A few months ago (before the Senco Duraspin DS425AC showed up and changed my life), I had the pleasure of building an 814 sq. ft. deck. I created this beauty from making what seemed like countless cuts in 2×6 pressure treated boards with a Ridgid 12″ sliding compound miter saw. I prefer 2×6 over 5/4 deck boards because they offer more stability and reduce the bounce that often plagues decks made with the lesser thickness. Making this decision was well thought out, cost-effective in the long run, and would be aesthetically pleasing. I knew there would be more handling work involved due to the larger dimension of the 2×6, but the ends justified the means, and the materials were purchased.
For those who haven’t handled pressure-treated lumber, it’s amazing how much additional weight water adds to an already heavy piece of wood. It’s almost as if the Wood Division of Mother Nature Incorporated assured us that dry, PT lumber, would be reasonably feasible to lift and carry. Her disclaimer, however, was that once any additional moisture, dew, droplets, haze, fog, etc. touched the wood’s surface, all bets were off.
What Was I Thinking?
What seemed like hours of hauling extra-length, heavy boards across a hilly and dew-covered landscape drove our backs into a hunched posture similar to that of a certain resident of Notre Dame. Sadly, we were only into this project a couple of hours when the fatigue began setting in. I share all this whining to paint a picture: anything that can ease your work will save your back and help you be more efficient. That’s the whole point of the Senco Duraspin DS425AC deck installation attachment—and something I was desperately looking forward to using.
“Resting” on your knees and using a power tool to screw in fasteners seemed like a nice respite compared to the mule work which began the day. However, a better ergonomic position presents the real solution. Even the best cordless drill won’t save your knees.
Working Smarter with the Senco DuraSpin DS425AC
That entire deck project was completed without the Senco Duraspin DS425AC 3” 2500 RPM screwdriver & attachment kit. Instead, we used plenty of ibuprofen and far too many breaks with too few helpers.
A few months later, I had the opportunity to do another job. This time, I would also be reviewing the Senco Duraspin DS425AC kit. It not only offers auto-feed screws but also lets you stand while using the tool, thanks to the DS320 extension attachment.
Putting It Together
The Senco Duraspin DS425AC 3” 2500 RPM Screwdriver & Attachment kit, comes in multiple boxes. The kit includes a Senco SG2510 screwgun, industrial-grade Senco DS320 attachment, extension pole with secondary power grip handle, spare drive bits, and a storage bag.
Assembly was fairly straightforward. If you’ve never used one of these, however, the instructions may seem a little lax with respect to organizing the extension assembly. For example, the kit comes with a complete SG2510 driver. What you need to know is that you have to remove the entire drive mechanism from the driver in order to properly connect the extension pole.
The Senco Duraspin DS425AC 3 in. 2500 RPM Screwdriver & Attachment kit recommends you use Senco Duraspin collated fastener strips. Instruction on loading the first strip was also lax, if not missing. However, a little common sense and reference photos helped. The design and manufacture of the components demonstrated adequate construction and heft—and there didn’t seem to be any over-engineered parts, which is great for longevity. Given that the market price of this kit is less than $300, I believe it to be a very good value.
Setting the auto-feed fastener length from 1″ – 3″ is simple, thanks to the clearly-marked numerical guides on the tool. Setting the fastener depth was equally easy to adjust, but required some test drives to tweak it perfectly, as the depth scale is merely ticked and not numerical.
Standing Tall
Unlike my previous deck fastening experience, putting the Senco Duraspin DS425AC system through its paces was an absolute pleasure. As shown, the system can be operated with the slightest forward hunch required to press down on the tool to align and drive the screws into the decking.
Since I’m 5′ 8″ tall, I was worried that the tool extension might make the drill too high or low. I wanted a reasonable operating height for comfort and leverage. In practice, the corded drill was right in the sweet spot for me. The system seems to have been designed to accommodate a wide range of height. Most everyone should be able to make the standing height of 39-inches work.
Performance of the Senco Duraspin DS425AC Kit
Frankly, the operational performance of this tool can be summarized in one word: Fantastic.
Further words won’t do as much justice as what this video can convey regarding the use of this Senco Duraspin deck screw driving system.
Senco Duraspin DS425AC 3″ 2500 RPM Screwdriver & Attachment Kit
- Current: 6.4 amps
- RPM: 0–2500
- Torque: 100 in lbs
- Tool Weight: 6.75 lbs. (3 kg)
- Height: 8.0″ (203 mm)
- Length: without pole 20.5″ (521 mm) / with pole 39.0″ (990 mm)
- Width: 2.75″ (70 mm)
- Price: $260
Hallelujah! My Back is Healed!
The Senco Duraspin DS425AC 3” 2500 RPM Screwdriver & Attachment kit is everything I wanted—no, needed a few months ago. Had it been in my hands at the time, the deck project I undertook would have easily been wrapped up 30% faster. It also would have paid for itself by reducing the amount of paid helper hours.
The Senco collated fasteners are more expensive and less readily available than traditional options. Still, with the right timing and planning, this solution can save hours of labor (and several doses of ibuprofen).
This is a great system for deck builders or anyone who wants a more ergonomic solution to driving decking screws. Also, and not to be minimized, the extension pole can be removed. That means the system can function as a standard auto-feed wall fastener system for drywall or paneling. Senco offers its own brand of fasteners for a variety of applications. With a street price of around $260, it’s easy to recommend the Senco Duraspin DS425AC 3 in. screwdriver and attachment kit as a product with great build quality, features, and excellent value.
