Wood Screws Key Terms

Some key terms for buying and using wood screws

By J. Stoltzfus, writer/programmer LOCAL CITIZEN

Wood screws are the perfect fastener for many wood projects. Where hammering can cause damage to a wood surface, wood screws provide strong binding and easy application. However, builders have to find the right types for appropriate strength and to prevent splitting. Knowing about some of the very basic types of wood screws on the market will help a new buyer or someone just entering a business role in dealing with fasteners for any kind of project.

Flat head wood screws

Flat head wood screws are models that can screw into a smooth surface without sticking up. This is helpful when a project needs an unblemished surface. Other types of screw heads are better for when the screws may need to be removed in the future.
Try: See more on flat head and other head types for wood screws at the Bolt Depot.

Tamper proof screws

Tamper proof screws are screws that are made with attention to their fixed position, to deter vandalism and other events.
Try: See more on tamper proof screws at O.E.M. Hardware.

Bronze wood screws

Bronze wood screws are screws with bronze alloy coating that allows for high resistance to corrosion. For this reason, they are often used in boat or maritime projects.
Try: Find more details on bronze wood screw models at Eagle Eyes Hardware.

Stainless steel wood screws

Stainless steel wood screws are screw types that contain this heavier, strong metal in a plating or coating. Stainless steel screws are generally the desirable kind for strength, and are more expensive than some other types.
Try: Find out more about stainless steel wood screws as well as head types and much more at this page from the New York Times.

Root diameter and shank diameter

The root diameter and the shank diameter are two ways to measure the size of a screw. These two measurements are different and should not be mixed up when ordering thread sizes.
Try: Find out about the shank diameter and more fastener measurement terms at ToolingU. For more on the root diameter, check out this wood screw page from WL Fuller (general info is below screw dimension charts).