Framing with screws or nails???

[Penturner]

Nails have been used for years and work just fine. The idea of building individual walls with nails then screwing them together will work also as long as each wall is not to heavy to move around later. Screws are stronger than nails so you need fewer of them. But that only helps if you know what nailing schedules are in the first place. Since most people build but just sticking a nail or screw where they think one is needed it is really not that much help. I built my entire coop and run with screws, but I also don't have problems driving them in. My advice on that is practice practice practice. once you get good at it there is no need for pilot holes and you can actually drive a screw faster than a 16 penny nail. Remember the further the screw drives into the wood the harder you have to push. Get the feel for that and your problem with screws will be much less.

I still vote for screws. They are stronger and you can take it all apart again when you realize you made a mistake.

 

[zazouse]

I use a nail gun for framing and coated screws for just about every thing else.

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

if your stripping your screws out you may have too much torque on your drill. Does your drill have the ability to adjust torque settings? I have one that can be adjusted to various settings and I rarely ever strip a screw (usually its when I remove them that I do manage it)...Also remember to put a good bit of pressure on the drill when your drilling a screw, that will help reduce stripping too atleast in my experience.

 

[WyandotteTX]

I use screws for smaller stuff like building cages etc but always use nails for framing or anything of substance when it comes to construction. Screws to me are time intensive, much easier to have a hammer a nail and drive it home in three hits and move on to the next one.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Drywall screws are a gift from God!! They go through just about anything and are hard to strip.

Your nails will be fine. if you are worried, drop a screw or two in just to be safe.

 

[LaurelRidgeDreams]

We use screws for everything we build - the deck, run-in sheds for the horses, equipment shed, and the chicken coop/run.

 

[redstars]

Nails are half the cost of screws I would go with nails unless you have free screws
then all bets are off. If you know someone that has an cordless impact driver, Dewalt makes an awesome one.
maybe you can borrow it. This by far is the best screw driving machine on the face of earth!
I have one for work and use it almost daily.

 

[bastage]

My coop was built using a Senco nail gun with 3" nails & a Senco Staple gun with 1.5" staples. Basically if it was thin enough for the staples to get good penetration through I used them otherwise I used he nail gun. Ultimately though as long as your putting plenty of them in it doesnt matter if you use nails or screws. But if you have access to a nail gun it will make the assembly easier for sure.

 

[blueberrychickens]

My DH used nails w/ his nail gun.....no ouchy fingers by hittin' the wrong nail!

 

[cogorman]

I used external star drive deck screws. You don't even have to buy a bit because one comes in every box! Even if the bit comes out of the head and spins at high speed they won't strip and if you have a cordless drill it's heaven.