Screws are used to join materials together, such as wood, metal and plastic. There is an assortment of shapes, sizes and styles of screws available that are designed specifically to fasten these materials together - each serving its specific function in terms of shape, size and style. Each screw type should be selected carefully since using an inappropriate type may lead to broken or unreliable projects; selecting an ideal screw starts by knowing both its purpose and the material type it will fasten onto.
Home renovation or commercial construction projects often necessitate using metal screws of various varieties; each serving its own purpose and easily accessible at any hardware store. Brass, steel and aluminum materials such as the ones mentioned here can all be found as plated versions that provide added strength and corrosion resistance; furthermore, there is also the choice between zinc-plated and black-coated finishes to consider.
Self-tapping metal screws are often the ideal choice for projects, as their drill-like tip creates a flute and cutting edge similar to what can be found on taps - something regular screws cannot do. As regular screws cannot cut their own threads when being driven into hard substrates like metal, self-tapping ones tend to be used more in soft substrates such as wood or soft plastics.
Metal drywall screws, also referred to as drywall, sheet metal and tek screws, are fasteners commonly used for framing in construction projects. While nails require the use of a hammer to remove them, metal drywall screws can be extracted using any standard screwdriver allowing quick and simple repairs without using nails as much. They're great options for attaching trim, paneling and insulation to walls quickly.
Threaded metal screws are engineered to grip materials securely while also being designed to minimize stress so as to not break. Their length also plays an important role, as this determines how much force is necessary to fasten materials together.
If you need advice about which screw is the right one for your project, consulting a professional may provide the best results. They can suggest the ideal size and type of screws as well as suggest any finishing options which might be needed.
Notably, certain types of screws may cause irreparable harm when used improperly. For instance, when fastening wood frames to sheet metal frames with sheet metal screws a drill with appropriate speed must be used to avoid stripping holes out, over tightening of which can stretch out threads and reduce fastening power significantly. Also when attaching wood screws to metal structures it would be wiser to opt for stainless steel ones which will resist corrosion more effectively than wood ones.
