Screws or Nails..

[aggiemae]

So far I have used screws, nails, staples and wood glue.

 

[Red Barn Farms]

Decking screws work great. They make screws with whats called recess heads. That's the ones i choose to use. I think they even come with the correct size bit. It's a R4 bit. I've had to many times when I've been building something then wanted to change it only to have to pry nails back out and end up breaking the wood or something you wish you hadn't broke. LOL! I use my cordless drill with the bits.

 

[OldGuy43]

How about NASA fasteners for a really sturdy build?

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19900009424_1990009424.pdf

I worked for a company once that used them. One ½ x 3" nut & bolt set cost about a dollar, but they sure were reliable.

Than again NASA doesn't build much out of wood.

 

[PaintedCavalry]

We've been using a lot of nails.

Mainly because we have a gas powered nail gun. That's 10x's quicker than a screw gun.

 

[OldGuy43]

We've been using a lot of nails.

Mainly because we have a gas powered nail gun. That's 10x's quicker than a screw gun.

That's what I like about my air powered staple gun for parts that aren't under load. Staples are cheaper than nails, too.

SCREWS & TREATED LUMBER ALERT!!!

Read this somewhere quite awhile back, and promptly forgot about it since I'm a repurposed pallet lumber kinda guy. Be careful about what kind of screws or nails you use if you're using pressure treated lumber. Such wood is corrosive to common, uncoated fasteners. A Google search on " screws for treated lumber " produces lots of results, but here's one well researched and written article:

http://www.mcfeelys.com/tech/acq.htm

 

[kmatt87]

we didn't build ours but we made sure to get one with screws. If something needs to be charged, repaired or replaced its so much easier to do it with screws. Plus i think they're more secure and since we get 70+ mph winds here i thought they'd hold a little better

 

[Cryss]

I don't know one screw from another. I saw a box of decking screws that were threaded halfway from the point then became smooth the other half to the head. I'm lost. Will these not stick out half way? Will the smooth end just follow through? Is this a good screw to use? I'm building from scrap mostly 3x2x8's and 3/4 inch boards of varying sizes. There will be other varying sized boards of varying thicknesses. Thoughts? Help?

 

[Dmontgomery]

I don't know one screw from another. I saw a box of decking screws that were threaded halfway from the point then became smooth the other half to the head. I'm lost. Will these not stick out half way? Will the smooth end just follow through? Is this a good screw to use? I'm building from scrap mostly 3x2x8's and 3/4 inch boards of varying sizes. There will be other varying sized boards of varying thicknesses. Thoughts? Help?

The threaded part of the screw holds the top board to the bottom board. The smooth part sits inside the top board. For securing the 3”x2” boards to each other use a 2 1/2” long deck screw and only sink the screw until the top of the screw is just slightly below the surface of the top board. If your top board is 3/4” thick and is going in to a 3x2 board, use a 2” screw. Is 3/4” boards are being secured to each other, use 1 5/8” deck screws. The screws with the “star drive” head are much better because the heads don’t strip out as easy as Phillips head screws.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Screws!!! Stronger and easier to use and take out when needed. And i don’t have a purple thumb by the end like when I use a hammer. Lol. (I actually have a purple right now from using nails for a different project)

 

[OhZark Biddies]

When I make a mistake, very easy too back the screws out and reuse the wood.

Same here, but not just mistakes, but sometimes things change and you want to expand, or move something, etc.

Also, I find it easier to keep things square, when I'm not banging it out of square with every nail... of course with a nail gun that's not an issue, but I don't own a framing gun, just a finish nailer and a brad nailer.

Also too, I've done enough remodeling over the years that I've filled coffee cans full of old nails and screws... bent nails aren't good for much unless you spend the time to straighten them (which I've done plenty of) , but used screws often get repurposed.

On the other hand screws cost a bit more, and if you're shooting in nails with a nail gun, it can be much faster.