DIY Thread - Let's see your "Inventions".

[rojororeo]

Hay a rock works.

BTW I use a couple of quick nails to Hold stuff in place but then I use screws to hold it for ever. ON small projects I dont bother with the nails. I got tired of going through stuff I built over time and having to pound the nails back in. then I discovered first Dry wall screws then deck screws. No pre-drilling Just screw it all together. Plus you have less of a chance for splitting the wood.

deb

Well, my post on hating nailing got lots of help! Thanks lol.
Yes, I am pretty good with screwing things in most times, but I didn't want to drag the drill and such out right then. I put together what ended up being an atrocity of a chicken coop which we later tore down; I did it with screws, and the amount we wasted dismantling it due to them being stripped, I haven't lived down yet, so I thought I would try nails this time. lol. The dang things really honestly weren't even long enough to start with! So now we have some 'wasted' 2x4 sitting in the barn, since the rock seems to be working well.
And YES ! second the deck screws- ESPECIALLY the square head ones! Phew those things are amazing. I think I still need to get an impact drill, as I can still strip screws with the best of them... i was told it is a girl thing? That we have a harder time starting the screws? So an impact would get that initial oomph I seem to be missing? Anyhoo, that wasn't meant to start a war or knock women, I know I struggle to get the screw started, even the self drilling. And forget non-self drilling. Mostly meant to see if anyone had useful opinions on that.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:

And YES ! second the deck screws- ESPECIALLY the square head ones! Phew those things are amazing. I think I still need to get an impact drill, as I can still strip screws with the best of them... i was told it is a girl thing? That we have a harder time starting the screws? So an impact would get that initial oomph I seem to be missing? Anyhoo, that wasn't meant to start a war or knock women, I know I struggle to get the screw started, even the self drilling. And forget non-self drilling. Mostly meant to see if anyone had useful opinions on that.

I give the screw a little tap with the hammer. Just to dent the wood. One of the issues with stripping out screws is low quality screws or poor fitting screw driver heads. They must fit well with little to no wiggle. Also once the screw gets started it will do the work of driving itself into the wood. The only pressure you need to apply would be enough to keep the screw driver head in contact with the screw.

Us girls have to adapt to tools that were designed for men who have better upper body strength.

deb

 

[mlowen]

Well, my post on hating nailing got lots of help! Thanks lol.
Yes, I am pretty good with screwing things in most times, but I didn't want to drag the drill and such out right then. I put together what ended up being an atrocity of a chicken coop which we later tore down; I did it with screws, and the amount we wasted dismantling it due to them being stripped, I haven't lived down yet, so I thought I would try nails this time. lol. The dang things really honestly weren't even long enough to start with! So now we have some 'wasted' 2x4 sitting in the barn, since the rock seems to be working well.
And YES ! second the deck screws- ESPECIALLY the square head ones! Phew those things are amazing. I think I still need to get an impact drill, as I can still strip screws with the best of them... i was told it is a girl thing? That we have a harder time starting the screws? So an impact would get that initial oomph I seem to be missing? Anyhoo, that wasn't meant to start a war or knock women, I know I struggle to get the screw started, even the self drilling. And forget non-self drilling. Mostly meant to see if anyone had useful opinions on that.

I second the idea of an impact driver!! I built my entire coop & run (20 x 10 feet) with screws. LOVE that impact driver!!

 

[colburg]

And YES ! second the deck screws- ESPECIALLY the square head ones! Phew those things are amazing. I think I still need to get an impact drill, as I can still strip screws with the best of them... i was told it is a girl thing? That we have a harder time starting the screws? So an impact would get that initial oomph I seem to be missing? Anyhoo, that wasn't meant to start a war or knock women,


, even the self drilling. And forget non-self drilling. Mostly meant to see if anyone had useful opinions on that.

rojo, Next time you're at the hardware store, look for a drive guide.

See the 2 longer peices on the right? They have two shafts. An inner shaft that turns the bit and screw, and an outer shaft that's loose. The outer shaft will slide up over the screw(as long as the screw head isn't too big) and hold the bit on the screw while you push. No more bit slipping off and jabbing your fingers.

Shouldn't cost more than $5-$8.

 

[aart]

A bar of soap works also.

But soap makes everything all slippery, it's mess....I've tried that one, beeswax is much better.

 

[Black wallnut]

But soap makes everything all slippery, it's mess....I've tried that one, beeswax is much better.

Johnson's paste wax works wonders as a fastener lubricant. The soap that works is bar soap like ivory. Candle wax also works.

With lower quality screws such as drywall screws an impact driver may simply break the screws.

 

[Toast n Jelly]

So here is a makeshift 'invention' I came up with.
Someone on here posted a nifty bowl holder made of 4 pieces of wood to set to bowl in to prevent tippage. Well, I tried to make that, and couldn't get the darn nails in the wood without bending them, so I gave up until my husband can do it (yes it could be screwed, but he gets annoyed that I use screws for everything in my desire to avoid hammering, lol).
My replacement idea currently- I stuck a big rock in the middle of the bowl and poured the food around/on the rock. We shall see how that works, but since up here in eastern WA, we seem to all breed rocks in our pastures (shh, don't tell the gov'mnt, we might get taxed!! lol), I have *plenty* of rocks to use!
Anyhoo, my 1/2 a penny's worth of an idea!

I do that too lol!

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:

And YES ! second the deck screws- ESPECIALLY the square head ones! Phew those things are amazing. I think I still need to get an impact drill, as I can still strip screws with the best of them... i was told it is a girl thing? That we have a harder time starting the screws? So an impact would get that initial oomph I seem to be missing? Anyhoo, that wasn't meant to start a war or knock women, I know I struggle to get the screw started, even the self drilling. And forget non-self drilling. Mostly meant to see if anyone had useful opinions on that.

Self drilling are good tools. But it depends really on what you are fastening to... I use self drilling and tapping screws in applications where I am going through at least sixteen gauge or thicker. You have to have a steady hand but once you get used to them they are fabulous for putting up tin roofing. the drill part starts your hole and goes through the material and the threads are designed to cut and clear chips as they make threads in the material. Drilling and tapping come in many many diferent varieties. I used to require Trilobular screws for circuit card attachment. These form their own threads in plastic or aluminum.

The ones for wood work like butter. But If you are going for attaching through very thick material a pilot hole might be the best choice for the first board.... Then the self drilling screw fed through and let it do its work in the second board.

They also make screw holders that go on the end of the driver. You load the screw in and the sleeve slides down and holds the screw upright. Like having a second pair of hands.

deb

 

[PrimroseMom1]

I give the screw a little tap with the hammer.  Just to dent the wood.  One of the issues with stripping out screws is low quality screws or poor fitting screw driver heads.  They must fit well with little to no wiggle.  Also once the screw gets started it will do the work of driving itself into the wood.  The only pressure you need to apply would be enough to keep the screw driver head in contact with the screw.
 
Us girls have to adapt to tools that were designed for men who have better upper body strength.
 
deb

Amen. I struggled with screws until I figured it out that I needed better screws and head. I bought these wonderful top quality screws with star heads wow. Those things slipped in like hot butter. Don't go cheap.

 

[yogifink]

All this talk about screwing stuff in... invest in a small pancake air compressor and a nail gun. You can get a good set for under $200 at a big box store. Most useful tool I own. Nail are a lot less expensive than screws, so in the long run it pays off.