Decking Screw Problems

Hi,

I've just started laying 90x19 Merbau decking and I'm using Buildex, Stainless Steel, 316 grade, 10 - 8 x 65 square drive screws. I'm counter sinking and pre drilling with a 3.5mm bit.

So far in the first three boards, I've had two of the square drive holes bore out, and two heads snap off. I'd heard that the 'Bunnings Buckets' are terrible screws, but I thought that being SS they'd be decent. Can anyone recommend better screws? or is there something I could be doing wrong? The drill I'm using to drive the screws in is meant to have two speeds, but the faster setting is broken at the moment so I'm using the slower, higher torque setting. Could I be driving them in too slowly?

Cheers,

Dan


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