How to stop tops of screws being ruined?

[blackcloud]

Hello all

I am hoping someone can help?
I am having trouble with whenever I put screws into wood using an electric drill the top of the screw ends up becoming a circle and its impossible to screw it any futher into the wood or even take out and ends up still 1/4 of a way from being full into the wood? How can I prevent this?
Also how can I then remove a screw from the wood that this has happened too?

 

[foxhole]

Do you mean a cordless drill/driver?
This happens if you use the wrong type or size screwdriver bit or fail to apply enough pressure or to keep the bit inline or use the wrong size screw for the job.
Or use too high a speed or fail to use a pilot hole where required.

 

[blackcloud]

Yes a cordless drill/driver, but its too hard to use just a regular screwdriver though.

 

[terryplumb]

as well as the good advice foxhole Gave above ,your cordless should have a "clutch " or torque setting ,so you can control in increments ,how much torque is applied to the screw.

 

[blackcloud]

Thanks, its a Black & Decker Epc12Ca 12V Drill Driver EPC12CA-GB
How do I know the correct screwdriver bit for the correct screw as they all look similar. Do screws have a certain number that pertains to a certain drill bit?

 

[flameport]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_screw_drives
Pozidriv are the most common for construction type screws, #2 being the most common size.

With any screw and bit, the two should fit together perfectly - if it's possible to move one relative to the other even by a tiny amount, you have the wrong size, wrong type or both.

You also need quality driver bits such as https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p20982
Those supplied with the tool are likely to be total crap - as are those sold in large bags of 10/100, mixed sets of sizes no one ever uses, and never buy anything with the word 'Silverline' on it either.

Bits wear out and need to be replaced as worn bits will destroy screws just as easily as the wrong type.

While it's possible to drive screws directly into softwood, for anything else a pilot hole should be drilled first.

The screws need to be decent as well - if the screws were supplied with some other item like a cabinet, blind or whatever, throw them away.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Pilot hole and countersink.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/trend-sna...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CLqk8_7d4NQCFY8g0wodIL4NNQ

Andy

 

[durhamplumber]

hammer them in

 

[Chud]

Going for basics here on top of what others have said re using the :
1) Is your driver bit worn - bits should be regarded as consumables, I've always had good performance from Bosch or Wera bits. The bits supplied with the drill are probably not the best.
2) Is it the right bit for the screw? See https://www.wonkeedonkeetools.co.uk...ng-the-correct-screwdriver-bit-for-the-screw/
3) Is it a decent quality screw - this makes quite a difference as a lot of cheap screws have poorly formed recesses for the driver bit - try some decent ones like TurboGold from screwfix.

 

[Chud]

Additional to the above if you've got the right bit for the screw it should feel locked into the screw recess if you try and wiggle it from side to side.