Screws for cedar 4x4 planters

[Varty Yo]

Im building 6 cedar planters out of 4x4's they will be 2ft high and have interlocking corners. Im trying to find an affordale 6" screw that will secure them the best. Ive seen timber screws but they are $3 or more each. I have 890ft of planter. Would a standard 6" wood screw be ok? Ive seen 50lb boxes on eBay for sale for a reasonable price.

Looking for feedback or other options to what you guys have used for similar projects.

 

[kd3pc]

standard wood screw will not last...use stainless or coated, but both will be "expensive" in those lengths and you will need something to drive them, unless predrilled.

You might drill them to small rebar size and drive rebar through the corners as an alternative, we have done that for years.

 

[Varty Yo]

Yes id only use zinc coated screws. The tools for the job i have haha

Yes rebar definetly were in the plan to anchor everything down.

 

[Varty Yo]

These seem like a pretty good price for 300 of them. Not sure how many to put in per 10ft length of 4x4. 1 every 2ft? or wider span.

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B001PD107S/?tag=atomicindus04-20

 

[Codyboy]

I bought some 1/4" x 8 in. Screws at lowes for timbers. They're black.

They have shorter ones too.

The 8 in. We're about $.80 each.

I think they have a 5/16 hex head.

 

[paredown]

These seem like a pretty good price for 300 of them. Not sure how many to put in per 10ft length of 4x4. 1 every 2ft? or wider span.

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B001PD107S/?tag=atomicindus04-20

GRK are stout screws--I have used the long ones. The pan head is great and the bit fits well in the head to drive them in. I think I picked mine up at Home Despot.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/GRK-Fas...uctural-Screw-300-Pack-772691102812/301878298

 

[cmandp]

I was going to suggest going for the exact GRK screw you linked too. You don't have to pre-drill, they wont split the wood and they hold very well. I would always go with a more expressive screw like the GRKs, it's worth it to me to not have the hassle of splitting your board or having to pre-drill. Plus they are exterior rated (and pressure treated as well).

 

[Bretny]

You could drill a recess for the heads and use a shorter screw. Unfortunately any screws over 3.5in get pricy quick. Would 1/4 or 3/8 stainless threaded rod be cheaper?

 

[jonshonda]

Counter-bore down 1.5" with forstner bit and use 3.5" coated screws. I bet you could make cedar plugs to fill the counter-bore hole. More labor but far less $$