Drive Types that are Ideal for Woodworking
Drive styles are several, but here we explore the ones that are ideal for woodworking projects. They range from many variations of the Phillips drive to various polygon and hex-shaped drives. Combination drives like the pozidrive are also useful, and they can be driven with a star-shaped driver bit, or a square-shaped driver bit, or one that combines the two.
- Cross-head Phillips Drive: Developed in the 1930s with the specific intent of correcting the problem of screws slipping out of the slot in the case of slotted drives, these have come to be regarded as an ideal choice for woodworking. They endow screwdrivers with better grip when driving the screws.
- Square-head Drive: Though relatively new, they are a popular choice among woodworkers. They are crafted to grip better, provide greater resilience, than traditional flat-head and Phillips screws. One variation is characterised by a hex-shaped recess drive opening. The drill-driver bit is shaped in accordance with the recess in the screw head.
- Star Drive: These have slots on the heads designed in a distinct star shape, with six to eight sides. These are available in many variations, often with drive shapes that are unique to the fastener manufacturer. Torx is the most popular of these brands; but the Pozidrive and Polydrive are also extremely popular choices for woodworking.
Head Types that are Ideal for Woodworking
There are many varieties of wood screw head types, but here are the definitive five for woodworking projects:
- Flat-head Type: they fit into tapered recesses; for instance, the holes in hinges, and will help you achieve a flushed finish with the surface when driven correctly. They are self-countersinking thanks to the tapered head—they drive themselves deep into the surface of the wood. Among woodworking screws, they have the most holding power, by far.
- Round-head Type: They are characterised by a rounded top with a flat underside, instead of the tapered flat-head screw type. They are an ideal choice to attach objects to wood.
- Oval-head Type: They are basically a combination of the flat-head and round-head types, characterised by a head that is slightly tapered on the bottom but with a distinct rounded top. This enables the screw to settle into the surface of the wood, even while the head is slightly above the surface - this adds a distinctly decorative finish.
- Truss-head Type: Popularly known as the “mushroom head” screw, it is distinguished by an oval head, but one that is flatter and significantly larger than that on an oval-head screw. These screws give you good holding power without protruding too much, ideal for applications like mounting slide drawers.
- Washer-head Type: These screws are basically round-head screws with small washers embedded in the heads. Additional surface area on the underside of the head ensures that the screw does not sink too deeply, a quality that is very useful when employing power drivers. There are many variations of this design, and finding the right one depends completely on the specifics of the woodworking project.
Finding the Right Material
Though woodworking screws are generally made of steel, finding the right material depends largely on the specific details of your project.
- Steel: Standard steel is the most common choice of material for woodworking screws. They are more suitable for indoor projects, since they are not particularly moisture-resistant.
- Stainless Steel: Most woodworking screws are available in the stainless steel variations. They are slightly more expensive, but they are suitable for outdoor furniture applications since they are rust-resistant.
- Hardened steel: Hardened steel is the material used in “construction screws”, which are versatile screws employed for making hidden structural connections that are essential in producing furniture. They penetrate the hardest materials without leaving drilling holes, and rarely fall apart. When coated with zinc or any other suitable material, they are an ideal choice for outdoor applications.
- Brass: Softer than steel, they are less common but a very good choice when there is higher exposure of the screw heads. Door hinges are attached mostly using screws made of brass.
