For fastening (from the top side, no hidden stuff here) 5/4 cedar 1×6 to P.T. SYP deck joists. I am looking at a #8 x 2-1/2 trim head SS squaredrive with tan painted head from McFeeley’s.
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pilot drill too...ss heads spin out REAL easy..
http://www.grkfasteners.com/countersinking_screws.htm
Edited 12/16/2003 6:58:54 PM ET by SPHERE
I have to use stainless screws on the cable rails we do and had the spin out problem. Bought a makita impact screwgun and no more spinout. Light and easy to handle and boy does it drive screws. All my guys are jealous and are constantly using my Makita while their DeWalts go unsued.
Suppliers by me have just started selling DeckMate brand screws. I have used no less than 50 pounds of them since they first appeared on the shelves and I don't think I have snapped a head on one yet.
Also, they come with a tip that is similar to a #3 phillips but not quite. Thinking back, I'm not sure I've even stripped one yet with or without a pilot.
They come in tan brown and green.
Good stuff
I also like the Deck-Mate phillips/square drive screws. I have had much less problem with "cam-out" with the Vermont American special driver bits than with either square drive or phillips. I buy mine at Home Depot (about the only thing I shop for there anymore...) One of the special bits comes with each package of screws, but Vermont American has licensed the bit, so you can buy them extra.
I don't know how well the coating holds up, but one of the manufacturers of ACQ treated lumber lists it as acceptable to use with their product, so it must do better than standard electro-galvanized.
http://www.treatedwood.com/fastener.pdf
I too can recommend the Deckmate screws. Used, 75 lbs of them on my house floors just recently. Got them at Home Depot. Lowes also has them but in the regular phillips head configuration. The HD version has the special head which I can also highly recommend. In all my screwing, I think I only snapped one head. Drove them with either a Milwaukee drywall driver or my Makita impact driver. For the most part they drive really easily. The coating is awesome. Even some of the ones that I had to pull out still had the coating completely in tact.
Good luck
Rob Kress