Photo: Teona Swift

Can I use drywall screws to hang plywood?

Wood screws are better than drywall screws for woodworking projects. Drywall screws are made of hardened, brittle steel, and the shaft will often snap during installation, especially if they're screwed into hardwoods.

familyhandyman.com - Using Drywall Screws for Woodworking (DIY)

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Using Drywall Screws for Woodworking

Wood screws hold better

Family Handyman Drywall screws have conquered home centers and hardware stores, but the traditional wood screw is still better designed for holding two pieces of wood together. You might also like: TBD

Wood screws vs. drywall screws

Drywall screws Because they’re threaded the full length, drywall screws can actually force two pieces of wood apart slightly. Wood screw Wood screws have a smooth shank that makes it easier to pull two pieces of wood together. Countersink bits Predrill holes for screws with countersink bits to avoid splitting the wood or snapping the screw. Wood screws are better than drywall screws for woodworking projects. Drywall screws are made of hardened, brittle steel, and the shaft will often snap during installation, especially if they’re screwed into hardwoods. That can be a disaster when you’re working with finished material and you want to remove the screw to reposition something—it’s nearly impossible to get the broken-off shank out of the wood without damaging the surface. Drywall screws are hardened so that the Phillips slots won’t strip out under the stress from high-speed screw guns. Wood screws are thicker and made of softer metal, making them more snap-resistant. Different thread patterns make the screws work slightly differently too. Wood screws are smooth rather than threaded just below the screwhead. The smooth section of the shank slides by the top half of the wood so the head of the screw and the threads can more or less clamp both pieces of wood together. Drywall screws are threaded nearly all the way to the head. When you use a drywall screw to fasten two boards, the top threads will anchor in the top board and sometimes actually keep the two boards apart unless the two pieces are tightly clamped to begin with. The bad news is that using wood screws requires a little more prep work. You not only need to drill a pilot hole for the threads but also a wider counterbore hole the length of the unthreaded shaft and then a countersink hole for setting the head. Sound like a lot of work? Just buy a set of three countersinking bits and they’ll handle all three drilling chores at once for most common screw sizes. No more excuses for using the wrong screw.

Required Tools for this drywall screws for woodworking project

Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you’ll save time and frustration.

Cordless drill

Countersink drill bit

Required Materials for this drywall screws for wood working project

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here’s a list.

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