Shank Screw
Shank Screw can ou really blame refs? ok granted they got screwed by the refs, the ou sooners should not have put themselves in the position for one call to make or break the game and besides the...
Shank Screw
Screws, Nails and Pins: Woodworking Fasteners
Screws, nails and pins vary greatly by size and type. Over time as one woodworking project leads into another you will gather a huge collection of fittings (also known as hardware) and it is best to keep them sorted by size and type. Small jars and cans work very well for this purpose. When you get to the assembly stage of your project and you can not find the correct woodworking fasteners it can be quite frustrating. Using a nail or screw that is a little too long or a little too wide will ruin the piece by splitting the wood so it is beneficial to take a little extra time to label the cans and jars that you are using.
For a tighter hold, screws are generally better than nails. Sizes of screws which are denoted numerically, (for instance a number 4 screw is as small as you can get and a number 12 screw is about as large as you can get) refer to the shank or gauge of the screw. Gauge is the thickness or circumference of the screw. The screw length has no bearing on the gauge of the screw but in most cases a number 4 screw will also be the shortest as well. When assembling a piece with screws the screw should be long enough to penetrate the second component to a depth of about three-quarters of the screws overall length. When there are numerous screws to be used in a project a good idea is to wrap a piece of tape around the drill bit to reach the correct depth every time. As stated above there are many different types of screws a few being the traditional slotted head wood screw with a tapered shank, the round head screw, the countersink wood screw, brass screws and numerous others.
When we talk about woodworking fasteners such as nails and pins, even though there are many lengths and widths, they tend to be fairly straight forward. Standard wire nails can be acquired in lengths from 3/8 inch to 6 inches. Nails are also sold in metric measure which would be from 19 mm to 150 mm. Because the head of the standard wire nail does not countersink very well they are usually used in areas where they will not be seen. A type of nail called a lost head nail is used where concealment is warranted as they can be inserted flush with the surface and then covered over with filler. Oval nails are also available and because they have an oval body they are the least likely to split a piece of wood. A few other nail types are annular or ring nails (the shank has rings to give it better holding power), panel pins and upholstery pins and wire nails.
About the Author
Robert "Mac" McCormack is a cabinetry and furniture hardware expert who is an avid woodworker. Mac particularly enjoys helping others get started in their own home workshop. For more information about woodworking fasteners visit Fast Easy Shed Plans.