Everyone says to use a drill for wall plates, but a punch tool is faster and neater

I tried both ways on a big apartment job in Springfield last month, about 50 plates total. The drill kept grabbing and cracking the drywall, but the punch tool made a clean hole every single time. It took me maybe 2 seconds per plate instead of 5, and the finish looked way more professional. Has anyone else made the switch and noticed a difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

wyatt_fisher419h ago

Punch tools are great for speed but they can bend the plate screws over time. A sharp drill bit with a light touch prevents that damage. The real trick is controlling the drill's torque.

sethr119h ago

Oh man, you just described my entire learning curve with that. I started with a punch and wound up with a plate full of screws that looked like they'd been in a car wreck. Switched to a drill and immediately cranked the torque up way too high and stripped the head clean off. Took me forever to learn that light touch thing, it feels wrong when you're doing it. Honestly, it's all about fighting the urge to just push harder.