After many, many weekends, I began assembly on my current project. I was driving 3″ #10 screws by hand. The holes were predrilled for the screws. After several screws, one of them sheered in half with little or no warning. The legs that were supposed to be able to be taken apart for moving are now permanently joined.
The screws were purchased at Home Depot. Just a standard flat top phillips head wood screw, manufactured in China.
Question: How can I be assured that the fasteners I’m using are decent quality?
Replies
McFeeleys sells quality hardware, or Lee Valley might be a good place to look. The screws at HD are probably pretty cheap.
I've had good luck with the highpoint screws sold at woodcraft. Particularly like the dry-lubed ones. I do work there, so take it with a grain of salt if you would like.
Chris
Answer: Don't buy them from Home Depot or Lowe's.
The screws from McFeely's or the various woodworking supply outlets (Lee Valley, Rockler, Woodcraft, etc.) are good.
-Steve
Try some McFeely's or SPAX screws. Woodworking Magazine did a test in the summer 2008 issue. Almost all of the BORG screws broke while driving and none of the McFeely's or SPAX screws broke. The better screws were also cheaper.
Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans.
When your ship comes in... make sure you are not at the airport.
Ditto the others on quality screws. But also use a screw lube like bees wax, akum pucky, paste wax, soap. lube every screwing !
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Edited 5/9/2009 1:08 pm ET by BruceS
"lube every screwing !"
Now there is advice to live by!
Many years ago I was new to w/w and I had used soap to lube some screws. Not long after I noticed rust. An old timer told me to stay away from soap as it attracted moisture. Besides a possibly cheap finish on the screws I guess it made sense and I've never used soap again.
I now just keep a couple of used med/pill bottles that I fill with toilet bowl wax. Cheap and easy to find at any hardware center. Use the childproof cap to keep dirt out and it stays on while bumping around in the tool box/bucket/pocket. No mess no drips. Toss away when finished
I'm not flippin' you off.........just counting cubits
I didn't have any bees wax or soap handy, so I grabbed some vegetable oil from the kitchen. It certainly helped with the next dozen screws I put in. Hopefully there's no side effect from vegetable oil.
Thanks all for the advice. Time to upgrade my supply of screws......
Scott
...as with any of these tips....be mindful of contaminating the surrounding area for finishes to be done later...
the main post idea....stay with quality such as McFeely's, Lee Valley, etc
I'm not flippin' you off.........just counting cubits
Old Beach,
Toilet bowl wax is what I use too. It sure is inexpensive. I keep mine in an old plastic 35mm film canister.
Now that I've switched to digital though I don't know what I'll do when I use this last canister up...
The wax can get out and jump on you and on your work if you're not careful. Gotta watch it every second.
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
Zolton,
I've never waxed my toilet before. I just scrub with some Comet.
Hmm, what brand shall I use?
Seriously though, I went over to McFeely's website last night. They are into screws!
--Jonnie
That sounds like it should be in some other forum.
We get to soon oldt und to late schmart
Earlier this week, I was using some #8 - 3/4" screws I had bought at HD to attach some figure eights to a table leg assembly. I was using a Vix bit to start the holes and a 4v Li-Ion driver to drive the screws. THREE of those freaking screws sheared off!!! I also noticed that a new #2 Phillips bit wanted to "stick" in the screw heads.
The rest of the HD screws went into the recycle bin and I'll get replacements from my local ACE hardware.
I'm fortunate to have a good supply of decades-old, American-made fasteners, so I doubt I'll need to source any from the better suppliers noted above.
In addition to pre-drilling, I make a habit of "tapping" the holes for brass screws with a steel screw of the same size, rubbing a bit of bee's was into the threads of both the tapping screw and the final brass one.
For pieces intend to be dis-assembled, it may be better to use KD-style (knock-down) fasteners designed for that purpose.
Ralph,
I've never heard of tapping a screwhole with the same size screw but using steel before a brass screw.
Thanks. I'll try it.
I love this place!
--Jon
Brass screws;
They are softer metal which strips easily and the heads will commonly be damaged. Since the screws will be partly decorative, the pretesting with a same size steel screw makes sense. I saw the tip in a blog somewhere several years ago. I have saved a lot of ruined brass screw since then.
When I use stainless I do the same thing as stainless can shear or be damaged easily.
Sincerely Sam
Farmboy,
I've had lots of experience with brass screw heads getting all dinged up at the slot. That was electrical work, though. Looks and workmanship were certainly important, but not at that fine a level.
It's a good suggestion and you can be sure I'll use it. Thank you.
--Jonnieboy
Another point about brass screws - they will quickly tell you about the quality of your screwdrivers. Conventional screwdrivers have tapered blades, which translates to a loose fit in the bottom of the screw's slot. A machinist's or gunsmith's set that has blades where the sides are ground parallel will work far better, and allow the selection of a bit that precisely fits the screw.
You remind me of an article published in FWW in Sept/Oct 1984 entitled "Sharpening Screwdrivers" by Michael Podmaniczky. Not only did he recommend grinding the blade so the sides would be parallel but to also chamfer the corners so they would match the bevel of the screw.
Ralph,
Keeping in mind Swanny's suggestion about McFeely's square drives, have you suggestions for brands of machinist or gunsmithing tools? Particular brands to watch out for?
I use Klein screwdrivers mostly, which I love, yet I still have problems with Phillips heads rounding out. I try to mate up the driver with the screw size. Now I'm thinking maybe it really is the tool and not the operator. If that's the case, it may be the first time I've ever had that happen.
--Jonnieboy
Jonnie,
Regarding your experience about "rounding out" Phillips head screws with screwdrivers, that used to happen to me a lot as well. But then someone pointed out that screwdriver tips get worn out over time.
Sure enough. After buying a new set of drivers, I had considerably better luck at driving screws. Sometimes it's easy to ignore the obvious - something for which I seem to have built no small reputation...
The odd part of this is I still have the old, worn out old screwdrivers. Can't seem to throw them away for love or money. And, sad to say, I've got all my dad's old screwdrivers that I inherited after he passed away. He couldn't throw them out and now I can't either. Anyone have any idea about what to do with old, worn out Phillips head screwdrivers?
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
Zolton,
I can't believe you said that. My Dad died last year, and he was infamous to the entire family for hanging onto a Phillips even if it looked like an awl from so much use.
I have two of his old Craftsman Phillips head sitting on the bench right now. I can trade them in for new ones, free. The Sears store is about 10 minutes away. But do I? Nope, there they sit. I might need 'em. Suddenly I realized, I am my father's son.
--Jon
Jon,
"I am my father's son." So true, too, in my case. For good - and bad...
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
"Regarding your experience about "rounding out" Phillips head screws with screwdrivers, that used to happen to me a lot as well. But then someone pointed out that screwdriver tips get worn out over time."
One interesting aside to this is that a Philips head screw was actually designed to "cam out". The idea back in the early 20th century is that such screws would discourage unauthorized dissassembly of manufactured goods. At least, that's the urban legend - I'm a bit too lazy to read through all of the various patents for these things at the US Patent search site to confirm it.
Ralph,
Apologies. I just did a search here on Knots and found 198 postings regarding screwdrivers. Sorry to ask first and look later.
Jonnie
Buy American.
mike
Most of the Home Depots now have a Spax fastener display. Look for an end cap with a good display. If your locals don't have them order them online.
Go to an industrial supply house. MSC & McMasters are two that come to mind. McFeelys is also good.
T.Z.
GRK hasn't been mentioned. German quality and star drive. Not only have I broken screws in the wood (China) but I have snapped off drill bits as well (China). Mcfeely's square drive are virtually indestructible. I use both and the rest are in a bucket neatly arranged and never used.
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