Yesterday, I helped my friend Pete with a PV install.

One of my tasks was to hang flex in the basement, with one-hole straps about every 3'. Phillips screws. I loaded my tool belt with screws and straps. My drill was fully charged, with a chuck extender and two bits. Headlamp. Ready to go.

And then I stripped the first screw. I couldn't get it all the way in. Barely any progress 10 minutes later.

It was an old house with hard wood. But still, definite fail.

I pathetically tried to pre-drill with a tap bit (I didn't have a small enough normal drill bit). The tap bit isn't made for wood, and broke off in the hole.

I thought that, by now, drilling in screws was a non-issue. After all, this is one of the most basic construction tasks, and I've been part-time in construction for the last few years. Oh dude.

This morning, I watched some you-tube videos (this one was the most helpful), and had some back-and-forth with chat-gpt. Here's what I'll do going forward, to hopefully stop stripping...

Immediately stop if the bit is dislodged. Get it back in there.

Use fresh bits (and know when a bit has become too dull).

Use the right phillips bit (#1, #2, or #3). Make sure the bit fits snug in the screw head.

Use impact-rated bits (stronger metal, longer lasting).

Drill perpendicular to the screw head.

Don't use a longer chuk extender than necessary (which makes it harder to drill perpendicular).

The answer isn't to press as hard as I can. Press harder for harder wood, but I shouldn't be trying to crush the screw gun into the wood.

If all else fails:

Drill the hole without the one-hold strap and flex first.

Pre-drill with the right-sized bit (with a diameter a little less than the screw shank's diameter). (So: Always have fresh bits available.)

Have DAP's Tank Bond liquid grip or comparable available.

I complained to Pete a few years ago about the suboptimal design of phillips heads. "The star bit is better". His pro-electrician reply: "Maybe... just learn how to not strip phillips heads." Haha. Yup.