As we all know, a variety of patches hold things together, from furniture to buildings, to hobby projects.
Whether it’s an everyday item like a wooden bench, a cabinet, or a picture of your family on a wall, it uses a patch.
Although all screws work for the same purpose, not all screws are created equal; there is a screw for each specific purpose.
So it is important to know the different types of different screws so that you can choose the right one to work with.
Different projects require different types of screws. If you are in the construction or furniture business, you have a dedicated hobby, or just enjoy repairing your home often, you probably already know some of these screws.
So, Let’s start with the basics first…
What is Screw?
A screw is one of the most commonly used spirally grooved solid cylinder mechanical devices which converts rotational motion into linear motion.
The strength of the screw depends on the width and distance of the threads.
It can be used to-
- Hold things together
- Lift heavy loads
- Drill holes
Parts of Screw-
These are the parts of the screw-
- Head
- Drive
- Threads
- Crest
- Threaded shank
- Tip
- Threaded length
- Pitch
Types of Screws-
If you look online, you will see that people are talking about 35+ types of screws, but then you read that they are talking about different types of screw heads and then every little sub-type.
Here are 10 main screw types based on size, material, and screw head.
- Wood Screws
- Chipboard Screws
- Mirror Screws
- Drywall screws
- Self-tapping Screws
- Sheet Metal Screws
- Masonry Screws
- Hammer Drive Screws
- Eye Bolt screws
- Hex cap Screw
- Chipboard Screws
- Mirror Screws
- Drywall Screws
- Self-tapping Screws
- Sheet Metal Screws
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1. Wood Screws
Wooden screws are usually made of bronze, brass, or steel and are used especially when working with wood.
The easiest way to identify them is to have them without threads on the top and thick threads on the pointed ends. Just make sure you use the right kind of drill bits to make the first pilot hole so you don’t crack your boards.
This design serves more than just one ID – it allows the screw to easily penetrate the wood fibres and does not cause too much wear and tear (minimizing resistance and reducing distribution).
Wood screws can have flat, oval, or round heads. Flatheads are an important fastener when you need a flush, hidden or sitting on a wooden surface.
2. Chipboard Screws
This screw is also known as a twin fast screw and particleboard screw. Chipboard screws, as the name suggests, are self-tapping screws specifically for chipboards.
With thicker threads, and twice as much thread pitch as standard wood screws, these screws make it easier to operate on chipboard, particleboard and fiberboard of different densities.
Due to the considerable thread of these screws, they can also be easily inserted using ordinary drive bits and a hand screwdriver.
3. Mirror Screws
These specials help you attach the glass to the walls without any extra brackets. The mirror patch features a cut countersink head with threaded holes. This patch enables the included cover caps to be screwed on, making installation easier and a more stylish finish.
Mirror screws contain tapered rubber grommets. They also prevent the patch from being pressed directly into the mirror.
Screws and covers are all coated with zinc, keeping them resistant to rust. This means that these screws can be used without any hassle in humid environments such as bathrooms.
4. Drywall Screws
These screws are for drywall panels and come in two basic types – coarse threaded or W-type screws used to attach drywall to wood, or fine threaded or S-type screws that dry metal roots. Used to attach to the wall.
The latter also comes with its own drilling tip, so you don’t have to drill in advance. These screws cut drywall like a hot knife through butter, thanks to the extremely sharp tips that reduce tearing while walking fast.
There are many different types of drywall screws, including those coated with zinc, phosphate, or ceramic, and some screws intended to reduce corrosion. They also work well with drywall replacements.
5. Self-Tapping Screws
These screws are known as self-tapping screws; they are screws that eliminate the need for pre-drilling, thanks to the threads that facilitate the drilling of holes during screw insertion. These screws can be drywall, wood, and sheet metal screws.
However, the problem with these screws is that pulling them out results in them being removed. When hardened, they are easily removed.
6. Sheet Metal Screws
This screw can be used in any scenario that requires a combination of different materials, be it rubber, plastic, metal, or any other type of plywood.
Therefore, these screws are available in many types and sizes and the material you are working with will tell you which screw to use. These screws are extremely useful thanks to their fast, customized threads that ensure a strong bond.
7. Masonry Screws
They are also called ‘anchors’ because the masonry patch can be easily distinguished from the rest of their family by the lack of a pointed tip. Therefore, the purpose of masonry screws is to boreholes and not for that, pre-drilling is required (although a normal drill works, a hammer drill is recommended).
These screws are used to attach concrete to wood or metal. They are used to attach wooden floor plates to basement floors or concrete foundations.
The masonry screw has Phillips heads or embossed hex heads that require special hex-head bits that match (the packaging will tell you which bit and size are required).
8. Hammer-Drive Screws
Hammer-driven screws designed for heavy-duty fastening are also called U-drive screws, or bus drive screws. Their round head and unique structure ensure that they are strong, durable and long-lasting for you.
Hammer drive screws are commonly used for marking walls, nameplates, or other similar purposes. They also have multiple start threads, and large helical angles, as well as a pilot point that is not threaded.
You use a hammer, malt or hammer to drive these screws inside quickly and permanently. You need a small pre-drilled pilot and the screw should be made of a material that is harder than the part in which you operate it.
9. Eye Bolt screws-
In an assembly, eyebolts are frequently the first rigging fitting used to raise or suspend the weight. Whether it be by screwing into a steel tube, a wood pillar, or directly into threaded holes.
There are four types of Eyebolts Screw. These are-
- Regular Eyebolt
- Shoulder Eyebolt
- Lag Eyebolt
- Machinery Eyebolt
10. Hex cap Screw-
As its name suggests, it has a hexagonal head, and the lower part of the load occasionally has a washing face.
They are helpful in many construction situations, particularly when fasteners must adhere to exact engineering specifications.
11. Chipboard Scrеws:
Chipboard scrеws arе dеsignеd for usе with particlеboard or chipboard, commonly found in furniturе and carpеntry.
Thеy fеaturе coarsе thrеads for a sеcurе grip in lеss dеnsе matеrials, providing stability and durability.
12. Mirror Scrеws:
Mirror scrеws arе tailorеd for sеcuring mirrors to walls. With dеcorativе hеads, thеy еnhancе aеsthеtics.
Availablе in various lеngths and stylеs, thеsе scrеws accommodatе diffеrеnt mirror sizеs and wеights whilе еnsuring a sеcurе installation.
13. Drywall Scrеws:
Spеcifically craftеd for affixing drywall to wood or mеtal studs, drywall scrеws fеaturе finе thrеads and sharp points for еasy pеnеtration.
Thеir buglе hеads prеvеnt tеaring of thе drywall papеr, еnsuring a smooth and sеcurе attachmеnt.
14. Sеlf-tapping Scrеws:
Sеlf-tapping scrеws possеss thе uniquе ability to crеatе thеir own thrеads, making thеm idеal for mеtal applications whеrе prе-drilling is impractical.
Availablе in various typеs, such as pan hеad and hеx hеad, thеy offеr vеrsatility for diffеrеnt purposеs.
15. Shееt Mеtal Scrеws:
Shееt mеtal scrеws arе dеsignеd to join thin mеtal shееts togеthеr. With sharp points and finе thrеads, thеy providе еfficiеnt pеnеtration and a sеcurе hold.
Availablе in divеrsе hеad stylеs, including pan, flat, and oval hеads, thеsе scrеws catеr to a rangе of shееt mеtal applications.
Read Also- Screw Jack: Definition, Working, Types, Applications
Wrapping Up-
Screws are available in large quantities, with one patch for each need and purpose. With such a feature in their purpose, it is important to know when the types of screws are needed, when they are needed, and how to use them.
Hopefully, this primer will shed some light on the types of screws and now you will not make the wrong choice for your next hobby/building project.
That’s it for now. I hope to see you in the next session. Thank you for being with me.
Here are a couple of other articles to consider:
Screw Jack: Definition, Working, Types, Applications
Riveted Joints: Definition, Types, Uses, Efficiency, Advantages and More
11 Types of rivets & Their Basic uses with Diagram
Abhishek Tiwary is a blogger by passion and a Quality Engineer by profession. He completed his B.Tech degree in the year 2017. Now working in a reputed firm. He loves to share his knowledge with others.
