Autofeed VS Regular Screwgun

I timed myself on a couple of sheets to see just how much faster it is for me!!

[dennispope]

For a newbie like me, the auto feed collated gun is so nice. I was able to do a few rooms in my house without hassle. It’s easy to use and easy to use by myself.

[ImpulseAudioSpeakers]

Those strips look a lot shorter than the ones I use. Reloading slows you down a fair bit. I find the biggest advantage is hanging ceilings and keeping a hand free to hold the board. The extra length is a huge help too.

[josephtaylor]

I’ve been doing drywall for over 40 years. Like most drywaller‘s I’m really opinionated. This young guy is very knowledgeable and I like a lot of things he says. One thing that I want to say about collated versus single shooters, i’ve had a lot of guys hang for me was single shooters and every time I have a lot of screw pops. Over the years I’ve noticed with the collated you have to press harder which makes the drywall go tight to the stud. If you glue it’s not a problem. The glue is beneficial because it won’t distort the sheet rock as much.

[vincenzodavey]

Just picked up a SuperDrive N7 auto feed for my Dewalt screw gun. Bloody fantastic. The small nose piece lets you get into corners.

[denniston]

I used to know a contractor who would sit on his couch at night and reload screws in the auto-load strips. HAHA

[VC-Toronto]

I have the Ridgid cordless drywall kit (already have lots of Ridgid tools and batteries, so sticking with the brand made sense) and do like the autofeed gun. It's not perfect, but it's not being used 24/7. Biggest "complaint" is that it's very easy to switch the gun into reverse without realizing, and all of a sudden the screws won't screw in and you're trying to figure out why. I have a corded Milwaukee screwgun as a backup (had it first for years), but it doesn't come out to play much these days, unless I have someone helping me, and they use it. The other main benefit I like about cordless (of any brand) is not having to drag round the cord and tripping over it while moving about. I do wish there was a better way of carrying the loaded strips without them flopping out of the pouch that wasn't designed for them.

[Lou-ifth]

I'm not sure if you're going to read this but my head just exploded cause I notice that your the same guy from the skate tutorials. So cool you also do carpentry, I just bought my self my 1st set of makita tools
And hopefully find a job in carpentery too! Cheers from South LA cali

[jimmclean]

The great thing about auto-feeds is not getting those nasty little steel slivers in your fingers !

[GustavEindrich]

Auto feed seems popular in Canadian winter especially installing exterior drywall. Less handling screws with gloves.

[Maxrebow]

I use both on my crew. Have found that not being able to back a screw out (after missing a stud) with the auto feed gets frustrating. And also when gun jams and have to stop. Still haven't decided yet Old School or New School.

[gregmaffei]

I'm a drywaller that uses the autofeed hilti for 4 years now, took a little while to get used to, but wouldn't go without it now. My fingers love me for it. The corners get easier after time.

[jamin]

Collated screw guns shine when doing ceiling work, or having less experienced workers who fumble too much with loading a screw. You always get the screws in at perfect depth. As for not getting in the corners with the autofeed type, if you do your own framing, you can offset your corner studs by 1/2" and you don't have an issue anymore. Definitely a tool for general contractors who do multiple stages of a job vs those who specialize in hanging drywall all day

[bstrickler]

I run an M12 impact, and drywall screw setter for the drywall stuff at home. Definitely would love to get a drywall screw gun, though!

[encellon]

As a homeowner/installer, being in a hurry is not my problem -- in fact, being in hurry is the least of my problems. Patience and a lightweight tool work best for me. If the tool is somewhat semiautomatic - all the better.

[dhammer]

For me its all about the weight. Its it lighter and reasonably just as quick I'm all for it. Especially on the ceiling.

[clydenakashima]

Have you tried an air shim to lift the sheet in place . Keep up the good work.

[whiskeycreek]

I usually go solo, so autofeed for me.

[adamfasig]

I just put up Sheetrock in my kitchen. I bought a corded Ridgid collated screw gun. It worked ok but didn’t really speed me up much. I noticed the benefit was it’s a little faster and it forces you to drive the screw straight. I had quite a few misses where the screw wasn’t straight and it only went halfway in. And if the drywall wasn’t flat on the studs like when you are cutting around outlets it would over drive and mess up. I went back to single driving screws with my little M12 drill and once the sheet was secured I could finish it off the Ridgid. On the ceiling since the sheet is never real tight to the joist I had missed all over. I had half the screws set before it would be tight enough to use the Ridgid. All in all it wasn’t much help.

[brianallen]

I have the cordless makita drywall gun and the collated attachment. They both have a place in the arsenal. I use the screwgun to get into tight corners and to tack the sheets up. Then slap on the the collated attachment to screw it all home. I'll keep my cordless drill handy with a Philips bit for the odds and ends.

[jameslastname]

Seems autofeed would be great tacking in place a sheet when hanging solo. Especially when balancing ceiling sheets without a lift.