459 with the
3.0-amp-hour cells. A belt-worn adapter goes for $48, a
magazine for $112, and a floor and ceiling extension for
$80.
No one makes a perfect autofeed system, so, in spite of my
criticisms, I think the SMI 55 Plus has some possibilities. I
would consider buying one if the feed mechanism were more
reliable.
I also like the corded screw gun because it's so light and
comfortable to use. I'd buy one tomorrow if the trigger lock
and forward/reverse switch were slightly better placed.
Brent Smithis a drywall contractor and remodeler in
Rochester, Minn.
Old-School Steel.
Many pros have
switched to plastic toolboxes and totes, but some tool users
remain die-hard fans of steel. If you're having trouble finding
quality steel containers, consider Kennedy Manufacturing's
pro-duty classics. These steel boxes — with their
distinctive brown-crinkle paint — are legendary for their
durability and intelligent design. The K24 (top; $62) is a good
choice for smaller specialty tools, such as those used for
electrical and sheet-metal work. The super-sized K32X (bottom;
$79) securely stores even your largest hand tools; a handle on
the end makes it easy to pull out of the truck. Kennedy
Manufacturing, 800/413-8665,
www.kennedymfg.com
Versatile, Lightweight Storage
.
Whenever I have more weather-sensitive tools and equipment than
the cab of my pickup can accommodate, I toss Rubbermaid Action
Packers into the truck bed to handle the overflow. These
containers are weathertight and stackable, and allow you to
unload and reload everything in a hurry when you need to pick
up a few sheets of plywood or drywall on the way to the job
site. They come in several sizes; the 48-gallon case shown
costs $50. Rubbermaid, 888/895-2110,
www.rubbermaid.com
Magnetic Order.
Tired of rummaging
through your collection of boxes, buckets, bins, and bags to
find the right chisel, screwdriver, or wrench? Cool magnetic
organizers from Mechanic's Time Savers make it easy to find
whatever you need and easy to tell when something is missing.
The company says the high-tech magnets on its Magna-Panel
(below left) and Magna-Rail (below right) won't magnetize your
tools or damage sensitive electronic equipment. Prices start at
$20 for Magna-Rails and $35 for Magna-Panels. Also worth
checking out are sturdy magnetic organizers for hex-shaped
driver bits and sockets ($10 to $27) and for smaller air tools
($40). Mechanic's Time Savers, 800/824-1834,
www.mechanicstimesavers.com
Van Plan
. There are hundreds of
ways to outfit a work van; deciding on the best setup can be a
head-scratching proposition. To help contractors and
tradespeople design rack and storage systems for their vans,
truck-box giant WeatherGuard has introduced Vehicle Solutions.
This Web-based software helps match bins, drawers, racks, and
cabinets to your particular vehicle and style of contracting.
The program creates a 3-D view of your van's interior, so you
can see — and solve — any problems or inadequacies
before the components are bolted in. When your design is
complete, you can send it electronically to your local truck
outfitter for a quote. I tried out the software on my
well-equipped but imaginary Dodge Sprinter. It was fast, easy
to use, and, best of all, free. WeatherGuard,
800/456-7865, www.weatherguard.com/vs
SAFETY GEAR
Matching Sets.
If your safety
gear frequently vanishes into the same black hole that consumes
your nail sets, carpenter pencils, and socks, check out the
Safetypaq. This collection of personal-safety equipment comes
in a sturdy plastic case that can be mounted where you can
always find it — in the truck, in the job box, on the
shop wall. The kit contains two pairs of safety glasses, one
with clear lenses and one with tinted; a set of earplugs; and a
pair of "high-dexterity" work gloves. Storage pouches protect
the glasses and a small plastic receptacle keeps the earplugs
clean. Give a set to each of your crew members to show them
(and your insurance auditor) just how serious you are about
safety. At $30 apiece, they cost considerably less than a trip
to the ER. Dynapaq, 800/559-0491,
www.dynapaq.com
Fall Protection.
Often, it takes
only a few hours of confinement inside a fall-arrest harness
before users are eager to loosen the straps or even remove the
equipment altogether. That's the behavior that Miller Fall
Protection says it's aiming to combat with the Titan T-Flex
Harness. The new design's stretchable webbing provides a
greater range of motion and a more flexible, comfortable fit,
boosting the likelihood that the harness will stay on and do
what it's supposed to: prevent injuries. Prices start at about
$65. Miller Fall Protection, 800/873-5242,
www.bacou-dalloz.com
Sole Mate
. Working in Alaska
requires gear that can withstand the harshest weather, so when
I heard that Xtratuf Boots are favored by Alaskan fisherman and
construction workers, I took notice. These stompers' seamless
neoprene construction makes them more durable and comfortable
than most other wet-weather boots. And if their soles can
indeed grip the decks of icy fishing trawlers — as
Norcross claims — mucky residential construction sites
shouldn't be a problem. The boots are sold with or without
steel toes, in insulated and uninsulated versions. Only whole
sizes are available: If you normally wear a half size, order
the next size down. Prices start at about $75. Norcross Safety
Products, 800/777-9021, www.xtratufboots.com
Toe-tal Protection.
So, you don't
wear steel-toed boots because you think they're uncomfortable?
Imagine how a toe-crushing injury feels. Ever since a 600-pound
electrical transformer fell on my foot when I was working in a
steel mill some 10-plus years ago, I've been a big advocate of
steel toes. They probably prevented me from losing all of my
toes and part of my foot. And, in recent years, safety-toe
shoes and boots have really evolved: Now you can find them in
good-looking hiker and athletic styles that offer great comfort
and support. Good examples from Caterpillar Footwear include
(clockwise from top right) Denali ST ($100), Worksport Oxford
($65), and Diffuse ST ($85). The company offers women's styles
as well. Caterpillar Footwear, 800/545-2425,
www.catfootwear.com
Soften the Blow.
After running a
jumping-jack tamper around a footing trench one morning, I
couldn't feel my hands for an hour afterward — a
predicament the Series 3.0 ProFit Work Gloves might have
averted. The eye-catching gloves have padded palms for
minimizing the sting associated with such high-vibration
equipment as pneumatic nailers, power tampers, and demo
hammers. They also sport plastic ribs on the knuckles for
abrasion resistance and silicone finger pads that provide
surprisingly good dexterity. A pair sells for about $30.
Mechanix Wear, 800/222-4296,
www.mechanix.com
Sharp Eyes.
Protecting your eyes
when you wear prescription lenses can be a pain. Goggles over
your glasses offer protection, but they're uncomfortable and
fog constantly. Another possible solution is prescription
safety glasses, but most styles look like they came from back
during the Eisenhower administration. Personally, I like the
new N-Vision 5600 Series safety specs. These sharp-looking
glasses accept a prescription insert that mounts on the
nosepiece. They come in modern frame styles with clear, tinted,
or mirrored lenses. According to the manufacturer, they're
competitively priced; the prescription insert costs about $50.
North Safety Products, 888/422-3798,
www.northsafety.com