Drywall screws?

[1982fxr]

So my general use pile of drywall screwes is about gone. I've acquired these with used toolboxes or from garage sales and whatever over the years.

Some have been total junk and some really good. Now that I need to buy a couple boxes just to have some on hand, at say home Depot, is there a certain brand or anything to look for?

 

[1982fxr]

These are just for general use around the house and garage, not actual drywall work.

 

[DHCrocks]

Get either spax or GRK from home depot. They are multipurpose construction screws and stronger then drywall screws which are brittle. They both use torx instead of phillips so stripping is not a problem.

 

[ganymede]

Edit ^^^ beat me to it.
Ive been using Spax brand fasteners. They're In the green plastic containers for just small qty or a green cardboard box if you need a lot.
They go in easier than plain drwall screws.

 

[sberry]

I got 1 tiny box of drywall screws in case I got to do drywall. I bite the bullet and use all deck screws.

 

[DFB]

A lb box of screws is cheap enough, but are you doing drywall lol...if not

Agree coated exterior screws have more uses

 

[JR 42]

Basic gold zinc wood screws are a step up from drywall screws and are cheap, deck screws and Spax are another step or two. I hate drywall screws, and avoid them for any project not involving drywall... I've mostly had the total junk variety, I guess.

If I wanted some, I'd haunt the surplus and Restore places and pick up a couple pounds.

 

[finn]

GRK Torx head construction for everything except drywall.

 

[slimpickins]

Perhaps I'm stating the obvious here but drywall screws are not interchangeable with other types of screws at least for drywall! The underside of the head of a drywall screw is smooth and curved and is designed to compress the drywall paper without tearing it. I've found that drywall screws used in wood tend to split the wood faster than regular wood screws probably because of the "bugle" shape of the fluting which acts like a good wedge.

Wood screws (countersink) have a fixed angle for the underside and will generally tear out the paper much easier.

Deck screws (especially the ones marked "gripping" have ribs on the underside of the flute that are designed to bite into the wood to make them harder to remove. These will act like drill bits on drywall paper.

Try all three types on a scrap piece of drywall and you will see that the real drywall screws have considerably more holding power than the other types (when correctly installed)

As for general purpose screws, I do like the zinc chromate plated (gold color) deck screws for many different uses, particularly if the piece will be exposed to moisture. Although the zinc chromate only seems to be good for a few years at best.

Just my 2 cents.
Cheers

 

[ChrisLS8]

Drywall screws are basically only good for drywall due to the design. We use Pro Twist and Senco at work

 

[cmandp]

For actual drywall hanging I've had no trouble with the Grip-rite brand drywall screws from home depot. Even driving them into old studs.

However for general use around the house at a good price the Zinc-chromate "Construction screws" work quite well. And if you want screws that are rated for treated wood/exterior use or really don't want to split a piece of wood GRK or Spax are even better.

 

[FTG-05]

Deckmate with T-25 head.