Customer Reviews

Cepco Tool BW-2 BoWrench Decking Tool

5 star:		(130)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The BoWrench is the best decking tool I have ever used because its easy to use, and it doesn't mar joists like other ones. As a contractor that builds a couple of decks a year, this has paid for its self many times over. You can achieve proper gap spacing with out digging through the lumber pile for straight boards(if they exist anymore!). I would highly recommend the BoWrench to any deck builder.

I bought this tool before doing a very large deck covered with 5/4 Pau Lope. It is a great improvement over the Stanley Board Bender, because it locks in place, reducing our manpower needed. The problem stems from the soft metal that makes up the BoWrench. The pin began to bend after a few days, and the hole the pin went through got larger and larger. We also bought the adapter for double joists. That was a great success, except that the pieces that lock the head in place eventually started to slip. We reversed them and they worked a while more. Then we removed them and filed them down, so they had sharp edges again. Summary: a good tool which, with some modifications at the production level, could make it a life long tool.

All I can say is how could you build a solid deck out of todays quality lumber without this tool. It actually costs me money to own this tool. Since I retired I've been working building decks and I always charge by time and materials. Since owning the BoWrench I have lost money because of how little effort it takes to flex warped lumber into position for screwing down to the joists. I forgot it one day worked 8 hrs. and only got one third of my project completed, remembered it the next day and did the other two thirds in the same amount of time. Never will leave it at home again.

The BoWrench was easy to use and performed as advertised. There were limitations in its use, in that it is NOT adjustable to accommodate varying distances from the pivot point on the joist to the deck plank. When you move along a joist and encounter obstacles like blocking, you cannot adjust the BoWrench pivot point to move to one side or other of the obstacle. Other than that, it was priceless in the decking process.

I'm an avid do-it-yourselfer and just added a 1,000 square foot deck addition onto our home. I purchased a Bowrench to straighten 5/4" deck boards and it is amazing! Just slip it on the joist and pull the handle - it straightens the board and leaves you with both hands free to fasten the board.

Since then I've used it for installing 1" x 6" pine T&G on our kitchen ceiling and for installing log siding on a small cabin we built. I have a shop full of tools and it's one of my favorites! (and this is the cheapest place I could find it at)

I just used my new bowrench and loved it. It is well made and works well. I was concerned that the Stanley tool might be of higher quality, but I'm not any more. Also, I could not get enough information on the Stanely tool to see if it would even work this well. Being able to lock tool into place is priceless...

I have learned of this tool when building a deck with my brother-in-law. When I used it for the first time I couldn't believe the leverage you get with it. I had 20 foot long decking to screw down and without this tool it would have taken at least 3 times as long. Since then, I bought one for myself, having to re-deck my mother-in-law's balcony. This tool is a dream. I actually waited for the tool to arrive by mail order before proceeding any further on the balcony job. I knew it would save me a lot of aggrevation. Well worth whatever you pay for it even if you use it only once!

I started a tongue and groove porch floor before this tool arrived and struggled with jury rigged wedges and such to get the boards to snug up. The job was taking forever. Once this tool arrived my progress was much improved and I was much less frustrated! I highly recommend it, even if it is only going to be used for one project!

As you know, when building a deck with any material, your material is never straight. The BoWrench gives you that big helping hand on bending those deckboards straight. I couldn't have done without it. Even though I think its a little pricey for what it is, I wish I was the one who invented it. PS, a tip on spacing greentreated deck boards. All the books say to leave a nails width between each board. I found if you butt up the boards, weeks later as the greentreated dries out you'll have your nails width. If I'd have put the width in at the beginning, I'd have Grand Canyon gap between the deck boards.

This is a great tool. As a full time builder I build a lot of decks, and install a lot of interior/exterior toung and groove, and toung and groove plywood. I wouldn't even think of doing it with out my BoWrench. This tool saves time and effort. I had a slight problem with mine and am happy to say that the problem was resolved by cepco tool. They make a great tool, and stand behind it. I recomond this tool to any one who is in the building trades, and do it your selfers as well.