Questions tagged [screws]
Fasteners with a helical thread along the outside. Uses a twisting motion to install or remove.
53 questions
3
votes
2answers
71 views
+100
Endgrain screw withdrawal force
The engineering toolbox has a screw withdrawal strength calculator but it assumes the screws are perpendicular to the grain.
I could not find a calculator for screws installed parallel to the grain, ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
Triple bunk bed design safety and difficulty
pdf link to plan
I am planning to build this triple bunk this weekend. I plan to add “cleats” (not sure if this is the correct word) in the form of 2inx4in’s between the sections, on the inner side ...
0
votes
0answers
41 views
What kind and size screws should I use to fix a 5.5cm thick oak table?
I am building a solid oak table made our of 4 boards which will have some limited space (1-2mm) in between them and I will be fixing each of these on 3 metal longitudinal bars (2*3 screws for each ...
2
votes
1answer
92 views
Any reason to add screws if I only want to use glue?
Building some bunk beds that will be pretty permanent and my plan was just to glue everything to make it nice and sturdy. If I'm gluing is there any reason to use screws at all, trying to make it look ...
4
votes
2answers
435 views
Pocket holes vs screwed butt joint
I took a woodworking course recently in which we learned the screwed butt joint technique.
While it's not the prettiest, it is very fast and relatively easy to get right. It appears the pocket-hole ...
5
votes
1answer
77 views
Affixing masonite to plywood by example
I'm making a simple woodworking table (nothing fancy but want it to be sturdy + flat) and I'm looking for the best way to affix a 1/4" thick sheet of masonite/hardboard to a 3/4" sheet of plywood.
My ...
4
votes
3answers
170 views
Stronger attachment method for B&D Workmate top
I'm refurbishing my 70s vintage Black & Decker Workmate. It’s seen a lot of abuse, but the only thing that ever broke, besides working corners of the plywood vise jaws (which I'm replacing) were ...
5
votes
2answers
82 views
How to screw beer tap into wood without cracking
I am making a live edge shelf, similar to this, with my cousin. It will be about 3 feet long, 8 inches deep, and 1 inch thick.
I want to attach beer taps too it about every 5-6 inches, but I am ...
1
vote
3answers
88 views
What screw is best with treated lumber?
I have some projects coming up for the garden and I want to use some screws with the raised beds. I recently was told certain screws get 'eaten' by the chemical used for treating the lumber. If this ...
3
votes
3answers
176 views
Making a Wooden Vise (or wooden screw thread)
I want to build a moravian workbench. I am trying to decide between a wooden screw from Lake Erie (https://www.lakeerietoolworks.com/collections/all/products/wood-vise-screw-basic-kit) or trying to ...
1
vote
2answers
601 views
Guess How much Weight the table can hold
i am new to wood working and just made my first wood table. I was trying to calculate how much weight will it hold on its top but i cannot reach any conclusion. So if any of you have any experience ...
2
votes
3answers
171 views
Are “brass” wood screws liable to be fake, or am I just using them too roughly?
I bought some "brass" wood screws yesterday at a local hardware store and they were bending and breaking off in the hole. I compared them to some brass screws I had ordered from Fastenal, a commercial ...
3
votes
3answers
90 views
Drop-in threaded hole for screw?
I've got a work bench I built, and the top is 3/4" MDF.
I have a lightweight drill press that I'd like to be able to fix to the top as needed.
My thought was to somehow have a couple of threaded ...
3
votes
3answers
4k views
How to permanently bond metal screws into wood?
My sister recently gave my daughter a toy train set. It's sturdy enough —the axels are thick and strong— but they have screw-in brass eyes and hooks to join the carriages together.
These only take 5 ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
How Can I Attach a Chain to an Eye Hook?
I'm looking to replicate this configuration of a thin chain and eye hook.
It looks to me that all that is required to replicate this after getting a new chain and hook is to cut the bottom link of ...
2
votes
2answers
247 views
End grain mitre joints for outside
I'm making bird houses and I have been screwing the joints together. I have been drilling a pilot hole (2mm bit) and using 3mm X 30mm screws.
I hung one in my garden and noticed that a couple of ...
1
vote
1answer
98 views
Why do screws usually work well without clearance holes?
Why do screws so often work even without a clearance hole? It seems like in theory, the screw should always push the joint apart (bridging). But in my experience, screws more often seem to tighten the ...
5
votes
2answers
229 views
Screw clearance hole question
Why must there be a clearance hole and pilot hole joining two pieces of material together? Why can't you drill a straight hole into them?
4
votes
3answers
2k views
Why does an impact driver have some 'wobble'?
I noticed how any impact I use has a little 'wobble' in the bit. Really noticeable in a long Philips or a spade bit. I own a Ryobi, but I have used Rigid, Bosch, and Dewalt. Every one with the same ...
1
vote
1answer
122 views
Cam Bolt and Screw hole drilling
With reference to my previous question regarding Cam Bolt and Screws, certainly I realised that I have to drill the screws and the bolts too.
So, I need a little info about drilling the holes ...
1
vote
1answer
83 views
Toenail or Toescrew a beam to a sill?
This project calls for toenailing the beams to the sills (see diagram). Would a screw work or is a nail better at these locations?
7
votes
1answer
401 views
What is this plywood joining mechanism and hardware for knock-down furniture?
Just came across a plywood joint mechanism, which I found very interesting as new woodworker. Basically I don't know what it is called and can't find any in our local market. I am attaching the photos ...
1
vote
2answers
106 views
Shelf building questions from a newbie
Good day all
I want to start building a wooden "shelf" of sorts, the problem is that I have literally no experience. So I have been looking at a bunch of youtube tutorials and asking my stepdad for ...
4
votes
4answers
526 views
Lubricating screws
I sometimes do odd jobs in a church, including rehanging doors. The church is 400 years old, I think the doors are a lot newer but still 100-150 years old.
Getting the hinges off is not easy (to ...
1
vote
1answer
67 views
Choosing a CA glue for general purpose woodworking
I have a few specific woodworking uses for cyanoacrylate (CA, aka. 'super') glue. I'd also like to have some around so I can expand my usage as I find good new wood-related applications.
My product ...
7
votes
2answers
3k views
Embedded nut for using machine screws?
Is there a kind of a nut or threaded insert that can be embedded in wood so that it will accept a machine screw?
5
votes
2answers
178 views
Fully threaded screws
It seems to me that fully threaded screws are commonly used to join wood, but I cannot see how any clamping force can be attained. Surely screws with some plain shank should be used so that the thread ...
4
votes
2answers
294 views
Attach fastener into glue joint of two face-glued boards
I'm going to be building a bed for my daughter and my design calls for a larger piece of wood for the legs. I could use a 2x3 or 2x4, but am wondering if I could create the larger piece by gluing two ...
3
votes
3answers
782 views
What length screw should I use for a computer desk
I am completely new to wood working and am currently designing a computer desk.
I do not know what length screws to use and the distance between them and dowels. Any other advice would be gratefully ...
5
votes
1answer
834 views
Can you identify the screws used in my folding chairs
I have several teak folding deck chairs to restore. Some screws in a sheath(?) are missing. I took a complete sample to a local, national brand tool and hardware store. The store did not stock it and ...
5
votes
5answers
468 views
Are there such things as oversized screw threads?
I've been dealing with a problem where standard screws keep getting pulled out of a wood frame. I know there are options, but it got me thinking:
Are there such things as screws that have "oversized" ...
7
votes
4answers
3k views
Building a wooden arcade stick case
This is my very first DIY project, I am building an arcade stick:
Rubber feet will be attached to those 4 holes.
Now I do not have tools for any woodwork at home (will buy once I do start doing more ...
9
votes
1answer
667 views
Do you need to countersink self-countsink screws
New to the forum and a bit clueless when it comes to DIY. I'll be putting down some new floor boards and then laying subfloor sheet to give a nice even surface.
I'm using 18mm floorboards and 3mm ...
5
votes
1answer
600 views
What joining methods would be best for the legs and other areas of a height adjustable desk?
I am working on building my first piece of furniture. I decided to go a bit big and went with a height adjustable desk. I have the linear actuators and the electronics figured out. Today I purchased ...
1
vote
1answer
2k views
Can steel screws be used in brass bathroom fittings? [closed]
I'm having a bathroom renovated. The contractors plumber has used steel screws to attach the brass shower head fittings and brass valve to the wood 2x4 walls. Is this OK?
I know in marine ...
4
votes
1answer
475 views
What are aluminum wood screws that break easily used for?
I have a several hundred 3" inch pan head screws with a 1/8" thread diameter aluminum (very light, has the look and feel of AL, thought the finish is dull) screws. They look like wood screws (sharp ...
27
votes
11answers
6k views
Why do I go through so many philips bits?
When fastening 2x lumber I keep grinding down the bits. I predrill a hole and a push hard as I can on my hammer drill but still wreck the bit. I'm using 2.5" gold screws. Can anyone help with a better ...
8
votes
3answers
20k views
What size pilot hole should I drill for for a specific size of screw?
I am trying to install a safe using 8mm coach screws (legislation dictates this is the minimum required size) into Jarrah.
What size pilot holes should I drill? Is there a standard reference chart? I ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Are there specific types of screws I should use for woodworking?
I'm wondering what types of screws I should use for woodworking and what types I shouldn't be using as well.
For example, Are deck screws OK? What about a square head vs. Phillips? Does the type of ...
13
votes
6answers
10k views
Is this a self-drilling wood screw?
I needed to attach two 2x4 as T-joint and was looking to buy self-drilling wood screws to do that. In HomeDepot, I found a box of screws labeled as 'self-cutting' and bought it. But, when I opened the ...
10
votes
3answers
6k views
How can you make a regular screw into a self tapping screw?
Assuming that it is even possible, how can you take a screw with a normal thread and point and make it into a pseudo self tapping screw?
Screw on the right (assuming its uniform all the way around) ...
3
votes
2answers
873 views
Mullion Brass Grommets?
I have a house that was built 1904. The mullions, etc., were secured with brass woodscrews through brass housings than are much like grommets in appearance. I do not know what they are called.
I need ...
10
votes
4answers
21k views
What alternatives are there for pocket screws?
So I borrowed a Kreg jig from a friend and was using some scrap 2x4's to work on the Community Project: Lets build a workbench!. Unfortunately I came to an impasse. I went to 3 local hardware stores ...
8
votes
1answer
3k views
What is the name of the hardware used in these MDF joints?
I want to build a cabinet with MDF boards like the ones I see at work. They are using some kind of hardware but I'm not able to find any instructions on how it works and I don't know what its name is.
...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
What is this type of screw from a piece of flat-pack furniture called?
Does anyone know what this type of screw is called in the UK?
I ask because I have some flat pack furniture that has been sitting in the attic for ages, and now I try to assemble it I find some of ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
Tiny core bits for broken screws
I have on several occasions broken screw heads in pieces where I can't readily access or cut into the joint they're securing. Is there such a thing as a tiny core drill bit for cutting around what's ...
13
votes
4answers
883 views
How to make proper pilot holes
This is related to the question about Replacing small drill bits without buying new sets (or preventing breaks) but I wanted to expand on this.
I think I'm just using cheap bits and much like the OP ...
19
votes
2answers
19k views
What are the advantages of countersinking screws?
What are the advantages of drilling a countersink rather than just trying to force the screw head past the plane of the wood?
What are situations when you would or would not countersink?
14
votes
5answers
18k views
Joining wood at an angle
To give you an idea of scale, as it give context, I am referring to the roof of an open bird feeder.
Currently I make 3 holes that I drill perpendicular to where the two pieces meet. Getting a screw ...
9
votes
3answers
7k views
Advice for setting screws in dense wood
The Janka Hardness Test provides a scale for the hardness of woods. Toward the higher end, wood can be particularly difficult to drive screws into and even a pilot hole may not be adequate. Is there a ...
