What Is a Screw Gun?
A screw gun is a tool that automatically inserts and tightens screws, sometimes called a turbo driver. Screw guns are used for attaching boards to wood or thin steel substrates, such as floors, walls, and ceilings.
Screw guns are powered by compressed air. A dedicated air compressor is provided and connected separately from the screw gun.
Screw guns use coiled sheet screws called roll screws, coil screws, and plastic sheet screws. When attaching plasterboard for the interior of a house, use screws that comply with the local standards.
How to Use Screw Guns
When using screw guns, first connect an air hose that sends compressed air from an air compressor.
Next, load a roll screw with the shaft diameter and length specified by the screw guns.
For one-shot screwing, press the screw gun’s ejection port against the desired location and pull the trigger to drive in a single screw. When the screw is completely tightened and the motor stops rotating, remove your finger from the trigger.
For continuous screwing, press the ejector against the desired screwing location while pulling the trigger, and one screw will be driven in. Continue pushing until the motor stops. When the motor stops, move to the next point with the trigger still pulled and perform the screwing operation continuously.
How to Select Screw Guns
There are two types of screw guns: high-pressure screw guns and atmospheric-pressure screw guns.
High-pressure machines use an air pressure of about 1.2 to 2.3 MPa, while normal-pressure machines use an air pressure of about 0.39 to 0.83 MPa. Air compressors connected to screw guns are also available for both high-pressure and normal-pressure use. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare both for high-pressure and normal-pressure use in a unified manner.
High-pressure screw guns are powerful and can perform stable screwing and tightening operations. Some long screws can only be driven in with the high-pressure type.
Although atmospheric pressure screw guns are less powerful, they are suitable for long-time use because they consume less air.
Due to these characteristics, high-pressure machines are generally considered to be for professional use, while normal-pressure machines are for DIY use.
Screw lengths used with screw guns include short sizes (1″ to 1-1/4″), standard sizes (1″ to 1.6″), and long sizes (1.1″ to 2″). The type of screw gun determines the length of screws that can be used. Therefore, the screw guns should be selected according to the screws to be used. In particular, for residential plasterboard application work that requires standard screws, it is necessary to choose screw guns that are compatible with the standard.