29
votes
Accepted
Why do I go through so many philips bits?
This is an extremely common phenomenon and there's nothing you can do to prevent it entirely.
You seem to be well aware of the standard bit of advice going back to the days of slotted screws, that ...
- 63.5k
16
votes
Accepted
Are there specific types of screws I should use for woodworking?
Just to get it out of the way, this is the conventional/traditional wood screw:
In the past it would always have been flat-head (now also called slot-head), and as a result when making a piece in a ...
- 63.5k
15
votes
Accepted
Embedded nut for using machine screws?
Face mounting
A standard hex nut (or a square one if available) can be inlet into the surface of a board to accept a machine screw or bolt coming in from the other side.
Normally when face-mounted a ...
- 63.5k
11
votes
Why do I go through so many philips bits?
Unfortunately, the angled tip on Philips bits causes them to climb and slip, and round over their edges and/or strip the head of the screw. Often if you buy a pack of screwdriver bits for your drill, ...
rob♦
- 18.7k
11
votes
Accepted
Is this a self-drilling wood screw?
Those are screws that are made to drill their own hole. The cutout bit at the tip is specifically made to bite into the wood more effectively.
One tip with screws like this: a lot depends on the ...
- 835
11
votes
Accepted
Best way to hide counter sunk screws
Consider to remove the screws and perform a counterbore or use a forstner bit to the depth of the screw head. Select the diameter to match your selected wood plug diameter. Return the screw, glue in ...
- 2,879
9
votes
Why do I go through so many philips bits?
Another thing that might help: although the brand of goldscrews that I use are described as being waxed/lubricated, for demanding jobs, or to max out cordless runtime, I use a smear of petroleum jelly ...
- 301
9
votes
Accepted
What caused these screws to loosen so much (and how to prevent it)?
The fact that the table was made from untreated, big box store 2X stock pretty much answers your question. That wood is almost certainly what is known in the trade as SPF (meaning, spruce, pine or ...
- 1,401
8
votes
Accepted
What size pilot hole should I drill for for a specific size of screw?
Less than thread diameter (8mm), minimum inner shaft diameter. The larger you go the easier it'll be to screw in but the less the threads will bite. Go as small as you can muster without splitting the ...
- 5,593
8
votes
Why do I go through so many philips bits?
Hammer drills are designed for working with masonry. Since you're driving the screws into lumber, you really don't need the hammer action for this job. Switch to a standard drill (or, if your hammer ...
- 181
8
votes
Accepted
What are aluminum wood screws that break easily used for?
Pretty much anyplace you'd use sheet aluminum outside. Think roofing and home exterior finish work... they are used to attach the aluminum trim used to surround the roof, or on a home with aluminum ...
- 361
8
votes
Accepted
Do you need to countersink self-countsink screws
So my question is, do I need to countersink these screws?
Since these are going to be used on the floorboards and overlaid with another layer of subfloor sheet, so long as you screw these in enough ...
- 12.1k
8
votes
Can you identify the screws used in my folding chairs
It's called either a 'Sex Bolt' or a 'Binding Post Bolt'.
Here's a page with some - https://www.grainger.com/category/ecatalog/N-1z0dryp
- 511
7
votes
Accepted
What joining methods would be best for the legs and other areas of a height adjustable desk?
In the linked design (above) for the desk they use butt joints and they use screws to construct the legs. But I was wondering if it would be better if I used wood glue.
For some joints screws can be ...
- 63.5k
7
votes
Why do I go through so many philips bits?
Posidriv is a big improvement on Philips. No experience of the others. In the UK I think Posidriv is the most common for construction, with Torx etc for specialist applications.
I use Wera Diamond bi-...
- 301
7
votes
Accepted
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.
Even with options on screws I think the first thing you should look at is why are your current screws ...
- 63.5k
7
votes
Accepted
What is this plywood joining mechanism and hardware for knock-down furniture?
Cam bolt and cam screw connector. Very popular in european style cabinetry.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Crown-Bolt-15-mm-x-19-mm-Cam-Connector-Zinc-50438/203088336
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-...
- 3,771
7
votes
Accepted
How Can I Attach a Chain to an Eye Hook?
Don't cut the chain. Either use a repair link/coupling, or slip it on the eye.
If you spread the eye, it won't come back tight, as it will spring away from the point of contact. The secret to keeping ...
- 940
7
votes
Accepted
Extract snapped screw buried in wood (not just stripped head)
I believe there are six ways you can go when you break or strip a screw:
screw extractors
left-handed drill bits
do something to the top of the broken screw that would allow you to extract it ...
- 63.5k
6
votes
Are there specific types of screws I should use for woodworking?
This one might be a little broad as it can greatly depend on the project.
In short no
There are hundreds of screw types, so sure, there are a bunch that would not work like drywall screws, sheet ...
- 20.1k
6
votes
Accepted
Fully threaded screws
You can do two things to workaround the issue that comes up using fully threaded screws (that it is difficult to fully clamp the pieces together and they can potentially be pushed apart):
Clamp the ...
- 4,798
6
votes
Why does an impact driver have some 'wobble'?
I'm going to address the "what advantage would there be over a regular drill" part of the question first.
Impact drivers are much better at driving fasteners, drills are much better at drilling. (...
- 5,490
6
votes
Making a Wooden Vise (or wooden screw thread)
You can buy the vise screw pre-made if it's going to save you a lot of headache, but you can also make a screw of a custom size, in hardwood, by making your own tap and die. The DIY tap and dies work ...
- 1,619
6
votes
Accepted
Screws back into a splitting pole
Frankly, that post looks like it has served its days. I would replace it.
However, to try and extend its life, I think the simplest solution would be to drill out the existing holes, glue in dowels ...
- 3,375
6
votes
Reuse screw holes in wood [oak]
If later we want to replace the legs, and the holes end up in the same places, it means most likely the screws won't have a secure hold since the holes have already been used.
Er, not so much.
There'...
- 63.5k
5
votes
Is this a self-drilling wood screw?
Can they self-drill?
Yes, the screw pictured above is indeed self-drilling. The cutout at the tip is what performs the drilling action. The relief in the screw shaft makes an edge which acts like a ...
- 12.1k
5
votes
Why do I go through so many philips bits?
The above answers are correct in that there are better screw head types to use. Pozidriv seems really common here in the UK and they do seem to be significantly less prone to destroying both the bit ...
- 3,918
5
votes
Accepted
Building a wooden arcade stick case
When drilling screw holes for acrylic should I make it slightly larger than the actual diameter of the screw hole so that it does not crack?
Very much yes. You're not drilling pilot holes here, you'...
- 63.5k
5
votes
Accepted
Attach fastener into glue joint of two face-glued boards
If the two boards are fully glued, they will act as a single unit and will not affect the strength of the screw connection, so go ahead.
On the other hand, a glued (mortise & tenon) connection ...
- 8,129
5
votes
Embedded nut for using machine screws?
There are several kinds of embedded nuts, depending on where and how you want to mount them.
Threaded inserts screw into a drilled hole and have threads on the inside to accept a bolt.
"T nuts" ...
- 9,171
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