I have about eight sheets to hang. Sixteen if I do all four walls. Then I doubt I'll ever hang another sheet of drywall in my life. Makes it hard to justify the cost of a dedicated drywall screwgun.

OTOH: I'd like it to go as smoothly as possible. (By not driving heads through the paper and not having to go back over them with a regular screw driver to sink 'em further.)

So do those drywall dimplers for regular drills/drivers work? And, if so, which works the best?

The one's I've picked up at a local lumberyard worked well. I would imagine they're all pretty much the same and pop into a 1/4" impact.

Yes, they work great. I have the DeWalt one, but haven't tried any of the others. So long as they are adjustable for depth, they will work fine.

I used mine for a full basement remodel; walls and ceiling. Worked fine.

Some of my guys like em, some of them don't.

(Real helpful, I know)

I've used them with great results YMMV. My dad manages to still drive the screw through the paper with one of those bits...lol

Smoothing our nails or screws is the easy part. Leveling tape joints is the skill work.

Thanks for the replies, guys! I'll give 'em a try.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
My dad manages to still drive the screw through the paper with one of those bits...lol

Trick seems to be to use a drill, rather than a driver. Preferably a drill with a clutch.

I'll experiment with a sacrificial piece.

I have one. Haven't used it since cordless drills got so nice. A cordless drill allows enough control that you don't punch through the paper.

Have you looked to see if there is a tool rental business near where you live.
Also check local pawn shops. They will sometimes have good deals on used tools.

The dry bits limit the depth Can’t go too deep. They have a hood around the tip that limits depth.

Near Toledo? You can borrow my drywall gun.

18Z50

One tip I’ll give as an amateur, get your drywall as even as possible by shimming. It will require less mud to cover, will dry faster due to less mud and makes it all easier.

quote:

Originally posted by 9mmnut:
The dry bits limit the depth Can’t go too deep. They have a hood around the tip that limits depth.

These will work for hanging a few sheets. They wear out rather quickly due to the way they cam out of the screw. A box of a dozen is around $7 or so. Just toss them and replace when they stop performing.

See here

I'm in Metamora if you want borrow my drywall screw gun.

Thanks for the additional comments, suggestions, and particularly for the offers to loan me a drywall screwgun!

I'll just go with a set of the dimplers. For the $5 for a package of four, it's the easiest, most economical way to go, really. Heck, driving even to only Dearborn would probably cost me that much in gasoline

mrvmax: Thanks for the hanging tip. I'll do that!

quote:

Originally posted by mrvmax:
One tip I’ll give as an amateur, get your drywall as even as possible by shimming. It will require less mud to cover, will dry faster due to less mud and makes it all easier.

Whoooo, boy - this in spades! If you can, hang the pieces touching the ceiling first. If you're going to do trim at the floor, you can hide some of the slop under the trim and nobody will ever be any the wiser.

quote:

Originally posted by ShneaSIG:

quote:

Originally posted by mrvmax:
One tip I’ll give as an amateur, get your drywall as even as possible by shimming. It will require less mud to cover, will dry faster due to less mud and makes it all easier.

Whoooo, boy - this in spades! If you can, hang the pieces touching the ceiling first. If you're going to do trim at the floor, you can hide some of the slop under the trim and nobody will ever be any the wiser.

They make this vinyl U-channel stuff specifically for keeping drywall off concrete floors. I expect that'll do the job nicely

Yes. they work.

Update: So I stopped by Home Depot (of course) and picked up a set of four DeWalt drywall dimpler bits for $5 & change, plus a 2x2 piece of drywall with which to experiment.

Yup: They work, and they work well

Yes.

Next.