You may have debated at times which fastener to use during assembly of a project. You’ll get just as many opinions as woodworkers you ask, but generally you can follow these guidelines.
Use screws for:
- a lot of holding power in a high-stress connection.
- fastening hardwoods that tend to split, or that would bend a nail.
- when the “purchase” of the fastener is limited to a short depth, as in stock that’s too thin to hold a nail with sufficient strength.
- a project you want to disassemble later (don’t forget to NOT use glue).
- when the screw heads serve as a visual element in the design.
- a project that involves fine craftsmanship, including recessed fasteners covered by wood plugs.
Use nails for:
- when you need to work fast, especially when power-nailing with a pneumatic nail gun is an option.
- fastening soft or semi-hard woods that “give” sufficiently to accept a nail without splitting.
- using common construction or carpentry techniques such as rough framing, attaching plywood sheathing, and so on. (Subflooring installation is an exception, as nails can cause squeaking.)
- keeping project costs as low as possible.
- attaching molding and other finish trim where a small fastener head is desired.
- when hammer dents in the material won’t detract from the project.
Chris Hill
SPC Woodworking Editor
