Choosing wood screws for various projects requires knowledge about the many kinds of wood screws available. Builders, remodelers, cabinet installers and furniture makers all require a certain type of wood screw for each particular job.
Brass wood screws and bronze wood screws work well in furniture making because of their attractive color and finish. Speaking of color, green deck screws add creative flair to the look of an outside deck. Zinc wood screws are another color of wood screw, brightly colored that gets attention. Some things you need to know about wood screws are:
1. Flat head wood screws provide a smooth surface on finished materials. Rounded heads on wood screws stick up from the surface of the material, so colored round-head wood screws show up better for aesthetic appeal.
2. Wood screws come in various thicknesses. Screws for deck building, for example, require greater thickness for support safety.
3. Some wood screws have a cutting blade on the point of the screw and some don’t. Wood screws with points, called “self-tapping,” screw into the material easier.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Identify the ideal wood screw by getting detailed wood screw information
You can find wood screws online, but realize that the ones pictured on website home pages are confusing if you're not sure what you're looking for.
I recommend: Find detailed
charts to print out that picture and explain the different types of wood screws in detail. Boltdepot.com offers the charts free of charge.
Buy wood screws online for great savings and varieties
Choose brass wood screws, bronze wood screws or stainless steel wood screws, just to name a few and save money buying from Woodworker's Supply, Inc.'s online source.
I recommend: Subscribe to a
free newsletter from Woodworker’s Supply, Inc. and stay informed about special sales and great bargains on all your wood screw needs.
Discover that tamper proof wood screws take wood screw safety to new levels of security
Some tamper proof wood screws screw in, but can't be screwed out. They have one turning radius that can't be reversed. This feature prevents removing wood screws illegally.
I recommend: Tamperproof Screw Co., Inc. of New York offers a
great selection of tamper proof wood screws. One type they offer requires a matching tool to remove it from material. Regular Phillips-head screwdrivers cannot remove this type of wood screw.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Buying wood screws in bulk is more economical for most large projects. Cabinet installers, for example, normally purchase wood screws in 25-lb. boxes.
- Tamper proof wood screws are a specialty screw, sometimes difficult to find and usually more expensive than regular wood screws.
- Stainless steel wood screws won't rust so they are great for outdoor building projects. Stainless steel wood screws are also great for working with high-end boats.
The official source of Wood Screws is the Wood Screws page at Business.com