Replies

1. 
   UncleDunc | May 19, 2002 12:29am | #1

   These aren't gold plated, are they? Just your basic black oxide trumpet head wood screws? Did they cost a _lot_ more than the phillips?

   I'm more likely to run into that situation with nice clear wood. "Hmm. It'd be a shame to bury this under the sink. I might need to rip it up and use it for molding some day."

1. 
   Sancho | May 19, 2002 07:26am | #6

   Nah nutting special really just a zinc coated steel, not really expensive but I had to mail order them. Just got them friday. There still in the boxes. I did use the cabinet hanging screws #10 round head square drive worked pretty good. Darkworksite4: When the job is to small for everyone else, Its just about right for me"

2. 
   KenHill3 | May 19, 2002 01:02am | #2

   Hey, Brother Ron!

   Yeah, I usually don't use my stash of pocket screws to put together 2x cabinet bases :o) Actually, I also won't use say galv. screws when the black oxide will do. But I always use galv. outside or when things may need to be disassembled.................Really, though, I'm getting fed up with phillips head anyway. Seems that the bits are all shaped slightly different, so they never fit the screw head that good and then strip, and I mean fresh, virgin bits. In the end, I think that the Robertson/square drive #2 is almost as good as it gets. Certainly that's what McFeely's will tell ya. I've got a bunch of Torx screws, but they're hit or miss availability-wise as are the bits. And there's no standard for Torx size among the manuf's.

   Let's hear it for square drive!

   Ken Hill

1. 
   MisterT | May 19, 2002 02:58am | #3

   Part of it is probably the fact that you have to send away for them. Kinda makes 'em special even if they are about the same price!

   If I have two types of screws that wiil do a job I use the ones I have more of just incase there's a time when only the others will do a job!

   my two cents

   T

   Layers

   Onions

   Have

   Layers,

   Carpenters

   Have

   Layers

2. 
   MarkH128 | May 19, 2002 04:43am | #4

   I hate it when the square drive bits lock up in the head of the screw. I usually jerk the bit loose from the holder, or loose my grip on the drill when that happens. I bought some of those quadrex screws. They dont work well with the quadrex or phillips or square drive bits. I'm staying with phillips for a while.

3. 
   pm22 | May 19, 2002 05:22am | #5

   Ron,

   I've had good luck with Vermont/American phillips bits. The have ribs on the tips which seem to reduce cam out. Since you are a regular, I assume you drill a clearance hole in the first piece. If the second piece is really hard, you might need to resort to using a pilot hole in the second piece. Maybe put some lubricant like hair oil on the thread to reduce friction and thus torque.

     -Peter

4. 
   BossHog | May 20, 2002 04:15pm | #7

   When I first saw the "special screws" title, I'd hate to tell you what I first thought about..........(-:

   I really like McFeely's screws, but they are danged expensive. I use them for stuff that I want to stay together a long time, or stuff that calls for a special length screw. (Size DOES matter)

   But for utility stuff I just use the cheap ones from the lumberyard.

   Don't be redundant by repeating yourself

1. 
   rebildit | May 20, 2002 10:31pm | #8

   I have to admit...one of the few things I really do like at Home Depot are the coated coarse thread decking screws, the tan ones, not the dark green ones.  The tan (supposed to look like cedar they say) have a sharp point and use a hybrid tip to drive them, somewhere between and #3 phillips and a square drive combined.  They sink easily into most soft woods and retain their head shape for the invariable reversal that is commonplace in remodeling (at least on my jobs!)  Also, because they are deck screws, the throat is thicker and therefore they are unlikely too snap.

   Just bought a large box(25#?) of 2 1/2" and 3" about $65 per...not too bad when the small boxes are about $20 a pop.  Don't really care too much about the effectiveness of the coating because I never leave them exposed, they are always either buried in the framing or covered with 'Bondo' if used for exterior trim.

   Bill

1. 
   Piffin | May 25, 2002 05:49pm | #9

   Anti rust coatings are important, even when covered. Moisture in the lumber can encourage rust. Given enough time, rust will expand the metal of the screw, not only weakening it but poping the bondo off the surface.

   Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   PostnBeam | May 27, 2002 04:20am | #11

   I agree with ya...I think there are Deckmate or something..anyways there are always floating around in my bags for such.

5. 
   Skiyup | May 26, 2002 09:01am | #10

   Ron,

   I do the same thing,saving the good stuff for a better appplication. I get over it when the truck won't hold anything else or I run out of the cheap crap. I also have a hard time throwing away drops from 3/4" finish plywood. Skip

6. 
   Catskinner | May 27, 2002 06:07am | #12

   Ron, I'm glad you posted that. Now I know I'm not the only one who thinks that way. <G>

   I've been thinking maybe if I bought, oh, like, maybe 50 pounds of each size I'd get over it.

   DRC