Check Out the ULTIMATE CARPENTRY CHECKLIST!! *Get your free interactive ebook here* : www.thehonestcarpenter.com/the-ultimate-carpentry-checklist This *150-item Visual Glossary* covers every important topic in carpentry. Check off the tools you have, the concepts you understand. And if you don't know a topic, just click on it for an explanation. Every carpenter and DIYer needs this free guide!
Growing up, my dad taught me and my sister the two "basic screws" and had us retrieve them every time so we learned. "Go to the workbench and grab me a handful of "wood screws". "Go to the workbench and grab me a handful of "sheet metal screws". My dad was a jack of all trades and a master mechanic where he worked so he knew them all in detail but that was just his easy way of teaching us when we were little. I always loved dad's life lessons. He's a very smart man.
BTW, my high school AP Physics teacher told us that a screw is essentially just a conical or cylindrical section with an inclined plane wrapped around the section. It was a cool explanation about how we use simple geometry to do so much work for us. That was over 40 years ago, and I still think about it every time a use a screw. Some lessons just stick with you forever.
Interesting, remembering my junior school math teacher telling me two points make a straight line. I could not grasp what he meant. Yet now decades later i always remember him when cutting or sewing a straight line🙏
Yep just a big spiraled wedge, and a wedge needs to have a normal force to produce friction and stay tight. Which is why when people set toilets without the plastic washers under the metal ones they eventually come loose due to the lack of deformation of the plastic. As a plumber I see this often.
I've always known fine thread for hardwood and course thread for softwood, but I never really thought about it in such detail. Thanks for the deep dive into the topic. I'll pay more attention to which type of screw I use for given applications.
THIS is one of those videos that makes notice of the intricate details of screw fasteners I would have never thought about. I'm a DIY'er, and I know there are coarse and fine options, but never gave much thought as to why. I always simply thought the screw was crappy if it didn't go through the wood or metal well. Thank you for this.
Coarse-thread screws are generally used for quick assembly, while fine-thread screws provide better holding strength. Coarse threads are more resistant to stripping, making them suitable for softer materials, while fine threads are effective in harder materials. The choice depends on the specific application and materials being used.
You're right to feel offended, since that was obviously a personal comment directed at you alone. Despite the fact that the sole purpose of that comment was to insult your intelligence however, I thought it was useful to see this comment and have the question answered in about a second, as opposed to having to sit through an entire 5 min video@@n40tom
@cytoarchitect And if I offended you then I apologize also. I think I might have been having a bad night so I will delete my first comment . Take care and be safe
I learn so much from you as a novice 77 year old woman who loves working with wood. I know all these tips help to create a better outcome. I craft and DIY a lot so these tips come in handy. You know so much about so much! Glad I found your site.
The drywall screw thread type finally makes sense after all these years, I made the mistake to buy fine thread once and it was the worst time installing drywall. Thanks for the explanations, always well delivered and easy to understand.
I learned at an early age through experimentation that screw thread spacing is related to the material you are screwing into, which you so clearly explain! ❤
@@TheHonestCarpenter absolutely! Learning the hard way has always been my default due to impatience and just grabbing the nearest “screw”. As I got older I decided that going to the hardware store to get the right tools for the job was an overall time and materials saver, which I learned by doing it wrong 🤣
Thanks for this. Not only was it good information, but your illustrations were great and your explanations were well-paced and in-depth without being pedantic or condescending.
Thank you so much for sparing us the long-winded intro and getting straight to the point. Your lack of gratuitousness and concise, efficient tutorial has earned you another subscriber. Now it's time for me to check out your back catalogue of videos!
Great video! Maybe you could do one on the different types of screws, like wood screws, machine screws, etc. and how to tell the difference by looking at the heads, and why the heads are the shape they are. Keep up the great work!
Thank you. I love that you got straight to the point with clear succinct explanations interspersed with some great demonstrations of how, where and why. Some content creators seem to love the sound of their own voices more than they love actually teaching/demonstrating anything. As a middle aged spinster on a fixed income, l've had to teach myself all sorts of DIY skills over the years. I nearly didn't bother watching this cos, my first thought was, - Meh, screws apart from, wood, metal, drywall or self tapping. What's to know? - I love how wrong l was. l was hoping you'd also clarify why the unthreaded part varies in length but, you may have done that in other videos. Have subscribed and am off to learn some more from your other videos. Thanks. 😊
As a 30 yr. kitchen remodeler, installing mostly oak cabinets, I always pre-drilled the face frame, used Jorgensen wood clamps & Ivory soaped, fine threaded screws👍
I have been using fasteners for more years than I remember, but this video not only was a good refresher, it clarifies a few points for me. A must-watch video for all woodworkers. P.S. I just subscribed.
Thanks, that was a good and helpful explanation. I knew most of this through trial and error, but hadn't thought it through: why those fine threads suck on soft wood, or why sheet metal and pole barn screws are both fine and coarse, or why those fine thread door closer screws they supply always rip out of my pine door frame on a windy day.
"It's a small detail but makes a big difference." Well said! Many years ago, I installed a drywall ceiling over resilient channel. Unfortunately, I used coarse thread (was quite inexperienced at the time) and it did not hold well at all! Took a long time to redo it with the proper screws (and then remove the coarse thread screws). What a mess! Certainly a lesson learned the hard way!
Just in time for my project. About to order a bunch when I encountered this two types. About to DIY a Loft bed and some cabinets. Thanks for the very informative video.
Thanks for a very clear explanation of the different tread sizes of screws. Can you please give some comments on the different lengths of the unthreaded shanks on different types of screws?
I took woodshop classes for three years in school and was taught the difference between the different threads on screws in the first two weeks of my first year. I never forgot that lesson because the teacher demonstrated his lessons so that we all were able to cement the knowledge in our minds. In that same year I learned about other joining techniques as well, including dovetail joints. In my later years I went to college and took carpentry classes just to get the credentials for what I already knew. By that time I had become a woodworker extraordinaire, with the skills to fit cabinetry to the interior walls of buses. I was already a good cabinet and furniture designer and maker. The biggest reason for having such high skills in woodworking is because my father, his father, and his father's father were all woodworkers, and I learned most of my knowledge from them. Like my grandfather I got into designing and making furniture, not because it made money for me, but because it is an artform, and is a lot of fun to do. The money I made doing it was just a bonus for doing what I love so well.
To add a little to what you said, when screwing into steel studs you can usually drill into 20 to 25ga metal with a "good" fine thread sharp point screw, however drilling into anything heavier would require a self drilling fine threaded screw! Attaching plywood into heavy gauge metal (18ga or heavier) you can use what they call a ply metal tek with wings, no predrilling required!
Hi Ethan. I knew that but I appreciate the in-depth explanation. I really enjoy your videos. You do an excellent job presenting your material and excitedly await your new content. 😊😊😊😊😊
I've use drywall screws for years. And noticed that it took the same amount of time to screw either a coarse or fine drywall screw ( at least the ones I've been using ) and noticed that the fine thread drywall screws have a double helix so the thread pitch between the two are exactly the same. Something to ponder!
Great explanation for the screw thread types most appreciated 👍 Could you be persuaded to do a video on nail types too, ie the twisted nails you use for joist hangers etc.. ❤
@@TheHonestCarpenterhe's not describing self-tapping threads, he's just talking about the 'type 17' point or the cut tip (with various trade names) that helps the screw self-drill in wood. My pet peeve is when people confuse 'self-drilling' with 'self tapping'. Pretty much any screw with sharp threads is self-tapping. And the term 'self-drilling' only really applies to metal, because in wood and other soft materials, pretty much any screw with a sharp point is self-drilling, even if it doesn't have any special cutting tip. And if we really want to get technical, even 'thread forming' screws are different from 'thread cutting', I'm honestly not sure the difference, but I would describe both as 'self-tapping'.
Nate, you are the man! Great video and I myself never considered it but knew it through experience - but without thinking too much about it. Ironic for me. I often overthink everything. You explained it well. Thank you.
That’s good to know, thanks for pointing that out because sometimes I don’t have the fine thread. As Ethan points out here, the way they go in makes a difference and i pre drill hardwoods and so far so good, although i do experience that squeak once in a while.
What screws do you believe would suit in attaching timber paling (fence) to a solid brick. I plan on using a green wall plug 7mmx35mm and a 60mm stainless steel screw. These paling are exposed to wind, rain and moisture. I have learnt that fine threaded screws are better as they cut the plastic wall plug better but I want to learn from users who have experience with wall plugs in brick. Thanks
IIRC, only 3-4 threads of a bolt will actually be engaged. I assume a similar effect is in play for screws. Where things get wonky is with fit classes.
Ethan, maybe consider expanding this topic to also consider material type ... such as using cement board (alkali resistant) or pressure treated wood and ACQ screws?
I sort of knew that from own experience, but I don't always honor or observe it, sometimes owed to lack of the best screws for the task at hand... That's stupid I know, but then, it's only DIY 😆 and normally, there's no great load or huge area involved. What I didn't know is that it boggles fastness of joints generally. Which, btw, you could have made more of a point of instead of just implying it 😁 So, I'll put more awareness to chosing my screws in the future! And I thank you very much for making a point here!🙏🏽🤩🌞
Check Out the ULTIMATE CARPENTRY CHECKLIST!! *Get your free interactive ebook here* :
www.thehonestcarpenter.com/the-ultimate-carpentry-checklist
This *150-item Visual Glossary* covers every important topic in carpentry. Check off the tools you have, the concepts you understand. And if you don't know a topic, just click on it for an explanation. Every carpenter and DIYer needs this free guide!
Growing up, my dad taught me and my sister the two "basic screws" and had us retrieve them every time so we learned. "Go to the workbench and grab me a handful of "wood screws". "Go to the workbench and grab me a handful of "sheet metal screws". My dad was a jack of all trades and a master mechanic where he worked so he knew them all in detail but that was just his easy way of teaching us when we were little. I always loved dad's life lessons. He's a very smart man.
BTW, my high school AP Physics teacher told us that a screw is essentially just a conical or cylindrical section with an inclined plane wrapped around the section. It was a cool explanation about how we use simple geometry to do so much work for us. That was over 40 years ago, and I still think about it every time a use a screw. Some lessons just stick with you forever.
Interesting, remembering my junior school math teacher telling me two points make a straight line. I could not grasp what he meant. Yet now decades later i always remember him when cutting or sewing a straight line🙏
Yep just a big spiraled wedge, and a wedge needs to have a normal force to produce friction and stay tight. Which is why when people set toilets without the plastic washers under the metal ones they eventually come loose due to the lack of deformation of the plastic. As a plumber I see this often.
Until the Alzheimer's hits
I recall a similar definition from the show Big Bang Theory. ua-cam.com/video/DpnvS7kM4Fs/v-deo.htmlsi=V8kemaLkun0YZHZi
SO COOL❣️
I appreciate the fast straight to the point videos that actually bring value. This is a rare commodity on UA-cam. Thank you
Yes, I agree with you get it got it good. Don’t waste my time with a long intro, just get on with it.
It's because he has something to say.
I can always count on honest carpenter to show me the right way to DIY❤
“This is the way…”
Couldn’t resist a Mandalorian reference. 😊
Thank you, Alicia! 🙂
Love your videos man. As a DYI guy, I love learning all this stuff so I can so I can do it right. Thank you!
I've always known fine thread for hardwood and course thread for softwood, but I never really thought about it in such detail. Thanks for the deep dive into the topic. I'll pay more attention to which type of screw I use for given applications.
Fine thread is often used for metals as well.
Thank you again for another great video.
In these past three years you have helped elevate the quality of my projects by like 35%. That's a lot
Thank you, vaz! I take great pride in a 35% margin 😄
THIS is one of those videos that makes notice of the intricate details of screw fasteners I would have never thought about. I'm a DIY'er, and I know there are coarse and fine options, but never gave much thought as to why. I always simply thought the screw was crappy if it didn't go through the wood or metal well. Thank you for this.
Coarse-thread screws are generally used for quick assembly, while fine-thread screws provide better holding strength. Coarse threads are more resistant to stripping, making them suitable for softer materials, while fine threads are effective in harder materials. The choice depends on the specific application and materials being used.
You're right to feel offended, since that was obviously a personal comment directed at you alone. Despite the fact that the sole purpose of that comment was to insult your intelligence however, I thought it was useful to see this comment and have the question answered in about a second, as opposed to having to sit through an entire 5 min video@@n40tom
@cytoarchitect
And if I offended you then I apologize also. I think I might have been having a bad night so I will delete my first comment . Take care and be safe
We all have bad days. The world needs more integrity and humility, as you've shown. I respect you for that. Keep your head up brother @@n40tom
I learn so much from you as a novice 77 year old woman who loves working with wood. I know all these tips help to create a better outcome. I craft and DIY a lot so these tips come in handy. You know so much about so much! Glad I found your site.
The drywall screw thread type finally makes sense after all these years, I made the mistake to buy fine thread once and it was the worst time installing drywall. Thanks for the explanations, always well delivered and easy to understand.
I learned at an early age through experimentation that screw thread spacing is related to the material you are screwing into, which you so clearly explain! ❤
Thanks JC! With enough experimenting, it all starts to become clear. 😁
@@TheHonestCarpenter absolutely! Learning the hard way has always been my default due to impatience and just grabbing the nearest “screw”. As I got older I decided that going to the hardware store to get the right tools for the job was an overall time and materials saver, which I learned by doing it wrong 🤣
Thanks for this. Not only was it good information, but your illustrations were great and your explanations were well-paced and in-depth without being pedantic or condescending.
Dude. I’ve always wondered why there was different threads on dry wall screws etc. your explanation was so on point. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for sparing us the long-winded intro and getting straight to the point. Your lack of gratuitousness and concise, efficient tutorial has earned you another subscriber. Now it's time for me to check out your back catalogue of videos!
Great video!
Maybe you could do one on the different types of screws, like wood screws, machine screws, etc. and how to tell the difference by looking at the heads, and why the heads are the shape they are.
Keep up the great work!
Great idea, tgp! I will indeed do that video. So much to be said about screws!
Thanks for answering a long-standing question I’ve had. Great explanation. Thank you!
Very informative video ethan. I learnt something fine screws threads for hardwoods.
Thanks, Paul! 👍
Matthias Wandel just did a pull-out test in hard maple and found them to be almost identical.
Softwoods are probably a lot different.
I love those screws with two different thread types that really pull two pieces of wood tightly together. They really work!
Great, easy to understand coverage of an often overlooked construction & woodworking detail. Thanks for making us smarted.
Love your Channel! You’ve saved me so much grief over the years that I can’t even quantify it! Huge! Lol. Thanks so much.
Love the honest carpenter channel, best channel ever.
😁😁
Thank you. I love that you got straight to the point with clear succinct explanations interspersed with some great demonstrations of how, where and why. Some content creators seem to love the sound of their own voices more than they love actually teaching/demonstrating anything. As a middle aged spinster on a fixed income, l've had to teach myself all sorts of DIY skills over the years. I nearly didn't bother watching this cos, my first thought was, - Meh, screws apart from, wood, metal, drywall or self tapping. What's to know? - I love how wrong l was. l was hoping you'd also clarify why the unthreaded part varies in length but, you may have done that in other videos. Have subscribed and am off to learn some more from your other videos. Thanks. 😊
I appreciate clear and and concise information so I really appreciate your content. Thanks for another great video, Honest Carpenter dude!
Thank you, Orwellian! I appreciate the positive feedback 😄
As a 30 yr. kitchen remodeler, installing mostly oak cabinets, I always pre-drilled the face frame, used Jorgensen wood clamps & Ivory soaped, fine threaded screws👍
I have been using fasteners for more years than I remember, but this video not only was a good refresher, it clarifies a few points for me. A must-watch video for all woodworkers. P.S. I just subscribed.
Thanks, that was a good and helpful explanation. I knew most of this through trial and error, but hadn't thought it through: why those fine threads suck on soft wood, or why sheet metal and pole barn screws are both fine and coarse, or why those fine thread door closer screws they supply always rip out of my pine door frame on a windy day.
"It's a small detail but makes a big difference." Well said! Many years ago, I installed a drywall ceiling over resilient channel. Unfortunately, I used coarse thread (was quite inexperienced at the time) and it did not hold well at all! Took a long time to redo it with the proper screws (and then remove the coarse thread screws). What a mess! Certainly a lesson learned the hard way!
I knew the general idea of the difference, but this added some details that I had not considered. Thanks!
Thanks for teaching me how to properly screw.
Just in time for my project. About to order a bunch when I encountered this two types. About to DIY a Loft bed and some cabinets. Thanks for the very informative video.
Thanks for a very clear explanation of the different tread sizes of screws. Can you please give some comments on the different lengths of the unthreaded shanks on different types of screws?
Gonna cover that soon, David!
I took woodshop classes for three years in school and was taught the difference between the different threads on screws in the first two weeks of my first year. I never forgot that lesson because the teacher demonstrated his lessons so that we all were able to cement the knowledge in our minds. In that same year I learned about other joining techniques as well, including dovetail joints. In my later years I went to college and took carpentry classes just to get the credentials for what I already knew. By that time I had become a woodworker extraordinaire, with the skills to fit cabinetry to the interior walls of buses. I was already a good cabinet and furniture designer and maker. The biggest reason for having such high skills in woodworking is because my father, his father, and his father's father were all woodworkers, and I learned most of my knowledge from them. Like my grandfather I got into designing and making furniture, not because it made money for me, but because it is an artform, and is a lot of fun to do. The money I made doing it was just a bonus for doing what I love so well.
Pat yourself on the back
Nice presentation. Simple and to the point.
To add a little to what you said, when screwing into steel studs you can usually drill into 20 to 25ga metal with a "good" fine thread sharp point screw, however drilling into anything heavier would require a self drilling fine threaded screw! Attaching plywood into heavy gauge metal (18ga or heavier) you can use what they call a ply metal tek with wings, no predrilling required!
Awesome. Thanks for the extra info, Bill!
Now, that is the exact opposite that I thought it would be. Once again, another educational video. Thank you!
I love the straight to the point approach. Only 40 seconds (about 12% of the video's length) are wasted on useless introductions and commercials.
Theres ine guy.on you tube that spends 30 minutes telling us hiw you can tell difference between fake and real milwaukee batteries
Excellent, concise compilation of information on screw threads. Thank you. I learned stuff today 😁
Wow! This is exactly the info I needed…coincidently I’ve been trying to figure out oak that is the outer wood & pine which is the inner…thanks!
Hi Ethan. I knew that but I appreciate the in-depth explanation. I really enjoy your videos. You do an excellent job presenting your material and excitedly await your new content. 😊😊😊😊😊
This is the kind of niche knowledge I come here to find. Keep up the good work!
Yes Ethan takes the details and makes them clear. Thanks for your knowledge sharing. 🥶🖤🔔👍🏻❤️
Thanks so much, Mary Beth!
Thanks Ethan
One of my favorite channels
I've use drywall screws for years. And noticed that it took the same amount of time to screw either a coarse or fine drywall screw ( at least the ones I've been using ) and noticed that the fine thread drywall screws have a double helix so the thread pitch between the two are exactly the same. Something to ponder!
Yes. I’m not sure he even understands that.
Great explanation for the screw thread types most appreciated 👍
Could you be persuaded to do a video on nail types too, ie the twisted nails you use for joist hangers etc.. ❤
I’ll definitely cover some nails in the future too, Jamie!
I like the course threads with a groove at the beginning that cuts a hole for the threads, stops splitting at the edge of boards.
Yep, self-tapping threads. Great innovation!
@@TheHonestCarpenterhe's not describing self-tapping threads, he's just talking about the 'type 17' point or the cut tip (with various trade names) that helps the screw self-drill in wood.
My pet peeve is when people confuse 'self-drilling' with 'self tapping'.
Pretty much any screw with sharp threads is self-tapping.
And the term 'self-drilling' only really applies to metal, because in wood and other soft materials, pretty much any screw with a sharp point is self-drilling, even if it doesn't have any special cutting tip.
And if we really want to get technical, even 'thread forming' screws are different from 'thread cutting', I'm honestly not sure the difference, but I would describe both as 'self-tapping'.
I tend to avoid DIY projects because my knowledge of tools and their use is limited. I’m 60 but love learning this stuff on your channel.
Nate, you are the man! Great video and I myself never considered it but knew it through experience - but without thinking too much about it. Ironic for me. I often overthink everything. You explained it well. Thank you.
That’s good to know, thanks for pointing that out because sometimes I don’t have the fine thread. As Ethan points out here, the way they go in makes a difference and i pre drill hardwoods and so far so good, although i do experience that squeak once in a while.
This guy is so good I save his videos BEFORE I even watch them!!
Thank you.
Never knew the difference. Thanks!
Never even thought about some of that, great vid.
Thanks for making this video. It's good to know I remembered why they have different threads.
I just thought they made different types of screws!
This was very informative.
Thanks!
This was a big help and you explained a lot of things I had not considered before! Thanks for sharing this.
You’re welcome, John!
I thought this was super helpful! Thank you so very much for your channel.
Thank you Sir.🎉
Excellent summary . .
Your videos are always so interesting and detailed! :)
Thanks Ethan, great explaination.
Needed this to differentiate whether or not it was the right borrowed screws from my aunt
Thank you for informing me.
What screws do you believe would suit in attaching timber paling (fence) to a solid brick. I plan on using a green wall plug 7mmx35mm and a 60mm stainless steel screw. These paling are exposed to wind, rain and moisture. I have learnt that fine threaded screws are better as they cut the plastic wall plug better but I want to learn from users who have experience with wall plugs in brick. Thanks
I’ve always wondered!
I love GRK structural screws 😄 They're super strong.
Thank you 😃👍
Always learn something from you.
yesterday we bought 2 packs of drywall screws.. one fine and second course :D now i will know whats the difference
Great video
Writing from Taiwan, thanks for the to the point video!
Thank you! Happy to hear from Taiwan 😄
Thanks for sharing, it's really useful. I normally don't even notice the difference, but will look out for it now. 😀😄
Information I didn't know I needed lol. Your videos are always excellent!
great explanation - thanks
IIRC, only 3-4 threads of a bolt will actually be engaged. I assume a similar effect is in play for screws.
Where things get wonky is with fit classes.
Excellent presentation
🙏😄
Thank you. I would always listen to opinion of a man with workman's hands.
Once again, my time on an Honest Carpenter video is time VERY WELL SPENT! 😀
👍😁
Well-timed topic for me, thanks!
Great explanation. Thank you. 🙂
This guy is honest...and also a master carpenter, hence the name '' honest carpenter.''
Thank you, Brian! 😁
Great explanations thanks.
1:15 OUCH BRUH!
Great tips, Ethan. Thank you!
Thanks Sharon!
What a great video! He answered a question I didn't even know I had.
😁😁
Ethan, maybe consider expanding this topic to also consider material type ... such as using cement board (alkali resistant) or pressure treated wood and ACQ screws?
Thank you
Super informative 👍
I sort of knew that from own experience, but I don't always honor or observe it, sometimes owed to lack of the best screws for the task at hand...
That's stupid I know, but then, it's only DIY 😆 and normally, there's no great load or huge area involved.
What I didn't know is that it boggles fastness of joints generally. Which, btw, you could have made more of a point of instead of just implying it 😁
So, I'll put more awareness to chosing my screws in the future!
And I thank you very much for making a point here!🙏🏽🤩🌞
AMAZING KNOWLEDGE,THANK YOU SIR
Brilliant video as always.
Thanks!
Thanks, I didn't even know I wanted to know that...but i did.👍
Interesting and useful, thanks
this is a good tip!
the info i didn't know i needed! THANKS
Great information as usual!…thanks!…😊
Thank you!