Material:Screws

From CoMakingSpace Wiki

On this page we are going to list the various kinds of screws we have in stock. We aim to continuously restock and expand this selection with donated money and leftovers that Makers may have when they are done with a project. Once any type of screw is added to the our selection and documented, it will be replaced when someone reports it running out!

Screws are driven by various tools like screwdrivers or wrenches. Please take the time to select the perfect fit for your screw to avoid damaging the screw or even the tool itself!

Feel free to add any screws that are missing from these lists.

Metric Screws

MaterialInfoBox

Metric Screws

Metric screws.jpg
Synonyms: machine screws, "ISO metric thread";
DE: Maschinenschrauben,
"metrisches Gewinde",
"Gewindeschrauben"
On Site? yes (see which ones!)
Suggested Tools: screwdrivers, hex keys,
sockets, wrenches
Used with: nuts, washers
Similar (More or Less): threaded rods

Metric screws are usually used along with matching nuts and washers but can also be screwed directly into pre-drilled holes in soft materials, e.g. wood or some plastics (drill the hole about 0.5 mm smaller than the screw). To screw them directly into harder materials like metals, a tap is necessary.

The thread size is usually indicated by a capital M followed by the diameter in mm, e.g. "M3".

Check out our list of available metric screws to see what we've got in stock!

For metal threads, a rule of thumb is that maximum strength is reached when three turns are in contact. [citation needed]


Wood Screws

MaterialInfoBox

Wood Screws

Wood screws.JPG
Synonyms: DE: Holzschrauben,
Spanplattenschrauben
On Site? yes (see which ones!)
Suggested Donation: see list
Location: green shelf by the wood workshop sink
Suggested Tools: screwdrivers, hex keys,
sockets, wrenches
Similar (More or Less): nails

Wood screws have a much sharper thread profile than metric screws and are often self-tapping, i.e. the tip performs much like a drill and the female thread is cut into the substrate by the screw while driving it in. The larger the diameter and the harder the wood though, the higher the risk of splitting your workpiece if no pilot hole is drilled beforehand (about 1 mm smaller than the screw). Lubricating the screw also helps a lot - you can use a fancy wax if you want but a little bit of saliva is just fine ;-)

Wood screws are commonly used together with wall anchors to screw into masonry. You may want to try and hide a screw using a chisel and glue in some situations.

Screws into end grain are prone to ripping out - if using proper joinery is not an option, take rather long screws and try inserting a dowel across the grain direction which will give your screws more to grip into. [1]

Check out our list of available wood screws to see what we've got in stock!


Special Screws

Set Screws

MaterialInfoBox

Set Screws

Grub Screw.svg
Synonyms: grub screws;
DE: Madenschrauben,
Stellschrauben,
Gewindestifte,
Wurmschrauben
On Site? yes (see table)
Suggested Donation: 2-4 ct (see table)
Suggested Tools: hex keys

Set screws are used where no screw head should protrude from the connection, e.g. when fastening a pulley onto a motor shaft or in some decorative applications. They usually have hex socket or slot drives.

  • cup point (Ringschneide) & hex socket: DIN 916
  • conical dome (Kegelkuppe) & hex socket: DIN 913
  • tip point (Spitze) & hex socket: DIN 914
Diameter Length Drive Material Notes Suggested Donation
3 mm 4 mm
internal hex
stainless steel A2 DIN 916 2 ct
4 mm 8 mm
internal hex
stainless steel A2 DIN 916 2 ct
5 mm 10 mm
internal hex
stainless steel A2 DIN 913 2 ct
6 mm 10 mm
internal hex
stainless steel A2 DIN 913 3 ct
8 mm 10 mm
internal hex
stainless steel A2 DIN 914 4 ct


Screw Hooks

MaterialInfoBox

Screw Hooks

Material-default.png
Synonyms: DE: Schraubhaken
Suggested Tools: pliers

Screw hooks are useful for carrying not too heavy and frequently changing loads, e.g. decorations or coats.

They can be a pain to screw in by hand, a jig for this task would be nice! Always drill pilot holes (about 1 mm smaller than the screw diameter in wood) to make sure the hook will be straight and mounted with relative ease.


Sourcing

  • Bauhaus (by the hundred or just a few grams, but very limited selection of metric screws smaller than M5)
  • Entenmann (just behind the small Bauhaus, large selection & small quantities available)
  • Schraubenking.at (large quantities to justify shipping, collecting orders here)
  • Wegertseder.com (no experience yet)
  • Schrauben Seimatec not tested yet (a lot of variety, cheap for >100 pcs)

Further Reading