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Questions tagged [screws]

Questions relating to threaded fasteners and their use.

Screws are a threaded fastener used to join wood, metal, or other materials. Screws come in various diameters, lengths, head shapes, drive shapes, and thread pitch. Screws are made of several different materials and coatings, depending on their intended use.

More information

Wikipedia

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How to remove screws with stripped heads?

I have wood screws whose heads are stripped from trying to remove them with a drill. The drill (or screwdrivers) can't grip the heads anymore. What can i use to remove these screws easily?
LordHits
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Understanding US Screw Sizes

I'm going to be building a workbench, so I've been 'screw shopping.' I need some explanation on the sizing of screws when they are advertised as (example) 6 x 3/4". I know that 3/4" is the length of the screw, but what does the 6 mean?
Calvin Allen
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Is there a case where nails are better than screws, from an engineering/structural standpoint?

Is there a case where nails are better than screws, from a structural standpoint? For instance: Say you used screws instead of nails on a backyard deck, when the design specifically called for nails. Would the result be inferior? Could it fail…
Chris W. Rea
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How to avoid stripping screw heads?

In at least two different contexts now (installing shower handrails, installing gate on fence) I've found myself stripping the head of the screw beyond all use. I must be doing something wrong, so what is it? The screws I'm driving are two or three…
Paul Price
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Why are there so many different types of screws (phillps/flat/hex/star/etc)?

Newbie question. Why is it that there's a bazillion different types of screws? Why can't we just always use one standard screw type? Are there advantages/disadvantages to the different types? Are there times when one type is preferred over…
Doug T.
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How much weight can screws in drywall hold?

I've always had the question of how much weight can a single screw into a drywall withstand? For instance, I would like to do things like this: It's hung with 5 screws. The whole thing weighs approximately 50kg (110 pounds) so we can say that each…
Gastón
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How do I rehang a wooden door with worn screw holes?

I have a wood door in one of my rooms where the top screws no longer hold the hinge to the wall because the screw holes have worn loose. I have tried slightly larger screws and filling with wood toothpicks, which usually lasts about a year. I…
user2278
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What is a NON-self-tapping screw? What does self-tapping mean, really?

Someone on the site suggested that I use "self-tapping screws", and gave me a link to the Wikipedia page about them. So, I went there, saw the definition: A self-tapping screw is a screw that can tap its own hole as it is driven into the material.…
einpoklum
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Should I use nails or screws for hanging drywall on the ceiling?

I'm replacing water-damaged drywall on my ceiling and was considering using screws. Other than cost, is there any other reason I should use nails instead? Or am I too paranoid that nails won't have enough holding power? I'd prefer the cheapest…
Doresoom
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How can I remove a really stuck screw?

I often come across screws that just won't budge with a manual screwdriver or even a driver bit in a drill. They are of different screw types and heads in a variety of different materials. What are some techniques I can use to try and remove them?
Tester101
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What do the numbers in screw sizes M3, M4 etc. mean?

I noticed that in some (many?) countries, screw sizes are listed as "M+number", e.g. M3, M4, M5 and so on. What does this size designation mean?
einpoklum
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What benefit do plasterboard/drywall screws have?

I have some plasterboard screws like this: However, without a drill I have a job getting them into the wall. Am I safe to use normal screws on hangings that aren't going to be taking a great deal of weight? In this case it is a rack of coat hooks.
Jivings
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What is the use for this different threading near the head of a large screw?

I'm inquiring about the strange threading at the base of this screw: These were used in somewhat heavy-duty outdoor construction. What is the purpose of that corkscrew, and is it safe to replace it with a similarly sized regular woodscrew? I…
DarkLightA
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Will removing shelving screws from studs damage the studs?

We live in a newly built home. My husband hung some Ikea shoe bins on the wall and mounted them in to the studs. I am going to paint the hallway and would like to remove the bins and hooks, patch the holes and have an even coat of paint from floor…
Lauren
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Star-shaped screw holes - what is the purpose of this shape?

I bought this spring loaded hinge and I was surprised at those star-shaped screw holes. The sales assistant at the hardware shop was clueless. I was not able to find any explanation on the web, including ChatGPT. Any suggestions?
drabsv
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