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This unit has more power than my old, more sturdy Milwaukee, but is probably worse at keeping a consistent depth. A bigger problem is that the magnetic bit holder seems too weak for the work.
When that happens, you just have to buy a $5.00 replacement holder and go on.I would think this was a problem with the bits themselves, but it has never happened with the other gun and it occurs with or without the depth collar in use and working with the same materials on the same projects.
The bit gets twisted into the holder and you can't get it out. Whatever the cause, it's the time-consuming trips back to the store for the parts that are the real killer in using the DeWalt.
Bought the DeWalt as an "extra" to help speed up some home decking projects. You do, of course, get the hang of it and you can work "by feel" to get pretty good results if you just take the adjustable collar off the gun for important flush work.
Perhaps it has something to do with the tolerances being to tight for the DeWalt holder.
When I purchased it, my instinct said "plastic isn't durable and it looks like it could be weak at the nose", and well in this case it proved to be true.I certianly wouldn't rate the DeWalt tools based on the quality of this drill/driver.they make better products, I own many.and will continue to buy them. I believe the threads were stripped, and it wouldn't stay tight. rather get the DW272. I don't know if it was an isolated instance, but I couldn't keep the nose assembly tight. The DW272 has not had the same problem.
While I love my DeWalt framing nailer and a DeWalt/ Emglo compressor I'm now leary of buying yellow. Immagine the look on the clerks face when I returned the gear/ clutch assembly in one hand and the body in the other. I went out and got this for a deck I was putting up. After owning the DeWalt DW 257 for 24 hours and using it to screw down 5/8 pressure treated deck boards to 2X12 joists the thing wrung itself completely in half. Needless to say I got a refund and bought something else.
I have been using it for the drywall that I am now doing (waited to write this review untill I used it on drywall). Worked beautifully, the screws zipped right in. You certainly have to learn how to hold and balance the tool in your hand for clean fastening (like any other tool). I intalled a new sub-floor on the already existing 3/4 inch floor. this tool is it. The depth adjuster worked great.I have alot of drywalling to do as well.
Once you do that. I purchased the DW257 about a month ago and layed the boots to it immediatley. I used 3" floor screws to go into the house floor joists. Again, the screws zip right in, the depth adjustedment makes this tool dummy proof.I have read a couple of the reviews above.
I have used the DW257 to easily drive 3-1/2" and 4" deck screws flush to the surface of 2X PT lumber and yet, it can also be adjusted to flush set screws in 1/2" drywall and greenboard with no paper tear through. Overall, I would recommend the DW257 to individuals who needs a powerful, well balanced combination deck/drywall screwdriver that is easy on the wrist and comfortable enough to work with all day. When considering it's modest cost, the DW257 offers better value and performance than many of it competitors more expensive models. The DW257 is very well balanced and light weight, has a comfortable pistol grip and trigger position that make it easy to work with all day long. The metal tipped adjustment collar locks securely to the clutch housing and has never accidentally popped off while using the tool.
It drives 1-1/4" and 1-5/8" backerboard screws flush to the surface quickly and easily with almost no effort. The 6.2 amp motor is smooth and powerful and because it turns at only 2500 RPM's, it is very quite. This makes for a very versatile tool that can handle a wide range of fastening tasks that a 4000 RPM drywall only screwdriver can't. The clutch operates smoothly and works the way it should. I originally purchased the latest Type 3 version of the Dewalt DW257 VSR deck/drywall screwdriver primarily to fasten 1/4" and 1/2" concrete backerboard underlayment to plywood subflooring for tile work.
I like the large variable speed reversing trigger switch and the trigger lock location because it makes it virtually impossible to unintentionally lock the trigger in the on position while using the tool. The depth sensitive control is easy to adjust and once set, stays put.
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