Steel screws are considered to be the best for woodworking and interior DIY due to their strength and versatility. It has become common to use 'production screws' for such purposes. They feature defined points and threads with sufficient strength and sharpness to penetrate the hardest types of wood.
I'm with you--i reach for Number 6 90% of the time. Number 8 when there is some serious structural issues, and then move to 10-14 for door hinges and Number 10 construction screws with a square head for most serious outdoor stuff that needs to be solid.
Yes it is best to drill pilot holes before installing screws. If you don't, the material is more likely to crack.
Strongest Wood Screws
A lag screw is the strongest in the family of wood screws. It is a sturdy and durable fastener often designed with an externally driven hex drive or square head. Lag screws feature a tapered point and coarse threads and are typically tougher and much heavier than conventional wood screws.
Screws from #6 through #10 are used for general-purpose joining of panels, and are also popular sizes for pocket hole screws. Thicker screws such as #14 screws are used for decking, construction and cabinet installation.
Torx screws are widely used in motorsport, electronics and fabrication industries, where their ability to handle high torque efficiently is invaluable. The robustness and reliability of Torx make it a preferred choice for manufacturers and engineers looking for efficiency and durability in their fastening solutions.
A butt joint is a way to arrange and join two pieces of wood. To create a butt joint, simply place the end of one piece of wood against another piece of wood. Usually wood glue is then used to permanently join the pieces together. A butt joint is the simplest way to join two pieces of wood.
Ans. A screw join two pieces of wood better than a nail because the threads of a screw grip the wood more firmly and so it does not come out easily.
There is a rule of thumb that the anchor length (the length of threads in the board you are fastening to) should be twice that of the fastened material (the thickness of the material being fastened). So a 1-1/2" piece of material fastened to another piece of material should have 3" of threaded shaft into that material.
Self-drilling screws are useful for fastening wood and metal. They can attach wood to wood, metal to metal and metal to wood, and they're ideal for most lightweight and low-density materials. It's also easy to know how to use a self-drilling screw due to their simple design.
Standard 2x4s or 2x6s require a 3 in. L fastener, while 5/4x4s or 5/4x6s only require a 2-1/2 in. L fastener. With rare exceptions, it's that simple.
The most common sizes used by woodworkers are the #6 to #12 sizes. The smaller gauge screws come in one or two lengths. For example, a #1 screw is only available in a ¼” length. Larger gauge screws come in various lengths – the ever popular #8 comes in 14 lengths, from 3/8″ to 3 ½”.
Determining the Ideal Screw Length in Woodworking
For most woodworking projects, the rule of thumb is that your screw should be at least twice the thickness of the thinnest piece being joined. For example, if you're fastening a 1/2‑inch thick board, you would ideally use a 1‑inch long screw.
Wood screws come in either partially or fully threaded varieties. Steel screws are considered to be the best for woodworking and interior DIY due to their strength and versatility. It has become common to use 'production screws' for such purposes.
The length of the screw should be sufficient to penetrate both pieces of wood being joined. As a general rule, the screw should be at least 1.5 times the thickness of the thickest piece of wood. If the screw is too short, it may not provide enough holding power.
The main disadvantage of the screwed joints is the stress concentration in the threaded portions which are vulnerable points under variable load conditions.
What is the strongest woodworking joint? For excellent stability, the mortise and tenon joint is a great choice. It's a relatively simple joint, yet it holds well. Woodworkers have been using it for generations because of its strength, versatility and simple design.
To complete the process, you'll drill pilot holes into a board, align it with another board, then drive screws through the first board's pilot holes and into the second board. If you've never drilled pocket holes before, it's wise to practice on scrap wood so you can get a feel for the process.
Permanent fixings
Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) - Used as a general purpose woodworking glue, and some PVA adhesives are water resistant. This is most commonly used to join wood but can also be used with papers and boards. Epoxy resin (ER) - Used for joining woods to other materials such as metals and plastics.
Self-drilling screws are used in a variety of applications where speed and convenience are important factors. They can be used in wood, plastic, and metal materials with ease and can be used to quickly secure items together without having to pre-drill pilot holes.
KEY-REX® PATENTED ELITE-SECURITY LEVEL
Key-Rex® is the most secure, tamper-proof screw and bolt on the market, with worldwide patents and exclusive-to-you drives.
BUMAX® Ultra – the world's strongest bolt
The BUMAX® Ultra range of fasteners are made at the BUMAX factory in Åshammar, Sweden. BUMAX® Ultra is used for security lock systems, aerospace systems, high pressure applications and pump and valve systems – all with excellent results.