Screws?

[THXdts 10+ year member]

What size screws do I want to use when building a box? Looked for a box building tut but couldn't find any. I know there around..just couldn't find one. Thanks.

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[Colt9699 10+ year member]

2.5 inch drywall screws is what I use.

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

I use 1 5/8" drywall screws. Orange box @ HD

 

[skadude016 5,000+ posts]

What are screws?

 

[PatFitz9 10+ year member]

I just use clamps instead of screws

 

[hoss 5,000+ posts]

anything at least 1/2" longer than the material you are using.

 

[Immacomputer 10+ year member]

2.5 inch drywall screws is what I use.

And you will split the shit out of everything...

I use 1 1/8" drywall screws if I am forced to use them. They are the safest as far as stripping and they will pull the wood in just as well as 1 1/4" screws.

Make sure not to put any screws within about 4" from the edge of the wood... it WILL split even if you pre-drill.

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

I use 1 5/8, and then I take them out after the glue cures. Then I add wood filler and sand.

 

[slikrider20 10+ year member]

I use glue and screws, they don't hurt anything. i use the 1 5/8 orange box at home depot with my little countersinking kit

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

I use glue and screws, they don't hurt anything. i use the 1 5/8 orange box at home depot with my little countersinking kit

x2

 

[matt_martin87 10+ year member]

I use glue and screws, they don't hurt anything. i use the 1 5/8 orange box at home depot with my little countersinking kit

x3.

I wouldn't mind trying a 1 1/8" screw though to see if it would work just as well. Does seem like there would be less chance of splitting.

 

[fwb_1234 10+ year member]

ok i think I'm gonna throw in my two cents.

Instead of drywall screws, which work great with drywall, get some wood screws. I'll let you choose the size, but I think that it would be wise to stay away from 2.5" monstrosities. I assume that you know you need to predrill.

The wood screws that I am talking about have a part near the head of the screw without thread. Drywall screws have thread right up to the head. The non-threaded part means that once the screw goes through the first board and into the second the head is pulling the boards closer together, without threads holding them apart. Here's a link to a pic of the screw type I'm talking about. Hope your box goes well.

http://www.tool-net.co.uk/data/tools/28csposs.jpg

 

[Colt9699 10+ year member]

And you will split the shit out of everything...
I use 1 1/8" drywall screws if I am forced to use them. They are the safest as far as stripping and they will pull the wood in just as well as 1 1/4" screws.

Make sure not to put any screws within about 4" from the edge of the wood... it WILL split even if you pre-drill.

My appologies I meant to type 1.5 inch drywall screws......2.5 would be overkill.

 

[2wheeler 10+ year member]

ok i think I'm gonna throw in my two cents.
Instead of drywall screws, which work great with drywall, get some wood screws. I'll let you choose the size, but I think that it would be wise to stay away from 2.5" monstrosities. I assume that you know you need to predrill.

The wood screws that I am talking about have a part near the head of the screw without thread. Drywall screws have thread right up to the head. The non-threaded part means that once the screw goes through the first board and into the second the head is pulling the boards closer together, without threads holding them apart. Here's a link to a pic of the screw type I'm talking about. Hope your box goes well.

http://www.tool-net.co.uk/data/tools/28csposs.jpg

Here is a man that knows WTF he is talking about. Listen to him.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

^^^Yep, but you need to find them with the unthreaded section as long as your wood is thick or countersink them to the point that the unthreaded part goes all the way through the first piece for it to do any good.

And if you can't manage to put a screw within 1" of the end of a piece of wood without it splitting, you're doing something wrong. You're either overtorqueing it, using too small a predrill or you're not using a countersink bit to countersink the screw head and relying on the screw to countersink itself.