My Favorite Hand Tool

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RonEggers

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Here are some of the many uses I've found (obvious and not-so-obvious) for the Black and Decker power drivers. I prefer the ones that use the Versa Pack interchangable battery packs. You can keep an extra battery charged up and ready and, when the battery finally dies, you can replace the battery instead of the whole driver.

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  • <LI>Drill bits in various sizes for starting screw eyes and wood screws.
    <LI>Screwdriver bits in various sizes and types for, well, driving screws
    <LI>Nut drivers for inserting and removing screw eyes. I use 5 sizes and store them in the little part bins with the five sizes of screw eyes I use most frequently.
    <LI>Drill collet can accept, among other things, brads with the heads cut off for drilling holes in hardwood frames that need to be nailed. This is much less clumsy than using even a small power drill.

All these accessories are available from nearly any hardware store or building/home center. The drivers and accessories are cheap enough that I keep several located throughout the shop along with extra batteries.
 
Hi Ron!

What is the voltage on that puppy? I had one of the original B&D drivers which was 2.4 volts (non interchangeable battery) and couldn't drive a screw into a stick of melted butter.

Also, what kind of nutdrivers do you use?
Would a gator-grip work? I have a Makita 6v drill that gets rare use at home since I upgraded to a 9.6 Mastercraft drill. You have given me an idea. Thanks.

Framar
 
Hey, it's Tool-Time with Framar and Ron! I think I'll be Tim and you can be Al. All my plaid shirts are at the cleaners.

The B&D drivers I use are 3.6v and seem to have plenty of umph. The VersaPak batteries are very handy, though I wouldn't drill masonry with 'em.

The nut drivers are just some 5-pack I picked up, probably at Home Depot or some place like that. They happen to match up well with screw eye sizes. Driving screw eyes is my favorite application for this tool. Just takes a little trial and error to get the sizes. I don't have them in front of me, but if I see anything more significant when I get to the shop, I'll let you know.

I'm sorry, I have no idea what a gator-grip is. Help me out here, Framar. We have few gators in Wisconsin (unlike Buffalo.)

Ron

[This message has been edited by RonEggers (edited August 28, 2001).]
 
Framar,
Don't know if this is what you were looking for but I use:
7/16" nutdriver with 210 1/2 screw eyes
11/32" with 212 1/2
5/16" with 213 1/2
9/32" with 214 1/2
1/4" with 215 1/2

Maybe everybody already does this, but I thought I was pretty darn smart when I thought of it (pre-Grumble days.)

Ron
 
Ron ,I've made this suggestion before only useing a variable speed drill. Insert an Allen wrench in the chuck and use it to drive screw eyes home once you have started them.Do this by inserting the short end of the Allen in the eye opening and turn the driver on. Works great.
BUDDY
 
Tim, er, Ron, a Gatorgrip is a multi-use nutdriver that I bought off the TV. It has movable pins that are SUPPOSED to grip any number of nuts, eyes, etc. I have never found it very helpful, but in the application you described, I think it would be perfect.

Buddy, Great idea! Thanks! Al, I mean,
Framar.
 
I was at Sam's Club yesterday and noticed they are selling that screwdriver (I think the same brand), a cordless drill and a dustbuster. It all comes with a charger and two batteries for about $46. What do you think of that deal?

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Al E
 
I think that sounds like a fine deal if you need a dustbuster and a cordless drill. Otherwise, the driver alone might be about $25. Get an extra battery right away, too. The gold ones hold more charge than the silver, but cost more too. (Ain't that just always the way it works?) I've never had much luck with Dustbusters and in cordless drills, I like something more like 18v so I can drill masonry with it.

(Hey, I'm starting to feel a little like Tim Allen.)
 
Hey guys there is a bit designed to drive screw eyes. It has the standard hex on one end that fits in your driver/drill and the other end has a deep slot that accepts screw eyes. The tool was originally made for people that install suspended ceilings. You can find the bits at a good hardware store or a building supply center. See you at the show.

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Bob Shirk CPF
Blue Mountain Gallery
Shippensburg PA
 
Hey fellas , am I a bit different or what but I'm afraid we have never used screw eyes -have always used D.rings - are we a little backward in Aus -- Alan

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Old age comes to everyone - Immaturity can last forever
 
Screw eyes are a definite no-no in my shop.
They are not very strong, they protrude too far and they cause damage to any other frame behind them when stored.
Dee rings are about 40 squillion times stronger and do not protrude.
Do yourself and your customers a favour and use dee rings and screws instead of screw eyes.
 
The B&D power drivers also work very well for attaching D-rings. Okay, you Ausies happy now?
tongue.gif


Depending on the size, weight, moulding width I use screw eyes, D-rings, "Flangers" or Wall Buddies. Even been known to use a saw-tooth hanger on occassion if the frame is under 8x10.
 
I NEVER use sawtooth hangers. The wall hook showing above the frame looks so tacky!! And, it puts all the stress on that top side alone.

I like the idea of the D-rings being superior to the screw-eyes. I'll just have to go out and get a handy-dandy B&D power driver like Ron's, so the D-ring screws won't give me so much trouble.

Thanks for the hints! You never know how the smallest idea can be a big idea to an observer.

Linda
 
Does anyone use those corner metal plates that are supposed to make installation a snap with no wire or hooks??

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Timberwoman
AL
I cut the mat, I pet the =^..^= cat.
 
FACT have a publication on picture framing hanging Number FRM-399 (under the standards heading) it may be of interest.

You find them at, www.artfacts.org

Dermot
 
Have just ckecked out the FACTS criteria on hanging framing - Have never had a screw pull out and never ever had a wire break or a frame split - must come from being a builder in a previous life , have a tendency to over engineer everything - regards -Alan

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Old age comes to everyone - Immaturity can last forever
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ArtLady:
Does anyone use those corner metal plates that are supposed to make installation a snap with no wire or hooks?? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I believe you're talking about Wall Buddies.I've used them for years, both on heavier pieces and on very horizontal pieces. They make leveling very easy and they keep the pictures level. I'll provide more details if you like.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by LBFOOTE:
I NEVER use sawtooth hangers. The wall hook showing above the frame looks so tacky!! And, it puts all the stress on that top side alone.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Generally. I'd agree, Linda. But I'm talking about smaller than 8x10; not a lot of stress with that size and I'd use just the steel nail that comes with the hook, not the hook itself.



[This message has been edited by RonEggers (edited September 10, 2001).]
 
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