my Old Workshop

Choose the right screws – part 1

Screws differ, of course, in their drive methods — the type of screw driver you use might be a standard flat, a Phillips or a square-drive Robertson. (There are a few others, but those are the most common.)

But screws also differ in other ways: their material, their head shape, and their thread. Different jobs demand different types. We’ll look at some of the more useful screws you might need in your DIY projects.

A standard wood screw is something you’ll use quite often. When a nail won’t do the trick or when you want a very secure fit (as in flooring or furniture), this type of screw is essential. The threads are fairly coarse and deep, which helps them drive easily, and the head is usually a flat head, which tapers below the top, so it will fit nicely in a pre-drilled countersunk hole or will create its own — so the screw is flush or below the wood’s surface.

Drywall screws are long, sharp and hard for fast driving into framing members. They’re also designed to sink into the paper surface of the board without easily tearing it.

Particleboard screws have wide, sharp threads, which will get a good hold on the fibers of the material rather than simply pushing them out of the way.

We’ll look at some other screws next time.