R/C Channel: Can't Get Screws To Hold

taylormade99

Hi all, I'm having a problem with getting ANY screws to grab and hold in R/C channel. I've tried everything from self tapping fine to needle point fine to coarse. Nothing works. Any help (SOON) is greatly appreciated. I usually use USG channel, but my supply house gave me some off brand.

Thanks much

Railman

First off, I'm not a rocker, but the few times I ran dw over RC, I found it faster & way easier to just pilot a hole first. I'm sure there's a majic screw, out there, but I got tired of every other self tapping screw flopping on me, & just used coarse pointed screws with a 1/8 pilot hole. A cheapie 2500 rpm drill & small bit is all you need. It takes about 2 seconds per hole, & is easier on the fingers, & mudder.
Just my .02, or whatever it's worth,
Joe

send_it_all

If taking it down and dumping it on your supplier's counter is out of the question, I don't have too many ideas. I would possibly demand that the supplier GIVE me double the amount so it could be doubled up, or I might talk to a sheetmetal supplier about maybe a 1-1/2" wide roll of heavier gauge metal and contact cement the strips of it to the face of the channel, creating a thicker surface to run screws into. The last idea would be pretty much a last resort because if the r/c channel has no screw holding power, the drywall would pretty much just be glued to the ceiling. Contact cement is a very strong bond, though. Never tried any of this, mind you, just trying to come up with SOMETHING to help with a s**tty problem. Glad it isn't me....lol

BTW, if your supplier does give you more channel, I would seriously consider using the contact cement to attach the 2 pieces together when doubling them up. Get some 3M super 90 or something like that...just find the strongest one you can get. You have to spray both surfaces for it to work.

Tim0282

Have you tried the hi-lo's? I have never had any trouble with the thin metal when I use them. And a fast screw gun. Prefer 6000 RPM

BUTCHERMAN

The problem may be the gauge of the track. My guess is you're spinning out the hole. Try setting the screws in slower instead of zipping them in. Once they grab take the gun off. You may need to finish with a screwdriver. If indeed it's light gauge that's the problem.

taylormade99

Thanks to all that replied. I wound up taking "send-it-all"'s suggestion of doubling it up and it worked. I didn't have to glue them together, but it probably would have made it a little easier. The stuff wasn't thinner than the USG stuff, it was just soft and almost maleable like lead. (Duh....made in China, isn't everything made from lead there these days; including baby toys and teething rings!) We tried everything from going slow to going ULTRA SLOW to going ULTRA ULTRA SLOW and then finishing with a screwdriver and still just 1 in 10 screws held. We gave up on the self tappers from the onset as it was way obvious that they weren't going to work and we wound up having to use the needle points. The self tapping screws were like trying to attach drywall to a stick of butter. There's nothing like having to pay to do a job twice. I've never seen cheap garbage like that before. It didn't even have a brand name! It had a white piece of paper attached to the bundle that read, I kid you not exactly like this: "MAKE FOR WAL DRY CHENAL, MADE IN CHINA" (all your base are belong to us) spelling and all! It even smelled like a cheap chinese rifle like an SKS or a AK-47. It almost had the ridgidity of plumbers tape only a smaller gauge. I should have known. The screws they gave me must have come from the same factory as they had no brand name either they just said (DRYWALL SCREWS) Bottom line..........lesson learned. The next time I ask for R/C channel and they give me extra wide bailing wire, I'm going to throw it through their front window. That junk cost me 3 days and double labor. Rant over.

Thanks to all for your help and suggestions.

send_it_all

Glad you got it handled. Did your supplier give you the extra channel, or did you have to buy it?

taylormade99

They gave me the channel, but I ate the cost for installation etc.

terry714_us

Try to stagger pop-rivets along with non-self tapping framers. It may up the labor but it will now budge.