Just hit 500 drywall screws in a single day for the first time

I was patching up a ceiling in my garage in Denver and somehow got into such a rhythm that I ended up sinking 517 screws before my drill battery died, has anyone else ever gotten weirdly obsessed with hitting a certain count on a basic task?

3 comments

3 Comments

shanec611d ago

Wait, are we really counting screws now? I get the satisfaction of a good rhythm, but hitting 517 seems like you're just making up work for yourself. I'd rather be efficient and use the right screws for the job than try to set a personal record. If my drill died at 300, I'd call it a win and move on to something else. All that extra screwing just to hit a number feels like a waste of time when you could be done and having a beer instead.

the_robin1d ago

And you know what, that reminds me of this time I was helping a buddy build a deck back in '09, and he had this whole system for counting screws where he'd tally them on a scrap piece of wood with a Sharpie, like he was keeping score in a game or something. We got into this big argument about whether it was worth the trouble, and he ended up spending more time arguing than just finishing the job, so we never actually agreed on a final count. Honestly, I think he just liked the sound of the drill going in and out and wanted an excuse to keep using it, even if it meant a longer day.

the_viola1d ago

Does it really matter that much though? I mean, you're building a deck, not solving a math problem. If the screws are in and the thing holds, who cares about the exact count? Sounds like he wanted a reason to keep the project going. Some people just like the process more than finishing.