Secrets of the Screw
I often see friends and fellow home-improvers using screws in
their DIY efforts, and it never ceases to amaze me how hard some
of these people find it to make a simple screw do what it's
designed for. lets take a look at why. Of the two basic types of
screw (Phillips cross head and the older 'traditional' slot
head) the Phillips is gaining ground rapidly, due mainly to the
fact that the extra cross-slot means you can apply more force
and thus drive it into denser materials. You need both types of
screwdriver in your toolbox, because believe you me, nothing
ruins a screwdriver faster than using it on the wrong type of
screw! But what type of screw to use? Let's focus on common
plywood for a moment - a material we often use at
www.homeimprovementor.com because of its cheapness and
versatility. You use number 8 screws for plywood up to 5/8th of
an inch thick. Between 1/2 an inch and 3/8ths of an inch, you
need a number 6. above that, try a number 4.
To join 2 pieces of wood with a screw, follow these easy steps.
Firstly, make a mark where you plan to do the screwing. Position
the pieces together and fasten with a clamp or your mighty left
hand. Depending on the job, you may be able to use your body
weight thru your knee to hold the bits in place. If neither of
these methods are practicable, and you intend to sit several
screws, use the first one as an effective 'clamp' by tightening
it firm before you start the other screws.
Drill a quick pilot hole thru the bits. This pilot hole should
be less than half the diameter of the screw you intend to
insert. Handy www.homeimprovementor.com tip - if you want to
gauge the depth your have drilled, place a bit of tape on the
drill bit.
Countersink on the top piece of wood, so the job will look nice
and sit flush. Insert the screw and tighten till the head is
flush with the countersunk hole. Don't over-tighten or most
modern self-tapping screws will start to 'chew up' the wood, and
may even become loose!
To hide the screw head (especially important on jobs where
security is an issue!) use a dowel plug. You'll have to drill
the countersink a little deeper for this, of course. After
inserting the plug, simply sand it down level with the board.
Handy tip to prevent splitting when screwing near the end of a
board - drill a larger hole and insert a dowel, then screw into
THAT instead of the wood itself. Easy huh? Till next time, happy
screwing!