View source for Woodscrews and Self-Tappers

[[File:ScrewHeads.png|300px|right]]
[[File:Drilling for Woodscrews.png|650px|right]]
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=====Description=====
Although originally limited to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_screw_drives#Slot '''Slot Head'''] ''(i.e. for Woodscrews)'' and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_screw_drives#Square '''Square Head'''] ''(i.e. for Coach Screws)'', [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw#Screw_head_shapes '''Screws'''] and '''[[Nuts, Bolts and Washers|Bolts]]''' of almost all types are now available with a  wide variety of head designs and methods of driving them.


The screws listed here are those with a point, rather than a fully parallel shank, and are used mainly for wood, plastics, sheet metal or similar and some building materials. Some tables to compare metric and imperial sizes, can be found at [https://happydiyhome.com/screw-sizes/ '''Happy DIY Home''']


For details of screws more suitable for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_engineering '''Engineering'''] applications (e.g. [http://wiki.dtonline.org/index.php/Nuts,_Bolts_and_Washers#Bolt_and_Screw_Head_Shapes '''Set Screws'''], [http://wiki.dtonline.org/index.php/Nuts,_Bolts_and_Washers#Cap_Screws '''Cap Screws'''] and [http://wiki.dtonline.org/index.php/Nuts,_Bolts_and_Washers#Grub_Screws '''Grub Screws'''], see the page on '''[[Nuts, Bolts and Washers]]'''


=====Woodscrews=====
{|
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw#Screw_head_shapes '''Countersunk Head Woodscrews''']
| The most commonly used woodscrew used where the head has to finish flush with the surface. The traditional [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_screw_drives#Slot '''Slot Head'''] screw is now largely superceded by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_screw_drives#Phillips '''Philips'''] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_screw_drives#Pozidriv '''Pozidrive'''] head types. They are most commonly available made in  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel '''Steel'''], often [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroplating '''Electroplated'''] to reduce [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrosion '''Corrosion'''] or to improve appearance, but  woodscrews made of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass '''Brass'''] for example are also common.
----
<span style="color: green">'''Note:'''
Choose a woodscrew twice the length as normal when screwing into [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_grain '''End Grain'''].
</span>
----
| [[File:CskHdWoodscrews.png|150px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw#Screw_head_shapes '''Round Head Woodscrews''']
| These can be used where the material is too thin to countersink or where the screw head is intended to add decoration. They are commonly used to fix metal fittings on to wood - an application for which [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanning '''Black Japanned'''] slot head types were used traditionally.
----
<span style="color: green">'''Note:'''
Whenever '''Slot Head''' screws are used, it is good practice to line up all the screw slots to improve the appearance of the finished product. 
</span>
----
| [[File:RndHdWoodscrews.png|150px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw#Screw_head_shapes '''Raised Countersunk Woodscrews''']
| These can be used for fixing thicker components on to wood and where strength is required as well as decoration.
----
<span style="color: green">'''Note:'''
Brass woodscrews are sometimes used with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak '''Oak'''] because of concerns about the effect of Oak's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannic_acid '''Tannic Acid'''] on steel ones, but it is advised first to screw in ''(and then out)'' a steel screw to avoid the brass screw breaking, since Oak is such a dense [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardwood '''Hardwood''']
</span>
----
| [[File:RsdHdCskWoodscrews.png|150px|right]]
|-
| '''Screw Cups'''
| These can be used when using ''''Counter Sunk Head''' or '''Raised Head''' woodscrews with thinner materials or to present a neater finish generally.
| [[File:ScrewCups.png |150px|right]]
|-
| '''Plastics Screw Covers'''
| Most commonly used to hide the head of a '''Counter Sunk''' woodscrew when assembling products made from laminated [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_board '''Chip Board'''] ''(e.g. home assembly kitchen cabinets]''.
| [[File:PlasticScrewCover.png|150px|right]]
|}

{{Woodscrews Buyers Guide}}

=====Screws for Metals and Plastics=====
{|
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-tapping_screw '''Self-Tapping Screw''']
| Used to screw together thin sheet metal, these are made of hardened steel such that they can cut their own threads into a previously drilled hole.
| [[File:SelfTappingScrews.png|150px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-tapping_screw '''Tec Screw''']
| Similar to '''Self-Tapping''' screws but with the addition of a tip shaped to enable it to drill its own hole to screw into.
| [[File:TecScrews.png|150px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clip-on_nut '''Spire Nut''' ''(aka U Nut)'']
| These can be clipped on to thin sheet materials to provide a stronger thread to receive '''Self-Tapping''' screws.
| [[File:SpireNut(aka U Nut).png|150px|right]]
|}

{{Self Tapper Buyers Guide}}

=====Special Purpose Screws=====
{|
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-tapping_screw '''Mirror Screw''']
| '''Countersunk Head''' screws which are drilled and tapped at the top to receive a screw-in dome or cap to provide a decorative finish.
| [[File:MirrorScrews.png|150px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-tapping_screw '''Coach Screw''']
| Used for larger constructional timber work, these are larger than other screws and with a square or hexagonal head to be driven by a '''[[Spanners and Wrenches|Spanner]]'''.
----
<span style="color: green">'''Note:'''
All types of woodscrew can be made easier to screw in if the head is first rubbed with a wax candle or soap or dipped into washing up liquid.
</span>
----
| [[File:CoachScrews.png|150px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clip-on_nut '''Screw Hooks and Eyes''']
| Useful as general anchor points ''(e.g. for garden trellising and picture hanging)'' the fitting will screw into wood or masonry holes with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_plug '''Rawlplugs'''] fitted.
| [[File:ScrewHooksEyes.png|150px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clip-on_nut '''Concrete Screw Anchor''']
| Made of hardened steel and able to screw themselves into a previously drilled hole in concrete, brick and blocks as an alternatuve to '''[[Nuts, Bolts and Washers|Rawlbolts]]'''.
| [[File:ConcreteScrewAnchors.png|150px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clip-on_nut '''Plasterboard Fixing''']
| The aluminium self-drilling fixing can be screwed into plasterboard on hollow walls to provide a moderately strong anchor ''(plastics versions also available but these need a hole drilling first)''
| [[File:PlasterboardFixing.png|150px|right]]
|-
| [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clip-on_nut '''GripIt Fixing''']
| These fixings can safely carry loads of up to 90kg ''(180kg max.)''. They are tapped into a pre-drilled hole and then, using a screwdriver, the  two ''wings'' at the rear are opened to provide a secure anchor on the back of the plasterboard surface.
| [[File:GripIt2.png|150px|right]]
|}

{{Specialised Screws Buyers Guides}}

[[Category:Fixings and Fastenings]]