running a screw backwards instead of predrilling?

[TheUnicorn]

stumbled across this technique on youtube, haven't tried it, I'll give it a go when I get the chance, just wondering if anyone does this?

 

[MARK.B.]

Interesting never tried it but i would rather pre drill than take a 50-50 chance on it not splitting.

 

[TheUnicorn]

I agree, I'd rather predrill, especially on an edge, but this seemed like at a pinch it might be a functional bodge. I stumbled across it when watching a video by the first youtuber above building a firewood store, he did the whole thing, maybe 100 screws, just with the impact driver, and this technique of 'burnishing' the screw holes. Not convinced its a real alternative to predrilling, just seemed interesting. more succesful with a torx head than a pozi I imagine

 

[Thingybob]

By gad sir is nothing sacred I was always taught to pre drill nothing looks worse than the countersunk screw pulling the surrounding wood down then again I usually counter bore and plug if it's for the house old habits eh

 

[Jameshow]

I like turbo screws with the drill tip to the screw. Indeed I often have a few to use as drills before driving in cheaper screws.

 

[thetyreman]

ridiculous, just spend 2 more seconds pre-drilling

 

[Thingybob]

Might be a quirkiness but I have always looked at the grain in wood and it's blemishes and treat it with respect it's probably been around longer than me and the smell of new wood we'll need I say more

 

[Matty]

Interesting but I would still feel more confident pre drilling. Will give it a go on some scrap bits though!

 

[TRITON]

OK, so just for softwood(according to vid)
But screws like turbo gold or spax(and probably most others) have a built in bit that 'pre-drills' so pretty pointless i reckon.

 

[thetyreman]

just get 2 drills, one set to pre-drill, the other set to screw, saves so much time.

 

[Alex H]

Are you not predrilling the hole by using the screw in reverse?

 

[TheUnicorn]

Are you not predrilling the hole by using the screw in reverse?

got the impression that running it backwards built up friction and therefore heat, and then running it forwards burnt a path for the screw.

I'm still going to be grabbing my drill most of the time, but I think I'll give this ago, just for those times when you have an impact in your hand and your drill is somewhere else

 

[Stuart Moffat]

just get 2 drills, one set to pre-drill, the other set to screw, saves so much time.

I often have a third drill to hand with a countersink bit in…

 

[Thingybob]

Are you not predrilling the hole by using the screw in reverse?

No you are pulling the hole out of the wood

 

[TRITON]

just get 2 drills, one set to pre-drill, the other set to screw, saves so much time.

You forgot the drill for the countersink

Edit: I see someone else mentioned that.

 

[Stevekane]

Perhaps it works because forcing screw in when its trying to climb out pre drills by clearing away the wood??

 

[Spectric]

That guy is the type who would have hammered screws in before we had the cordless drivers rather than use a manual driver.

 

[TheUnicorn]

That guy is the type who would have hammered screws in before we had the cordless drivers rather than use a manual driver.

are we not supposed to hammer screws? now you tell me.

 

[Sgian Dubh]

are we not supposed to hammer screws? now you tell me.

Yes, you are. The slotted, Pozi, Philips, etc heads are for removing them when you've banged them into the wrong place. I assumed everybody knew that ffs. Slainte.

 

[throbscottle]

That's bonkers!
(And on the hammering note, a good whack or so to start off (if not drilling) works pretty well. No wandering pilot holes)