PSA: My boss told me to always use a 3/8 inch drill bit for wall plates, and it's been a game changer.

For a long time, I was just using whatever bit was handy, usually a 1/4 inch, and fighting with the plate screws. He pulled me aside on a job in Tempe about six months ago and said to stick with 3/8. I tried it the next day and the screws just drop right in now, no more cross-threading or stripping. It saves maybe a minute per plate, but that adds up fast over a whole house. Has anyone found a different size that works better for them?

3 comments

3 Comments

nora5352mo ago

What about for plaster walls?

river_bailey22mo ago

That's a solid tip for drywall, but what about when you hit a weird double layer of old drywall?

the_simon1mo ago

Double layers are a nightmare. Best move is to just cut through both at once with a really sharp utility knife, don't try to separate them. If the top layer is loose or bubbling up, you're honestly better off just ripping that whole sheet off and starting fresh with new drywall over the old base layer. Trying to patch into a weird double layer always ends up looking bumpy and wrong. Save yourself the headache and just demo the bad part.