🚀 go-pugleaf

On Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:30:49 -0700, Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

>Michael A. Terrell wrote:
>> Joerg wrote:
>>> That's what impressed me, getting the really long Phillips-head deck
>>> screws almost all the way into a 4 by 4 without chewing up the head is
>>> something I thought wasn't possible with one of those little things. The
>>> screws let of a loud squeal as they went in.
>> 
>> 
>>    Use parafin (AKA Canning Wax) on the threads and they will go in
>> easier.  Then the hot sun melts the wax so that it  soaks into the wood,
>> and doesn't affect the holding power of the deck screws. 
>
>
>Thanks, that sound like a great trick.

Depending on the screws and use, liquid soap works better.  Parafin
can keep stain from penetrating.  Soap washes away, though some can
damage cheap screws.

>>                                                         ... Also, it
>> doesn't hurt to drill a small pilot hole through the top piece of wood.
>> 
>
>I always do that :-)
>
>Otherwise the top piece will ride up if there is some thread on the 
>shaft inside of it.

If that's the concern, the top piece should be drilled to the same
size as the screw shank (perhaps a *little* smaller).  The pilot hole
should go the length of the screw, though in the bottom piece it
should be the size of the thread bottoms.  Pilot drills do this, with
a countersink, to the right size all in one swell foop.