"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...

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.....

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepage
http://pamandgene.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats


---
avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean.
Virus Database (VPS): 000727-1, 03/23/2007
Tested on: 3/24/2007 7:35:47 PM
avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2007 ALWIL Software.
http://www.avast.com


Pre drill as stainless steel is a nickel/steel alloy and is very soft. If
you pre drill the screw will be subject to less stress. With coated steel
you get 1-2 years then rust spots and two years later the deck comes apart.

You lake/freshwater boaters don't have much experience with salt and
corrosion.