Most of our readers have asked us couple of times to publish a write-up explaining the general differences between two most commonly used fastener in the industry i.e. spax lag screws and structural screws. This edition will give them a clear idea about how both these screws are installed and their specifications are also clearly explained in this edition. Read on!

Structural Screws

These fasteners are equipped with high strength and so have gained huge popularity in the recent years over the age-old lag screws and are always preferred first for basic applications. This piece will highlight on the pattern, installation procedure and also the pricing, which are important to be consdiered, if you’re thinking between these two rivets.

Types 

There are usually three major types widely available in the market, which include the Spax (left), FastenMaster (right) and GRK (center). while the former two are easily found at ant physical store and home centers, the last one is a specialized fastener available only at lumberyards and online.

Benefits

These types of screws are stronger than the geenral lag bolts and are thus ideal for more sturdy connections. Even though they are stronger than lag screws, they are easier to employed since they do not require any pre-drilled or pilot hole. In most cases, you can install all of those screws at real time even before you are done with drilling pilot holes for the lags.

Installation

The structural rivets are made up of high-strength steel, which are even heat-treated so that they will not snap off while fastening. While the shafts of these metal pieces are thinner than lags, they are equal substitutes for a lag.

The threads however vary from brand to brand. While one brand features a drilled tip embedded into the screw point, so as to remove dust while entering into the wood, other brands have different screw threads near the tip, so as to pave ways for the remaining screw threads, which grips the screw into the wood.

Besides above characteristics, these fasteners are either equipped with Torx, having 6 contact points or Spider, with 8 contact points drive heads apart from their traditional hex-head styles. These specially designed heads allow further connection between the screw head and the driver tip, so as to prevent disarming as seen with Phillips or slotted screws.

Specifications

Some contractors may not be aware about the structural screws, so if you are planning tor enovate your basement or deck, you would then definitely have to speak with your the building inspector first, so as to ensure that they approve use of these fasteners. You can download the specifications from the Internet and attach it with your plans, so as to make them clear about your requirements.

In case of spax lag screws, you will have to drill two holes for every lag screw to prevent the wood from breaking away. This is indeed a time consuming task, in case you’re using lag screws in huge numbers. You may even need them in more numbers due to their reduced strength.

Even the structural fasteners have distinct disadvantages too, which lie greatly in their pricing and availability. While the GRK type screws are the most expensive and you can only find them at lumberyards, the Spax and FastenMaster types are sold by home centers, but again these are available in selective sizes, which are commonly used.

A 6″ long by 5/16″ diameter structural rivet may cost you about 85 cents, while you can easily get a spax lag screw at just 30 cents. Therefore, the lag fasteners are mostly preferred over these expensive fastening objects.

Comparison

Lag Screws

• These traditional fasteners are hundred years old and are quite inexpensive, as compared to other fasteners. Although these are difficult to be installed, they are still preferred by many.

• You’ll have to pre-drill two holes to use them i.e. one small one for the threads and a larger clearance hole for the shaft.

• The structural screws are only available at lumberyards and online stores, plus, their quality greatly varies with the brands stocked in most home center

• While lag screws on the other hand are easily found at all home centers, webstores and hardware stores, they even cost a third of the price of the former ones

• However, there are some hardened lag screws, which feature certain markings such as multiple lines, or a triangle on therir heads. These are bit costlier as compared to the normal lag screws

• When it comes to connecting a wood joist or other framing member to a concrete wall, these metal pieces are always a better choice. In such cases, the special lead sleeves are employed into a pre-drilled hole and then the lag screw is fastened into the sleeve

Structural Screws

• These types of advanced fasteners make faster connections, but are expensive as compared to general hardware supplies

• They are are thin and sharp and do not require pre-drilling unlike lag screws

• These are engineered to meet high standards as they are made up of hard and heat-treated steel

• These are found only in select stores in certain size and length

• These cost several times higher than a similar lag screw

If you happen to see some kind of odd bow-tie shaped screw slots on your door or window pane, you’ve probably discovered the clutch head screws.  Such fasteners were extensively used in the auto industry from the 1940s through the 1960s. In 1970s, few of these screws also paved their way into travel trailer manufacturing industries as well.

Clutch head screws are also known as ‘One Way Screws‘ and ‘Security Screws‘. These specially designed fasteners are used for lasting installations. These are easy to use and can be installed using a normal screwdriver. The head of such kind of fastener features a normal drive and slanted rear face, which prevents the screwdriver from applying torque when trying to loosen these fasteners.

Once implanted, these rivets require typical drilling application for removal from the holes. However, you can even fetch for a special kind of driver bit to undo them.

In order to unscrew these rivers, you’re required to use a screwdriver bit of the same shape and size. The clutch head one way screws can be unscrewed in the clockwise direction by using a standard slotted screwdriver. This drive system was probably the worlds first security recess.

Unique Design

This unique feature enables such screws to be tamper-proof, thereby enhancing the security of your house and lessening the risk of robbery and making it impossible for the intruders to tamper the screws. Due to their unique design, there are even ideal for higher torque applications.

Thus, these fasteners are also referred as Jail Head. They are usually self-tappers and are used in applications jail cell hinges and even in domestic window locks and exposed door lock screws.

Types

Standard Clutch Head

The clutch head screws are usually of two types: type A and type G. The type A is also known as a standard clutch and usually resembles a bow tie. And the type G resembles a butterfly.

These are zinc plated hardened steel and cannot be removed once they are installed. Besides, the countersunk clutch head screws can only be opened by a flat head screw driver

Uses

The type A screws were widely used earlier and were commonly seen in 1940s’GM automobiles, including trucks and buses. And the type G rivets are commonly used in the construction of mobile homes and recreational vehicles. You can even find them in your windows and doors, if they’re installed with some odd bow-tie shaped screw slots.

These are ideal for

• Public access wooden windows & doors
• Seating & fencing
• Prison fittings & fixtures
• School & college fixings & fixtures
• Also used in timber applications

Added Benefits

A police survey shows that around 30% of the intruders gain access to the houses through windows. Therefore, it’s utmost necessary to keep your windows secured.

Beat the thieves with the clutch head screws!  

Their ‘one way’ design lets you fasten these screws with an ordinary Slotted screwdriver, but unscrewing them is virtually impossible. Hence, these can be of great help, as their unique features make it impossible for them to be unscrewed using a driver, instead a driller is required to undo them.

There’s another kind of screw known as A2 clutch head round wood screws.

These fasteners are also known as Clutchless Screws and are made up of A2 stainless Steel.

These types of hardened steel self tapping screws can be used with various materials including wood, plastic and as a self tapping screw.

Applications

• These fasteners are mostly used by the police and councils to secure number plates
• Construction Security Screws
• Sign Security

The use of fasteners has grown extensively worldwide, increasing the need of coming up with standard screw sizes. Standardization prevents the use of improper screws, and ensures screws are compatible with the materials being used and are appropriate for the project at hand. Screw dimensions include the driver type — such as flat, Phillips or hex — length, shank diameter and threads per inch.

The demand for fasteners has extensively grown globally, especially in the world of online marketing. This growing demand has simultaneously increased the requirement for standard sizing of these hardware supplies.

By classification, the hassle of each time landing up with screws with different patterns and lengths can be greatly avoided. This even ensures that these rivets become comme il faut with the materials, being used in the construction or any build-up project. The various dimensions of these fasteners demand ofr use of various type of screwdrives, such as hex, Phillips, flat determining the shank diameter, length and threads per inch.

Screw’s numbering system

when standardization was done, the screws were put into 2 distinct numbering systems; the metric and U.S numbering systems. The metric measuring system lists out the diameter of these rivets in millimeters first and then secondly in thread pitch. The examples for this category include 6 mm x 1.0, 4 mm x 0.7, 5 mm x 0.8 etc. The U.S stadnard measurement system inlcudes screw with diameter sizes as 0, 1, 2 ,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 and 16 and even in fractional sizes ranging from  1/4″ to 2″ in 1/16″. This is followed by threads and dash per inch falling between 6 and 80.

Diameter of screws

The first number metioned in the size charts for diameter must match the inner diamter of the washers ad nuts applied to them. The diameter of the rivet is measured at the shaft, just below the screw head. The diamter size ranging from 0 to 16 is declared by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, thereby enabling the hardware sizing system to be extensively adopted worldwide. This kind of measurement made in standard U.S fractions was recently added and countries outside of America  are also seen following this standardization.

Length of screws

While the pan head screw’s length is measured from the flat end of its round head to its tip, the length of the flat head screws measure from the top of the head to the tip of the rivet.

The length is the third item typically listed in the size chart and is identified by an ‘x’ symbol. For instance, a #8-20 x 3/4″ screw features 20 threads per inch and a shaft measuring 3/4″ in length and a 5/8-24 x 1″ screw has a diameter of 5/8″, 24 threads per inch and has a 1″ shaft.

There are some fasteners, which are measured as per the threads per inch sizing, execpt for their length and diameter such as 5/16 x 1/2″ and #10 x 1″

Threading of screws

This kind of measurement is at number 2 in the chart of standard screw sizes. The hyphen refers to the number of threads of screw shaft per inch. For e.g. a 1/4-28 sized screw has diameter of 1/4″ along-with 28 threads per inch and a #6-32 screw has 32 threads per inch on its shaft.

A Quick Review

Sheetrock screws, which are also known as drywall screws are extremely sturdy and long enough to be applied on drywall or sheet rock surface. These are made up of black phosphate and comprises of finished steel.

The unique cornet-shaped angle present beneath the head enhances the bearing area against the easily ruptured drywall surface.
These fasteners render better holding capacity as compared to nails and hence reduce the chance of popping out, thereby preventing any damage to the panel. These are used for fastening drywall to wooden or metal studs.

Ad Nauseam

Sheetrock® is the business name for USG Corporation’s drywall product, which is also known by several other names in different nations, such as Gibraltar board, plasterboard, gypsum board, wallboard, GIB wall, ceiling linings and rock lath.

It is manufactured in specific designs, so as to meet the construction standards put forward in building codes. The most important feature of this fastener is that it saves considerable amount of time, which is required to upright, the ceilings and interior walls in any form.

Although there are various procedures involved in the sheetrock screws installation, there are certain techniques applied, particularly in new constructions.

Specifications

These screws are designed in various sizes, including 48 inches, 96 inches and even 144 inches. These rivets are used determining the various requirements by different building codes and studs, made up of hollow steel sheets or wooden beams. These studs are used to support the interior walls and are positioned at about 16 inches gap. While the general ceiling height is 8 feet, the sheetrock screws’ dimensions alleviate them both vertically and horizontally, with every step featuring several proponents.

This 16-inch gap signifies the center of each stud. After all the fasteners have been inserted, the walls are then constructed using joint compound. This compound is spread over both the joints and screw holes between each joint.

Once the composite dries up, the walls are then sanded smooth and ready for whitewash.
The countersunk heads of the drywall screws are the most essential features. The entire fastener lies smooth with the surface of the sheet, thereby creating a great finish. The countersunk head helps in restricting the screw from damaging the paper surface, which is usually a common problem with all the nails.

Types & Uses

The sheetrock screws are usually of two types: Type ‘W’ and Type ‘S’. While the first one includes the wooden screws, featuring coarse and wide threads, the later one includes metal rivets, which are used along-with the steel framing members.

Another great feature of these fasteners is that they feature an edged and notched head, which can easily insert into the steel framing and their fine threads help them even penetrate into the steel surface.

The blatant mishmash of smokestack fasteners is overwhelming. If you are looking for a certain type of fastener, say taptite screw in the market then you must have a fair knowledge about the item, before fetching it. The Internet can be the best medium since the World Wide Web is today flooded with numerous web stores, dealing with hardware supplies.

In various manufacturing companies, workers usually learn about various kinds of fasteners and their features from their experience or under the guidance of supervisors, peers or going through training manuals. But when somebody is looking for certain requisites for fixing up any domestic task then he/she should take the help of the net. There are copious web stores available today, but you should always go for a reputed and trustworthy store. In order to have a detailed catalogue on types and sizes, the popular fastener company, Mutual Screw and Supply can be your ultimate destination.

The self-tapping thread-rolling screws are one of the most commonly used fasteners, which feature female threads fitting in the accurately sized tapping holes. The main advantage in using them is that they can produce threads at relatively lower torques than conventional self-tapping screws.

These particular fasteners are used when the caper is advanced in high production assemblage using threaded rivets. These screws represent the processing of the trilobular criterion for specific type of popular applications.

The taptite screws feature certain type of lobulation at the end point for easy penetration and their optimum threads reducing the lobulation act in the screw body, thereby warding off any kind of wear and tear. In other hand, a stabilized threaded dog point screw ensures safety, aligned entry, durability and easy pick-up, which usually requires minimum end load.

Benefits of thread rolling screws:
Good axial alignment
High vibrational resistance
Low end load
High strip-to-drive ratio
High existing torque
Good torque tension relationship

These are available in various models, flaunting distinct features. You can browse the website to know more.

There is no denying that iPhone series are ruling the world market of mobile handsets. Their technology, their highly advanced features and tremendous usability have enabled this very brand to become one of the most sought-after assets and those, who already own these widgets do not mind flaunting their prized possessions.

The brand has become so popular in the recent times that numerous online stores have been set-up, rendering services and required accessories for iPhone series. You can easily avail anything related to this particular mobile phone, ranging from headsets and phone covers to screen guards. You find them all at one single store. And you can blame Apple’s popularity for such kind of easy approach.

Let‘s say you have got an iPhone 5 and you’re looking for some sort of replacement parts for your handset, say micro screws. These web stores may or may not be dealing with such kind of unique fastener, so it’s always better to look for web stores, completely dealing with fasteners and hardware supplies, such as Mutual Screw and Supply.

While the stores dealing with iPhone devices may charge you a small fortune for such petty requirements, so it’s always better to go for such stores, who are dealing with such fasteners day in and day it. By this, you can surely land up with a smart dealing. Even by browsing further, you can analyze and compare prices offered by various stores and you would conclude which store is cheaper, whether a fastener shop or an exclusive store set-up for iPhones.

These phones are no cheap so they are meant to last for a longer time period. The materials used in their creation and so as their designs work altogether to enable you with a durable and long-lasting handset. However, their sturdiness doesn’t mean that you won’t have to face any kind of repair job. Besides, this is also a part of the game, while dealing with mass-produced cell phones. Fortunately, there are ways, by which you can cost-effectively deal with your replacement issues and online is always the best medium.

There are several reasons, for which you may need micro screws for your iPhone. Below listed are a few reasons people look for these fasteners for their exquisite handsets.

The screws of these widgets may get loosened after a certain time period and eventually some may even go missing. The regular usage leads to wear and tear of a cell phone, thereby causing rivets to become lose. You cannot fasten these tiny metal objects easily, unless you find a flathead screwdriver to fix the job. In the meantime, the screws may fall out of place.

You may be willing to replace the handset’s logic board and in the process may misplace a few micro screws and thanks to your careless attitude. Thus, you’ll have no option left but to look for some new pieces.

There are people, who are careless in dealing with such delicate devices and would be seen quite often dropping them or throwing them recklessly on their desks. Such actions may even lead to loosening of screws and eventually misplacing them.

Thus, for several reasons, you would be looking for micro screws for your iPhone or even for any other reason. The reason however, rarely matters and all you need supplies at the much needed time. We, at Mutual Screw and Supply, can help you with deal with such annoying situations. Visit our store to find out more about the pricing and on-going deals.

Earlier when the concept of brass wood screws was not conceived, the cabinet makers used to manage with nails, glue and wooden peg, so as to fasten the wooden panels. Although the glue can fix the panels, it is not sturdy enough for a longish time period. A wooden peg is however better than the glue. You need to carve a hole for it and nails, on the other hand used to be the perfect option during those times. They keep the furniture pieces intact, but again they even feature some flaws, like there are chances of bearing a crack on the wooden surface.

The hardware industry came up with an advanced option to deal with such issues. The wooden fasteners have now become a favoured option as these do not mar the beauty of the furniture by making a crack on it. Such kind of fastener is quite popular these days because of its advanced features and ability to safely fasten the panel in place. The market is today flooded with several types of wooden screws and you may be confused in choosing the particular model, best suiting your requirement.

Basic factors to understand the brass wood screws:

1. Such screws feature two types of heads, which include the flathead or slotted type and the Phillips or cross head type. The Mutual Screw and Supply is a leading web store, dealing with such kind of hardware supplies. The latest additions in their product page include the square head Phillips and the simple square head type.

2. Such kind of wooden fasteners also feature various head shapes, such as the round head type, which features protruding top with broad bottoms. Another kind is the flat head type, which is ideal for installing hinges. The hinges can be sunk deep into the wooden surface with its help. The last but not the least is the oval head type, which is both rounded and flat type.

3. Such kinds of screws are usually made up of hard steel, which comprises of brass and stainless steel materials.

You can even go for coasted brass wood screws to prevent corrosion.