What screws to use?

[brycez28]

I have to admit, I am guilty of using drywall screws for almost everything I do. I am going to start making some wall cabinets for my garage out of 2"x4"s and plywood; I'm tired of shelves with warping boards. They will probably be around 5' long, 12" deep, and 30" tall with a center shelf and open storage space above. It will mostly have all my cans and bottles of garage supplies, but will also hold miscelanious car parts and a couple spare batteries I have. What would be the best type of screw to hold the cabinets going into the wall studs?

 

[sselander]

they make truss head cabinet screws.
HD and Lowes should have them.
The truss head is flat and wide and the screws are harder than drywall screws.
A drywall screw is not ideal for hanging cabinets.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbrande...-Screw-25-Pieces-89772/100337565#.Ullw-1DbObw


For something heavier, there are alternatives to lag bolts.
I know some people have mentioned them before.

 

[LB-1911]

SpaX®Powerlags would be an option,availability might be an issue.

http://www.spax.us/images/pdfs/SPAX_Powerlag_Flyer.pdf

SPAX®
http://www.spax.us/about-us.html

 

[kbs2244]

I have done many a shelf unit like that with 2 1/2 or 3 inch drywall screws.

 

[nolimits76]

I have also built several shelf units with the same screws...no problems.

Last set I built measured 4' long x 2' wide. I put them against a corner in my garage so they had 2 sides I could attach to the wall. Frames were made of 2x4 and I also placed an extra 2x4 support at the mid point. After I built the frames I attached to the wall then came back and added a front support leg on the left front corner (floor to top shelf) to give a little more stability. Finally, I cut 3/4" plywood for my shelf decking. Everything was attached with the 3" drywall screws and the thing was ROCK SOLID!

I made my old work bench the same way and it too was rock solid. I've had 500# on top of my work bench before with NO problems.

So I'm a believer. Although I think a large part is how you construct the frame, etc.

 

[~smokey~]

If I'm not building stuff using drywall screws I'll use gold deck screws, the large one on the left is 5" long and has more agressive threads, it's a #2 robertson but even larger #3 robertson's are available, nothing I've ever built using screws has ever come apart.

 

[Woody610nb]

Check out McFeelys.com. All the right screws you can use. So much better than the cheap **** from Home Depot.

 

[Toolfool]

+1 for McFeelys.com.

 

[djjsr]

Don't use drywall screws. Use the proper screw for the job. Cabinet mounting screws can usually be found locally or if you can wait, McFeelys is a good source.

They have a large diameter head that will not pull through the back rail of the cabinet. I recommend the square drive over the Philips. Much easier to install.

edit - I just re-read your post. You're going to use 2x4s for the cabinet frames? You might be better off using long lag bolts with flat washers under the heads.

 

[Kevin54]

Kregs Drill Jig and Kregs Screws!!!!!

 

[dwm]

I would personally use French cleats to put the cabinets on the wall. Lets you take them down fairly easily later if you need to for whatever reason, and gives you the option of not having exposed fasteners inside the back of the cabinet. Easier to get the cabinet on the wall (no waiting for your partner to drive screws while you hold things up ). Inexpensive. Can be made with a table saw or a circular saw with a good guide.

 

[kbs2244]

Cabinet mounting screws are nice if you can find them.
I use the more common drywall screws with a washer under the head.

 

[Fixnair]

Drywall screws have very little shear strength. They should not be used for general construction. Any lateral stress and they will snap because they are so brittle.

 

[Richard D]

Don't believe the armchair engineers(or the real ones!). I've hung all kinds of stuff with cheap drywall screws. Only time I can really remember breaking them is tightening them too much.