Fix Timber to Metal Framing Part I

Building a gate or adding an attractive screen to your carport? Slatted timber finishes look great and with the right choice of screw can be assembled in no time.

In this four part article we are going to look at a modern marvel of screw technology that takes the hard work out of getting an accurate finish, fast.  First up, though, let's take a quick look at all things screwy!!

Screw That!

Screw technology has come along way from the earliest modern brass screws with a slotted head designed for wood. 

When we started working with metal, it quickly became apparent bolts and welding were both a cumbersome option for many applications.  Thus the self-tapping screw was developed.  This screw has a thread that points (narrows) toward the tip.  After drilling a pilot hole a self tapper will screw into metal.

However, as anyone who has used self tappers more than once, they don't always behave! If the metal you are screwing into is too thick the thread on the screw will often strip. Also, if the pilot hole is not big enough the screw just cannot get a grip. When the thread starts to bite the next challenge is to keep the head of the screw intact; damaging the head makes it virtually impossible to install properly and if it does go in can be a nightmare to remove, especially years later.

Moving right along the materials science boys came up with a screw hard enough to hold a point sharpened like a drill bit.  These screws will happily drill their own pilot hole, exactly the right size, and follow it in with a self-tapping thread to hold tight.

Now, the only practical method of using these self-drilling, self-tapping screws is with power. A cordless drill or a driver bit in a power-drill is just the ticket to successful installation of these screws.

Click to Read Part II