Working with wood can be an exciting activity if you have the right equipment. Do you already have the wooden or chipboard boards but you are unsure about the choice of screws to assemble them? You are in the right place ! In this article, we will answer the question you are probably asking yourself: which screws to choose to assemble wood? You will see that it is necessary to take into account certain criteria such as the footprint, the screw head or even the thread. Let's see it together! ⚒️
What is a screw for joining wood?
Definition
First of all, know that there are as many types of screws as there are different materials. We do not use the same screws to assemble metal, sheet metal, etc. But what interests us here are the wood screws. If you are assembling solid wood or chipboard furniture, you will need these screws. To tell them apart, take a closer look at their heads and threads. Indeed, their head is systematically milled, and can take different shapes, the most common being flat or round. The tip of these screws is pointed, so they are self-drilling. There are other types of wood screws, technical screws. reserved for terraces, frames, and all types of exterior structures. 🏚️
Should you choose different screws for wood and chipboard?
To assemble a piece of furniture, you will need so-called screws VBA, which simply means Wood Screws and Chipboard. Whether it is solid wood, melamine, plywood or any other form of reconstituted wood, the screws to use are the same. But, if you take a trip to a DIY store, you will notice that among these screws, there are a multitude of heads, impressions and threads. Let's start by talking about their heads. 🔩
Screws for assembling wood: recognizing the head and imprint of wood screws
The different types of wood screw heads
There are generally three types of screws. The first are flat head screws. These are widely used in manufacturing or assembly of furniture. In fact, their flat head is designed to be as less visible as possible. When a hole is countersunk, it is flush with the surface of the furniture. Many brands also provide a bag of screw covers in their kit furniture, to make them even more discreet. 🥷
The second type of screw is distinguished by its round head. These are made, unlike the first, to be seen. We therefore use them in lock installation work, for example. Finally, the last type of screw is the square or hexagonal head screw. Also called lag screws, these screws are used in robust anchors, such as in frames for example. If this is your project, look for special framing lag screws, which are designed to securely fix the wood. On the other hand, to assemble wooden furniture, the VBAs are sufficient. 👌
The different types of wood screw impressions
The shape at the top of the screw is called an imprint. This shape will allow you to insert different types of screwdrivers, which you will have to choose so that the two can fit together. There are many forms of imprints, the most common being:
- Countersunk head screws: it is a simple line, into which you will insert a flat screwdriver. If you want to use a screwdriver, this type of screw is not the most suitable. Indeed, there is a good chance that the tool will slip and damage the screw thread. 😰
- Phillips screws: they are recognizable by their cross shape. You will find cruciform screws with a four-pointed cross, called a “Phillips” shape or with a six-pointed one, called a “Pozidriv”. These can easily be screwed in and unscrewed using a power tool. In this way, they are very practical!
- Torx screws: Less common than flat or Phillips screws, these are sometimes used in flat-pack furniture. This thread is also widely used on technical screws.
- Square or hexagonal screws: Like Torx, these models are rather rare, although they tend to appear more and more in kit furniture. 🪛
Other criteria for choosing a screw to assemble wood
The thread of the wood screw
Among the other criteria that come into play when choosing wood screws, we can mention the threading. This is the spiral shape of the screw. This can be total or partial, the upper part of the screw remaining smooth in this case. The full thread has the advantage of firmly anchoring the sections of wood to each other. That being said, partial threading is generally very suitable for furniture assembly work.
Furthermore, if you are working on solid wood, carefully check the type of wood species. Indeed, with soft woods such as fir or poplar, it is not recommended to use any kind of lubricant, to prevent the screw from turning in a vacuum without tightening. On the other hand, This is ideal for hardwood species such as oak, beech, or exotic woods for example.
The size, diameter and material of wood screws
Another criterion to take into account is the size of the screws. You have to choose their diameter and length according to the thickness of the elements to assemble. They must be sufficiently long and robust if this thickness is significant.
The last criterion is that of the material from which the screws are made. Brass-plated or zinc-plated steel has poor corrosion resistance, so it is ideal for indoor use. On the other hand, stainless steel or dichromated steel are ideal if you want assemble garden furniture or a terrace for example. They are, in fact, more resistant to the vagaries of the climate, in particular to rain! 🌧️
How to screw into wood without splitting it?
This question arises particularly for the hardwoods we have just discussed, but also for melamine. It is in fact more difficult to penetrate the screws into these woods without damaging them. To avoid this, in addition to the tip seen previously, you can pre-drill a hole in the wood. To do this, choose a wood drill bit with a diameter smaller than that of the screw. Then place your lubricated screw and adapt the speed of the screwdriver. It should be quite slow at first, then increase little by little. You will then have a screw firmly anchored in the wood without having done any damage! 👍
Should you put a dowel in wood?
It all depends on the type of furniture or structure you want to build. For a dressing room or a wardrobe, these are ideal. Globally, dowels are necessary when the weight of the wood to be supported exceeds 50 kilos. This can be particularly useful for chipboard wood planks, which are often heavier than their solid wood counterparts. That being said, if you are more confident about using dowels, you can use ones with a diameter of between 3 and 5 mm for loads of less than 20 kilos, and 6 to 8 mm for loads of 20 to 50 kilos. 🏋️
You now know which screws to choose to assemble wood!
Remember that:
- Wood screws are specifically designed for wood but also its derivatives, such as chipboard or plywood. There are special types of screws for frames, terraces and large wooden structures.
- The screw head should be chosen according to the appearance you want to give to the wood. Flat head screws are perfect for a discreet finish.
- To choose the right screws, first think about how you are going to assemble your furniture or wooden construction. If you use a screwdriver, you can use flat head screws. With a screwdriver, other shapes are preferred.
- Also consider the size, thread, and material of the screws.
If you want to combine theory with practice, don't miss our tutorial for making a DIY shoe cabinet!
See you soon at Ripaton! 🌞