Professional Tool Reviews for Pros
It is no exaggeration to say that Tapcons and other concrete screws have changed the world. The first art gallery I worked in had brick walls and it was my job to hang the exhibits every month or two. It was such a huge pain drilling holes and installing anchors. I would have killed for Tapcons back then. Plastic anchors also didn’t help with the look of the museum walls after we removed the exhibit. Now we not only have concrete screws, but we also get to use a concrete screw installation kit to easily install them.
Using a concrete screw installation kit like the ones pictured below, you save a lot of time switching between drilling and fastening.
Pro-tip: Buy two installation kits. Install the bit for the large Tapcons (1/4-inch screws) in one hammer drill and the small Tapcons (3/16-inch screws) in the other. Leave the bulky cases at home. All you need are these two cylinders and two extra tips for the ends. This also saves you from having to swap the bits back and forth. Several companies make these concrete screw installation kits and you can get them for use with rotary hammers, hammer drills, and impact drivers.
To use a concrete screw installation kit or tool, chuck the tool in your hammer drill, then set it to hammer mode and high-speed drilling. Remove the outer sleeve which exposes the bit. Drill your hole, making sure you are using the correct size bit for the screws you are using. Next, slip the sleeve over the installation tool and use it as a driver to drive your screw. No need to remove the drill bit. This is what makes the system so fast to use. The end of the sleeve fits the smallest hex head screws and it comes with two additional bits, a number three Philips and a larger driver. I store one bit on one sleeve and one on the other making it easy to carry in a toolbox. It is a fantastic system.
If you use a rotary hammer, you will need a different set of drill bits since the shanks of them use SDS Plus bits. Fortunately, Bosch makes a universal kit that includes both the bits and the installation tool for hammer drills and rotary hammers along with the sleeve and drivers. As I mentioned above, I recommend you buy two kits.
While not inexpensive, these kits can really save you time (i.e. money) if you tend to do a lot of Tapcon or concrete screw anchoring. Look for pricing between $20 and $50 depending upon which set you buy.
Working by day at an art museum as the IT guy, the photographer/videographer, and the head of security, Gregory has also written, produced, filmed, directed, and edited his museum’s TV commercials for PBS and Spectrum. For almost 20 years there he was the exhibits manager and has installed over 40,000 works of art and 300 large-scale outdoor sculptures. Gregory is also a sculptor himself and taught photography for over a decade.
DeWalt announced the arrival of their Elite Series of tool accessories. Designed for strength and durability, the lineup will include the likes of includes saw blades, hole saws, diamond masonry cutting blades, abrasives, and masonry drilling accessories. Select items in this lineup are also made in the USA with global materials. Look for these accessories now […]
Mach-Blue Plating Strengthens Spyder Driver Bits Whether you’re a Pro or a DIYer, you want your tools to last as long as possible. On the other hand, you expect to replace consumable accessories. With Spyder Mach-Blue driver bits, Spyder promises to lessen breakage so you’re spending less on replacements. Spyder Mach-Blue Driver Bits: The Big […]
Reduce Waste And Save Time With The Hilti Nuron Cordless Adhesive Dispenser Inefficient consumable use can be a big contributing factor to unnecessary overhead costs and wasted time, especially in the realm of construction. The Hilti Nuron 22V Cordless Adhesive Dispenser houses some interesting tech that helps ease that pain point and we’re taking a […]
One Simple Tool for a Variety of Drilling Needs How long does it take you to switch between a countersink and a screw when joining boards? Swapping bits means setting down tools—which can damage project wood. It’s also less organized and tedious when you have to chase down various bits. Kreg may have a solution […]
As an Amazon Associate, we may earn income when you click on an Amazon link. Thanks for helping us do what we love.
See our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Pro Tool Reviews is a successful online publication that has been providing tool reviews and industry news since 2008. In today’s world of Internet news and online content, we found that more and more professionals researched a large majority of their major power tool purchases online. That piqued our interest.
There’s one key thing to note about Pro Tool Reviews: We’re all about the professional tool user and tradesman!
Copyright ©2008-2022 Pro Tool Reviews, LLC. All rights reserved.
Professional Tool Reviews for Pros