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Screw Gun Vs. Drill: Which is Better?%%sep%% %%sitename%%

Updated
Use a screw gun for speed or a drill to save money.

A power drill is considered an essential part of a modern tool collection. They are versatile, reliable, and easy to use. The same can’t be said of screw guns, which are tools designed specifically to quickly and easily insert screws to a set depth.

Drills can also be used as effective electric screwdrivers with the right attachments. This might leave you wondering why you would need a screw gun at all, but they do have advantages that a drill lacks.

In this article, we will take a closer look at screw guns and power drills and why you might want to choose versatility or specialism. This should help you choose a winner in the screw gun vs drill debate.

Key Takeaways

  • Screw guns are specialized tools for inserting screws, ideal for drywall installation, while drills are versatile tools for drilling holes and driving screws.
  • Drills can be used as screw guns with a dimpler attachment, but they are slower and less precise than actual screw guns.
  • Screw guns have an automatic screw-loading feature, whereas drills require manual loading of each screw.
  • Both tools have their advantages, but for occasional screw insertion, a drill with a dimpler attachment may be more cost-effective than a screw gun.


Screw Guns vs Drills Comparison Chart

Screw Gun Drill
Purpose Fixing drywall and other light tasks Drills most surfaces and materials
Features Nose
Clutch
Depth setting
Auto-feed
Screw reel
Variable speed
Interchangeable drill bits
Switch between hammer and drill
Self-locking chuck
Auxiliary handle
Functions Depth accuracy of screws
Speed
Control
No manual reload
Acts as a screwdriver
Can convert to fix drywall
Hammer drill for stubborn materials
Auxiliary handle increases control
Makes any size hole

What is a Screw Gun?

Screw Gun
Photo by: Dewalt

A screw gun is a specialist tool with limited uses. It looks like a drill and feels similar to use, but a screw gun has less torque than a drill to prevent screws from going too deep. This also makes them less versatile than drills.

Although they lack versatility, screw guns excel at driving screws. They allow you to set the depth you want the screw to go, which is particularly important when fitting drywall.

As drywall is relatively soft, there is always a risk of the head of a screw penetrating the surface and damaging it. This might not seem like a major problem but it will make it harder to achieve a smooth finish later.

Pick Up The Pace

If you need to fit a lot of drywall, a screw gun is an ideal solution because it will enable you to fit thousands of screws in a few hours.

Screw guns are far quicker thanks to innovations such as the screw reel, which loads a new screw automatically each time you use one, so you won’t have to do this manually.

Despite their advantages, their lack of versatility means screw guns are quite expensive for a single-use tool. If you only need to fit screws occasionally for small DIY tasks, a power drill with a screwdriver attachment should suffice. This makes them more popular with professionals than DIY enthusiasts.

How Does a Screw Gun Work?

A screw gun has three main components: a motor, a clutch, and a nose. The screws are housed in a clip, similar to that of a nail gun, and are fed through an auto-feed to ensure they don’t cause a blockage.

You will first need to set how deep you want the screw to go and then gently press the nose against the drywall. This engages the clutch, which activates the 3,500 RPM motor.

The screw will rotate and feed into the wall to the desired depth. Once that depth is reached, the clutch will disengage, stopping the motor.

What is a Screw Gun Used For?

Due to how quickly they can insert numerous screws, screw guns are used primarily for fixing drywall. They can also be used for some other tasks, such as fitting wooden decking and floorboards, but their low torque motors limit their versatility.

Pros

  • Inserts thousands of screws quickly
  • No need to reload after each screw
  • Can set the screw depth
  • The clutch engages from the nose
  • Perfect for drywall

Cons

  • Limited versatility
  • Low torque motor
  • Specialist tool
  • Expensive for a single-purpose tool

What is a Drill?

Drill
Photo by: Dewalt

A drill is a handheld power tool that uses a rotating tip or reciprocating hammer to make holes. Their versatility stems from their interchangeable drill bits, which are available in various shapes and sizes for different purposes.

Drills are the ultimate multi-purpose tool. However, although they can perform various tasks well, they won’t always excel in the way that a specialist tool such as a screw gun will. Drills make a decent substitute for a screw gun, but an actual screw gun will be faster, more precise, and provide a smoother finish when fixing drywall.

If you hire a professional contractor to install drywall, they will almost always use a screw gun rather than a drill.

There are two mains types of drills:

Drill/Drivers

These drills are used for drilling holes and driving screws into wood, plastic, and metal. They are versatile tools intended for lighter workloads and aren’t suitable for heavy-duty work.

Hammer Drill

Hammer drills can do everything a drill does, but they also have a hammer setting designed to rapidly push the drill bit in and out for drilling into concrete, rocks, stone, and masonry.

How Does a Drill work?

You first need to insert a drill bit into the chuck and ensure it is secure. When you press the trigger, you will engage the motor. The motor spins the drill bit, which creates a hole or, if you use the right bit, turns a screw.

Choose The Right Drill

Some drills have variable speed settings that allow you to choose the RPM that the bit spins. This will help it drill into harder materials.

What is a Drill Used For?

Drills are versatile tools. A strong enough drill will make holes in almost every material, including metal, rock, concrete, and wood. You can also use a drill as a driver to insert screws.

You can convert your drill into a screw gun by attaching a dimpler to the chuck. This prevents a screw from going too deep into your drywall. However, unlike a screw gun, you will need to judge when to stop the motor before you damage the drywall.

Another major disadvantage of using a drill to fit drywall is that every screw must be placed on the drill bit manually. This slows the process significantly, compared to the automatic loading of a screw gun.

Pros

  • Versatile
  • Powerful
  • Multi-use tool
  • Bits for flathead and Phillips screws
  • Better value for money than screw guns

Cons

  • Screws loaded manually
  • Takes longer to fit drywall
  • Jack-of-all-trades tool
  • Less precise than a screw gun

FAQs

Are Screw Guns Worth It?

Screw guns do offer several benefits compared to manual screwdrivers. First, they require significantly less effort, allowing even small hands to comfortably drive screws into place.

Because they are essential power tools, they can easily drill holes and fasten larger screws that would otherwise be difficult or impossible with a traditional screwdriver.

And third, they often offer additional features such as magnetic tips and interchangeable heads, making them even more versatile than standard screwdrivers.

Can You Use a Screw Gun for Framing?

Instead of using a screw gun for framing, you might be better off with a nail gun. When attaching structural components, such as framing walls, nails are frequently used instead of screws because of their greater flexibility under load, whereas screws can easily break.

Do You Need an Impact Drill for Drywall?

It’s best to avoid using an impact drill for drywall because it can pierce through the paper layer and damage it. While this tool can make the job easier, it is important to remember that this type of drill can also cause damage if used improperly.

For one thing, impact drills are designed to work with fast-moving bits, which are not ideal for this type of material. Additionally, the rapid reverse motion used in an impact drill can actually break the thin pieces of drywall and weaken them over time.

Avoiding using an impact drill when working with drywall is best to protect your walls and ensure a strong result. Instead, try simpler hand tools or specialized wall anchors that provide extra support while still allowing you to control the speed of the drilling process.

What is the Best Cordless Screw Gun?

If you want the best cordless screw gun, the DEWALT battery-powered DCF680N2 is one to look at. It’s got a rechargeable battery that can be removed (two are included) and charges in about an hour.

This screw gun is great if you want a cordless screwdriver for your project. It has a speed that goes up to 430 rpm and even has a torque range that goes up to 40. It doesn’t get better than that.

Which Drill is Best for Home Use?

For home use, you want a compact and easy-to-use drill that is both lightweight and decently priced. The DeWalt DCD701F2 checks off all those boxes and plenty of others.

Whether you want to install a new lighting fixture or that IKEA nightstand you ordered last week, this little tool provides enough torque.

It comes with two batteries, and the LED light makes it easy to work in areas with poor lighting. The brushless motor gives a long-term performance, and the cordless design makes it super easy to use without tripping over cables.


Picking the Right Tool

Screw guns are valuable tools for professional contractors, allowing them to insert hundreds or even thousands of screws very quickly and with minimal effort. This makes them the perfect choice for fitting drywall, especially as they can insert screws to a specific depth.

However, if you only need to insert screws occasionally and you aren’t worried about how long it will take, a screw gun is an unnecessary expense. You will be better off saving your money by buying a dimpler for your power drill if you have one. Even if you don’t already have a drill, it will provide far better value for money in the long run.

Like many decisions when buying tools, screw gun vs drill largely comes down to whether you are a professional and need specialist tools or a DIYer who wants to get the most out of each one you buy.

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About the Author

Mark Weir

Mark spent 24 years working in real estate, so he knows his way around a home. He also worked with contractors and experts, advising them on issues of planning, investments, and renovations. Mark is no stranger to hands-on experience, having renovated his own home and many properties for resale. He likes nothing better than seeing a project through to completion.