How Can I Tell If A Particular Screw Has A Hard Head?
Question:So far, every screw has gone soft the second before I had it in all the way. It is useless at this point and I have no choice but to take it out and start over with a fresh one.
I am using the correct power tools and drilling prior to screwing. The first screws were from Wal-Mart; they are in the trash now. All the ones thereafter, I picked up in Home Depot. They are better, but still too soft.
Is there something I should be looking for when selecting a screw to insure the head won’t thread?
My last screw was:
Wood
Tornillo Madera
#10 x 2”
Flat Head Phillip
Zinc
Crown Bolt Inc.
Answers:
a Number 10 x 2"screw is quite a large screw. make sure you drill a pilot hole the right size for the screw (if your screwing into wood behind plasterboard for example), heres how you check, pick up a drill bit, make sure its as long as the screw. hold them side by side and look down then ends of them, the drill bit should only be slightly smaller than the screw. too much smaller and the screw will be too tight to turn when you get near the end.
if you screwing into brick and have put a plastic plug in the wall, put a peice of tape around the drill bit to the same lenth as the screw then you know the hole is deep enough, plastic sometimes grips the screw too much, spit on the screw and wipe it down the length before u insert it, or soap will do.
you are right though when you say the screws dont seem to be good quality nowadays, alot are made from alloys instead of proper steels etc. you can always tell by weighing them in your hand, if they feel light then they are alloy, either way you have to make sure the pilot hole is deep enougfh and wide eoungh
Before you run out and buy another brand here is something that works well. Before you drive the screw in, push it all the way down into a soft bar of soap. Then try running it in with the driver.
I did a garage organizer setup that involved putting large screws into plasterboard and old-dry studs. Screws that were so tough to get in that they jammed the driver to a standstill (one step before ripping their heads off) went in amazingly easy.
make sure the screwdriver bit is the correct size for the screw. sounds like you are screwing into hardwood. if not, check the hardware store. there are some very tough screws out there. tell them what you are drilling. 2 inches long and no 10. , hmm. do not let the screwdriver turn in the screw. use slowest speed and cordless drill.
Smart move throwing out the screws from walmart. They have terrible hardware. I suppose you don't have a Menards store in your area. (midwest?) It sounds like the wood you are drilling is pretty hard? How close to the screw size is your predrill hole. Zinc is pretty soft. Use a Galvanized deck screw. I use them all the time and I never go soft while screwing. NEVER!
Correct power tools?
It's been my experience that if you want to screw things in with power tools you'll have to change out the screw bit for every other screw or so. They go too fast, and when the screw goes soft, what usually really happens is that the drill bit is stripped off.
Be sure you're pushing down with all your force (and all the force of all your friends) when using the power tools. Even at that it's better to stop and do it by hand for the last few turns.
My screws have very hard heads, but they go soft if they aren't being put in by hand.
This question leaves way too many openings for a dirty mind. Sorry but I'm having a good laugh!
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