To be able to screw the GTS screws into the tree, you have to pre-drill a hole!
What you need to know about your drill machine:
- The machine must have an extra long handle and this must also be connected very firmly! — There is a high risk of the drill bit “eating” and twisting your wrist. However, many drills have a built-in “kick-back” function for this—highly recommended!!!
- Cordless products (cordless drill drivers) are easier to use in the tree!
- The drill chuck must have a minimum diameter of 11 mm to hold our drill bits.
- It is important that your drill is not used at its power limit for long periods of time — otherwise it will break down: signs of this are light smoking, a burnt odour and tortured noises!
- When buying a new drill, make sure it has a good belt holder, which is particularly useful when building a tree house 😉
What drilling power do I need?
Pre-drilling the GTS Allstar:
For hardwood (oak, beech, ash, …) the cordless drill must be a real powerhouse – the ø 36 mm Auger Drill and the ø 74 mm Forstner Drill require enormous power! The most important factor is the torque, the following models, for example, have enough power:
| Hardwood | Softwood | |
| Cordless drill example | Hilti SF 10W-A22 ATC
|
Makita DFF 451 RTJ
|
| Battery power | 22 V / 4 Ah | 18 V / 4 Ah |
| max. force (torque) | 120 Nm | > 80 Nm |
You can also find great test and comparison videos from our colleagues at Bauforum24 on YouTube!
RF43-2951-8105-7034
Pre-drilling the GTS Top / Friend / Safety:
A drill / cordless drill of the same power class as “GTS Allstar Softwood” is sufficient here (> 80 Nm, 18 V, 4 Ah).
Where can I get such a cordless drill?
Cordless drill/drivers in this performance class are very expensive. You need to think carefully about whether you really want to buy such a powerhouse and whether you will need it in the long term. The disadvantages of these top screwdrivers are:
- they are very large and very heavy
- too unwieldy for women’s and children’s hands
- not suitable for fine / small jobs
- not suitable for tight places
Often it makes the more sense to borrow a strong drill for the day of the installation of the GTS Tree Screws. Try a carpenter’s / joiner’s / farmer’s / carpenter’s / craftsman’s / assembler’s / neighbor’s shop, a DIY store or a machine hire shop. I’m sure that if you tell the boys about your treehouse project and show them the GTS screw, they will be happy to let you use the machine for a few days.
Pro tip for buying batteries and tools:
Some manufacturers now offer cross-manufacturer batteries, i.e. you can use a Bosch 18V battery for a Fein Multitool or a Gardena lawn mower, for example. This can save you a lot of money and gives you a great complete system for your workshop. Well-known battery collaborations are available from Bosch “Amp Share” and Metabo “CAS System”, for example.