How Do You Know?

[Clik]

I'm familiar with Grade Marks on bolts but how do you tell what quality or strength you're getting with screws, nails, etc?

I was using deck screws the other day and even after predrilling I was snapping them left and right (in soft untreated pine).

When I ran out of those I used some countersink screws. I predrilled the soft white untreated pine and even then the phillips heads would strip like they were made of lead.

I dug around in a fifty year old junk bin and found some old screws of the same size and they were much tougher.

I don't mind paying for quality fasteners but how do I know I'm not getting the same junk without grade marks?

Even nails seem softer than they used to be forty years ago. I don't think the wood has gotten any tougher. Maybe I have!

 

[Playwme]

I don't think the Chinese worry about grading. I've had 2 lots of stainless decking screws that looked identical but were different brands from 2 different major hardware stores. One lot would snap easily while the other was strong enough to countersink itself into nice solid Merbau decking just under its own pulling power.

Buy small packs of different brands to try them out and then when you find the right ones buy a bigger bulk pack.

 

[premierplayer]

I've not had much luck with import fasteners, there are plenty of bad experiences out there. The big box stores are loaded with the stuff.
The machine thread stuff is generally worse, pretty much pot metal. Sad

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'll agree with the imported grade ****. It's hard to find good stuff around here though.

 

[Clik]

There must be some sort of grading. I doubt NASA puts out a Request For Bid that doesn't require some sort of hardness grade or tensile strength.

 

[6768rogues]

Screws with threads all the way to the head tend to snap off more frequently than screws with a shank. Also, torx drive are more positive than phillips. No idea how to grade them, though.

 

[junkle]

Since a friend started me using Guard Dog brand I haven't used anything else unless I had too. I'm sure there are other good brands out there but I know these have been good to me (Ace Hardware here has them).

Not sure I've had one break, rarely do the heads strip out (usually user error). Not cheap though.

j

 

[AZ Pete]

Lubricate the threads of your screws with bees wax or parafin (Gulf Wax from the canning dept.) and they will drive easier with fewer broken shanks and stripped heads.

 

[Dennis93]

They all break, especially when using an impact driver. I have found the Grip Rite brand from HD and also the deckmate brand to be the least prone to snapping off. Also always go for the composite screws as I have more problems with the zinc or plain steel screws. Also, if you really wanted some strength, you could always go to the structural section and get structural rated screws that give you a shear strength, look under the Simpson brand. These are generally for joist hangers, but you could also use them where you need real strength.

 

[deaddawg58]

They all break, especially when using an impact driver. I have found the Grip Rite brand from HD and also the deckmate brand to be the least prone to snapping off. Also always go for the composite screws as I have more problems with the zinc or plain steel screws. Also, if you really wanted some strength, you could always go to the structural section and get structural rated screws that give you a shear strength, look under the Simpson brand. These are generally for joist hangers, but you could also use them where you need real strength.

I also use Grip Rite and deckmate screws for just about every project that I do around house, they seem pretty strong.

 

[Clik]

Thanks all.