Starborn Smart-Bit Deck Screw Depth Setter, BDA565A
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Starborn Smart-Bit Deck Screw Depth Setter, BDA565A
The Smart-Bit is a clutch that chucks into your drill. Set how deep the screw goes once, and every screw after it lands at the same depth, flush with the board or slightly under. When the tool reaches that setting the Auto-Stop mechanism releases with an audible pop and the bit stops turning, so the driver cannot keep spinning in the recess and round it out.
Depth is set by threading a knurled locking ring against the knurled depth ring, and it holds through a full deck. The tip carries a rubber O-ring inside a collar that spins freely against the board, so the tool can rest on the surface without polishing a ring into it. It takes any standard 1 in. insert bit, and BDA565A comes with five: one T-20 already fitted, plus two more T-20, a T-25 and a #2 Phillips.
Not for square-drive screws. Starborn cautions against them, because a Robertson bit tends to grip in the recess and pull out of the tool when the clutch releases, leaving the bit in the screw head. Use it with Torx or Phillips fasteners, in a standard drill or driver rather than an impact driver.
Features and Common Uses
- Auto-Stop mechanism releases at the depth you set, so the bit stops turning in the recess instead of camming out and stripping it
- Knurled depth ring and locking ring hold one setting through a full job, and reset in seconds when the screw length changes
- Free-spinning stop collar with a rubber O-ring rides on the board instead of dragging across it
- Stainless steel body rather than plated steel
- Takes any standard 1 in. insert bit, so a worn bit gets replaced instead of the whole tool
- Hex shank, fits a corded or cordless drill or driver
Where it earns its keep:
- Face-fastening deck boards, where every head has to sit at the same depth down the run
- Colour-matched and painted screw heads, where a bit spinning in the recess takes the coating straight off
- Composite and PVC decking, which mushrooms around the head if the screw is over-driven
- Hardwood decking, where a proud screw is a trip point and a deep one splits the board
- Drywall and general interior fastening
Starborn builds it around their own Cap-Tor xd, Deckfast, Deckfast Epoxy, Deckfast Metal and Headcote fasteners. It works the same way on any other brand's Torx or Phillips screws.
Specifications
| SKU / Item No. | BDA565A |
|---|---|
| Brand | Starborn Industries |
| Tool Type | Screw depth setter, Auto-Stop clutch |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Shank | Hex shank, fits a drill or driver chuck |
| Bit Size Accepted | Any standard 1 in. insert bit |
| Bits Included | Three T-20 (one fitted in the tool), one T-25, one #2 Phillips |
| Kit Contents | 6 pieces: tool plus five bits |
| Depth Range | Flush to roughly 1/4 in. below the surface |
| Drive Systems | Torx and Phillips. Square drive not recommended. |
| Recommended Driver | Standard drill or driver, not an impact driver |
| Weight | 0.25 lb (113 g) |
| UPC | 099385064080 |
| Country of Origin | Taiwan |
| Pack Quantity | 1 tool, carded |
Source: Starborn Industries, Smart-Bit Depth Setter Tool. The depth range and the square-drive caution are as published in Popular Woodworking's tool test. Weight is the per-unit figure listed by Lowe's (0.25 lb) and DK Hardware (0.253 lb); this is the tool on its card, not a shipping weight.
How to Set the Depth
- Fit the hex shank into a standard drill or driver. Starborn recommends a drill over an impact driver, since the tool works by releasing a clutch.
- Hold the tool and turn the knurled depth ring. Bit further out sets the screw shallower, further in sets it deeper.
- Thread the locking ring up against the depth ring and snug it by hand so the setting holds.
- Drive a screw into an offcut of the same material, look at the head, and adjust a quarter turn at a time. Composite and softwood take a head differently, so test on what you are actually fastening.
- Run the job and ease off the moment the mechanism pops. Pressing past that does not sink the screw further, it only spins the collar.
To change a worn bit: disconnect power or pull the battery, retract the collar fully and hold it back, grip the bit with pliers and pull it straight out, then push a new 1 in. bit in while the collar is still retracted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it work with Robertson screws?
Starborn advises against square drive. The bit tends to grip in the recess and pull out of the tool when the clutch releases, which leaves the bit stuck in the screw head. Use Torx or Phillips fasteners with it, and a plain bit holder for your square-drive work.
Can I use it in an impact driver?
Starborn's instructions call for a standard drill or driver. The tool sets depth by releasing a clutch, and an impact driver's hammering fights that. A cordless drill on a moderate clutch setting is what it is built around.
Does it come with bits?
Five of them. One T-20 arrives fitted in the tool, and the card carries two more T-20, a T-25 and a #2 Phillips. Any standard 1 in. insert bit fits, so you are not limited to those three sizes.
How deep will it set a screw?
Anywhere from flush with the surface to about a quarter inch below it, depending where you set the rings. Test it on an offcut before you start the run.
Will it mark the deck board?
The collar spins freely and carries a rubber O-ring at the tip, so it turns against the board rather than scrubbing it. On soft woods and dark composites it is still worth checking your first screw on scrap.
Which screws is it made for?
Starborn designed it around Cap-Tor xd, Deckfast, Deckfast Epoxy, Deckfast Metal and Headcote. It works the same on any other brand's Torx or Phillips deck, drywall or trim screw.
Can I buy replacement bits?
It takes ordinary 1 in. insert bits, so any T-20, T-25 or #2 Phillips insert bit from stock will do. There is no proprietary bit to source.