On Sat, 24 Mar 2007 19:35:46 -0400, Gene Kearns
wrote:


Since everybody is posting OT, I thought I would revisit a topic that
we discussed a year or so ago.

I was doing some deck work and had bought some stainless deck screws
with the Robertson square drive. I thought they sucked, since they
were hard to drive and tended to strip out and break off.... others
suggested that I should be pre-drilling holes. That seemed like a
unnecessary and labor intensive task.

The local building supply has stopped carrying the Robertson headed
screws and now supplies an exterior plated screw (Grip Rite) with star
drive. They are excellent! I've driven a whole box of 4 inch screws
and not one single stripped head or broken screw (and no predilling,
either).

They worked for me.....

Predrilling relieves stress on the wood, which makes for less cracking as
the screw enters.

IMHO, that is.
--
***** Hope your day is better than decent! *****

John H

Predrilling relieves stress on the wood, which makes for less cracking as
the screw enters.

You are absolutely correct. A screw is much like a wedge... just gentler. We
all know a wedge is used to split wood. In the middle of a piece, it's not
so important, but near the ends.. always pre-drill. It also depends on the
species of wood you're working with.

--Mike

"John H." wrote in message
...
On Sat, 24 Mar 2007 19:35:46 -0400, Gene Kearns
wrote:


Since everybody is posting OT, I thought I would revisit a topic that
we discussed a year or so ago.

I was doing some deck work and had bought some stainless deck screws
with the Robertson square drive. I thought they sucked, since they
were hard to drive and tended to strip out and break off.... others
suggested that I should be pre-drilling holes. That seemed like a
unnecessary and labor intensive task.

The local building supply has stopped carrying the Robertson headed
screws and now supplies an exterior plated screw (Grip Rite) with star
drive. They are excellent! I've driven a whole box of 4 inch screws
and not one single stripped head or broken screw (and no predilling,
either).

They worked for me.....

Predrilling relieves stress on the wood, which makes for less cracking as
the screw enters.

IMHO, that is.
--
***** Hope your day is better than decent! *****

John H