Handyman Guide > Wood Screws

WOOD SCREWS

Screws have several advantages over nails. First of all, they provide a stronger joint and can be removed easily without danger of splitting the wood, as sometimes occurs when trying to remove nails. On the other hand, screws are more expensive than nails and require considerably more time to install. There is no specific rule as to when to use a nail and when a screw, but where there is a definite pull on the joint, as on door hinges, a screw must be used. Screws should also be used on furniture, for they provide greater strength and will not split the wood if properly installed.

Screws are made of several different metals, steel and brass being the most common. As a general rule, the brass screw is used for light interior work while the stronger, steel screw is used for heavy work. The kind of wood screw used for any particular job will depend on whether or not the head of the screw is to be set above the surface of the wood or countersunk so that it is flush with the surface.

Roundhead screws will protrude above the wood surface. Oval-head screws are countersunk so that half the head protrudes, while flathead screws can be countersunk so that the head is flush with the wood or metal. When selecting a screw for a job, you must decide how long it is to be, how thick in diameter, what type head it is to have, and of what metal it should be made.

To join two pieces of wood with a screw, it is necessary first to drill a hole in the wood to avoid any possibility of splitting or the head of the screw being twisted off. The hole in the first piece of wood should be of the same diameter as the shank. The hole in the second piece should be smaller, so that the threads of the screw will gouge into the wood and take a firm grip. See Fig 54-B and A.

Be sure that the screw is started straight down and that the screwdriver is the right size. Do not put too much pressure on the screw until it is well into the wood, as it may bend. A little soap on the end of the screw will help make it run down easily.

If you want to hide the head of the screw completely, drill a hole about 3/16 of an inch deep, of the same diameter as the screw head. Drive the screw down into this hole, then glue in a wood plug. The top of th plug should be cut off level with the surface of the wood and can be stained or painted to match the rest of the wood.

Do not use a hammer and drive screws down by force. They must be run down with a screwdriver to be most effective.

CORRUGATED FASTENERS

These are strips of corrugated steel with one edge sharpened so that they can be driven into wood. They will prove useful for making joints in light work, such as window and door screen frames, and for repair work on inexpensive furniture. They come in several sizes. Drive the fastener into the wood with a hammer and distribute the blows evenly along the entire width. These fasteners should not be used on hard wood, as they will not be satisfactory.



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