Warning for Biltema's decking screw

[fsn]

What!!
Don't you pre-drill?

Of course, you don't do that when laying standard decking, you'd never finish. No way to pre-drill 40 holes per square meter.

 

[Huddingebo]

What!!
Don't you pre-drill?

Only in knots and on finish carpentry.

 

[Stego1]

And I mean that just because Biltema sells it, it doesn't have to be crap

But I usually say "you never get more than what you pay for."

Biltema's stuff is mostly excellent. Of course, there are things of lesser quality, but that is true everywhere. For example, I've bought a lot of boat stuff, including sacrifice anodes that cost 25% of the price at Volvo Penta dealers and have worked at least as well, if not better. I gladly forgo the dubious pleasure of paying for a "brand." The choice is up to each individual.

 

[optimum]

I don't think it's quite the same thing. Wheel bearings are expensive to manufacture with good quality, and I would suggest that Biltema's are much cheaper than the original. The decking screws have a similar price with many other brands.

That's what's tricky with Biltema. Sometimes it's the same brand as the more expensive alternatives, and sometimes it's just junk. Many companies "brand" their products for different companies, and just like Biltema, it's someone else who manufactures them, sometimes premium and often quite poor quality.

 

[Alfredo]

What!! Don't you pre-drill?

Regular pressure-treated decking? No, I have never done that.

 

[fsn]

Biltema's stuff is mostly excellent. Of course, there are things of lesser quality, but that's true everywhere. For example, I've bought a lot of boat stuff there, including sacrificial anodes that cost 25% of the price at Volvo Penta dealers, which have worked at least as well, if not better. I'd gladly avoid the dubious pleasure of paying for a "brand". The choice is up to each individual.

There is a certain significant difference between a wheel bearing and a chunk of zinc.

 

[Leif i Skåne]

How did a thread about deck screws end up being about wheel bearings???

 

[Violina]

How did a thread about deck screws end up being about wheel bearings???

"Biltema quality" affects more than just deck screws..

 

[Jonas Persson]

That's the tricky part with Biltema. Sometimes it's the same brand as the more expensive alternatives and sometimes pure trash. Many companies "brand" their products to different companies, and just like Biltema, it's someone else manufacturing and sometimes premium and often quite poor quality.

Considering that Biltema only sells nonname or their own brands, I have to say they have good quality. At the same time, the saying goes that you get what you pay for.

 

[SwiftD]

Impact driver and decking screws don't go well together. If you hit a knot, any screw in these weak dimensions will break. Then people drive screws too deep, at an angle, and don't ensure the screw is properly seated on the bit, or they don't replace a worn bit or use the correct size.

Too many beers in the sun can make any amateur blame the decking screws for the poor results. They rush to the computer and rant on Byggahus about how much they dislike Biltema. Perhaps more should call in professionals and stick to beer and barbecuing instead.

 

[Rickard.]

Impact driver and decking screws do not go together.

I had a conversation with a *salesman from one of the big manufacturers out there about this *(well-dressed Stockholmer who travels around promoting for professionals). He claimed that they did not recommend impact drivers for basically all wood screws and definitely not for stainless regardless of thickness. Stainless is supposed to be too soft, and apparently, hardened steel doesn't like being impacted, but I've never found any clear warning against it.

If you start looking around, there are actually very few screws where impact drivers are actually recommended, concrete screws are an exception that comes to mind. Otherwise, it usually just states a recommended speed, and that can be interpreted as you wish.

 

[optimum]

Considering that Biltema only sells noname or their own brands, I have to say they have good quality. At the same time, the saying that you get what you pay for holds true.

Yes, I shop there a bit too.
But you have to choose a bit what you buy and what you will use it for.
However, I would never buy vital engine parts or brake components there.
Tools, like socket wrench sets, are really good.
No, decking screws, I would not buy there. Too much work if the quality is off.
I play it safe and buy Essve decking screws, expensive but really good.
But since I'm doing the work for myself, it's not a big deal to spend a few thousand more on the screws.

 

[Alfredo]

But since I'm doing the work for myself, it doesn't matter much with a few thousand more for the screws.

It would have mattered even less if someone else paid for it!

 

[Krux]

As mentioned above, you choose what you buy at Biltema. Deck screws for decking, which is a hell of a job if it goes wrong. No, hardly, then you add a little and get good screws from Essve instead. Tools, yes. Engine parts and engine oil, no. There are many good things at Biltema, but you choose your purchases according to the purpose. And I'm not saying that their engine oil or engine parts are bad, just not worth the risk for me.

 

[Jonas Persson]

Yes, I shop there quite a bit, too. But you have to choose what you buy and what you're going to use it for. I would never buy vital engine parts or brake parts there, though. Tools, such as socket sets, are really good. No, I wouldn't buy decking screws there. Too much work if the quality is off. I play it safe and prefer to buy Essve decking screws, expensive but really good. But since I'm doing the work for myself, I don't mind spending a few thousand more on the screws.

I share the same view as you. However, I'm a tool enthusiast, so I go for a lot of branded items. But I don't hesitate to buy their wrenches or parts for socket sets. Machine screws, etc., are also fine. I've put their 45J demolition hammer and 10J SDS max rotary hammer to work for eight years without them breaking. ESSVE screws, though, are a bit overpriced for my taste, even if they are in my lineup.