Screw Comparison Guide
Use this Screw Comparison Chart to help choose the right screw that
best fits your application. Compare Screw
Heads, Screw
Threads and size for either Interior or Exterior applications.

Lube
Finished Screws |
| Application: Great
for most standard interior applications. Choose from either Square
Drive or Square-X
Screws. |
| Lube
finish reduces friction for easier installation. |
| Head: Flat
Head |
Thread: Deep
Thread |
Size: #6,
#8, #10 |
Woodmaster
Interior Lube Finish Screws |
| Application: Great
for most standard interior applications |
| Special
point acts like a saw blade thru wood. Thread design reduces splitting
and driving torque. |
| Head: Flat
Head |
Thread: Serrated
Deep Thread |
Size: #8,
#10 |
Trim
Head Square Drive |
| Application: Trim
Molding |
| Finishing
nail look with the power of a screw. |
| Head: Small
3/16" Trim Head |
Thread: Deep
Thread |
Size: #6 |
Slide
Mounting Screws |
| Application: Ball
bearing slides and catches, drawer
slides, shelf supports |
| Low
profile head won't interfere with guide operation. Strong holding
power. |
| Head: Truss
Head |
Thread: Deep
Thread |
Size: #6 |
Truss
Head Break Away |
| Application: Knobs
and Pulls |
| Breaks
away in 1/4''. Great where length of screw is not pre-determined. |
| Head: Truss
Head |
Thread: Machine
Thread |
Size: #8 |
Drawer
Pull Screws |
| Application: Used
for drawer knobs and pulls |
| Holds
knobs and pulls secure |
| Head: Truss
Head |
Thread: Machine
Thread |
Size: #8 |
Woodmaster
Round Washer Head Screws |
| Application: Corner
block, top out and cabinet installation |
| Large
bearing surface to help prevent overdriving |
| Head: Washer
Head |
Thread: Serrated
Deep Thread |
Size: #8 |
Large
Round Washer Head Screws |
| Application: Drawer
front adjustments |
| Washer
head covers adjusting hole once drawer front is adjusted |
| Head: Large
Washer Head |
Thread: Deep
Thread |
Size: #8 |
Painted
Head Screws |
| Application: Hanging
Cabinets |
| White
melamine, painted plywood or natural woods |
| Head: Truss
Head |
Thread: Deep
Thread |
Size: #10 |
Solid
Brass Screws |
| Application: Decorative
complement to solid brass hardware |
| Polished
and lacquered to prevent tarnish. Decorative. |
| Head: Round
Head, Flat Head |
Thread: Various |
Size: #0,
#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6 |
Back
to Top
Sure
Drive Composite Deck Screws |
| Application: Composite
decking material. |
| Less
mushrooming in composite decking. |
| Head: Flat
Undercut Head |
Thread: Dual
thread design for optimum holding power. |
Size: #10 |
Bugle
Head Stainless Steel Screws |
| Application: Pressure-treated
decks, siding, spas, barns, metal buildings, bridges, gazebos. |
| Corrosion
resistant. Auger point for extra fast start. |
| Head: Bugle
head with flat head |
Thread: Coarse
thread |
Size: #8,
#10 |
Trim
Head Stainless Steel Square Drive Screws |
| Application: Cedar
decks, seaside applications |
| Small
heads are perfect for low profile. Corrosion resistant. |
| Head: Trim
Head |
Thread: Coarse
Thread |
Size: #7 |
Woodmaster
Exterior Screws |
| Application: Decks,
outdoor furniture |
| Durable
Ultra Seal finish for tough exterior conditions. Rated 500 hrs
of salt spray protection. Not recommended for ACQ pressure treated
lumber. |
| Head: Flat
Head |
Thread: Serrated
Deep Thread |
Size: #8,
#10 |
Screw Heads
Here are top and side views of many of the screw-head styles you’ll
encounter. Top row, left to right: flat head, flat head with a separate
finishing washer, washer head, and truss head. Bottom row, left to right:
round head, oval head, pan head, fillister, and trim head.

You can buy screws with a variety of head styles to meet specific project
needs and can often select the fastener with your favorite drive system.
Here’s a quick rundown on the uses for the most popular types.
Flat-Head Screws:
Probably the most common style and are used in a wide variety of applications,
from general construction to fastening tiny hinges. The head is typically
flat with the surface of the wood, or it can be driven into the bottom
of a counterbore and concealed with a plug. It’s also the right
choice to use with finishing washers.
Trim-Head Screws:
Look like finishing nails and can be used wherever you need the holding
power of a screw but also require an unobtrusive look.
Round-Head Screw:
Gives you the broadened holding strength of a washer under a screw head
but without the inconvenience of purchasing and handling a separate piece
of hardware. By spreading the pressure, the washer-head screw avoids
concentrated stresses that could crack plastics or damage thin wood products.
Oval-Head Screws:
Mount with their smooth top just above the wood’s surface. This gives
a decorative look and also prevents the snags produced by flat-head screws
that aren’t fully countersunk. The oval head finds extensive use
holding trim to boats.
Pan-Head Screws:
Have a flat surface under the head that improves holding power when you
mount hardware such as drawer slides. Using a screw diameter smaller
than the mounting hole in the hardware gives you some adjustability.
Truss-head screws:
Feature an even larger washer surface for improved holding power. Truss
heads are excellent for attaching false drawer fronts – large head
hides an oversized hole that permits adjustment. Truss heads also provide
excellent holding power when driven through the thin plywood backs of
wall-mounted cabinets.
Screw Threads

The thread pattern is an important consideration when selecting screws.
From left to right: rolled (deep), cut (tapered wood), wood screw, double
lead, and tapping thread.

The rolled-thread screw and cut-thread pattern are two dominant fastener
designs used by woodworkers. Deep-Thread Pattern:
(Also called Rolled thread). This style is manufactured by slimming the
screw’s shank (in comparison to the cut-thread patter wood screw).
Excellent all-purpose design for solid wood, plywood, medium-density
fiberboard (MDF) and other manufactured panels.
Wood-Screw Thread:
The thread design is similar to the deep-thread pattern but formed on a
thicker shank. This design is often used on relatively soft materials
such as brass or silicon bronze screws. Use this pattern instead of the
deep thread when your project requires brass or bronze screws.
Double-Lead:
This pattern uses two threads around the shank for increased driving speed,
is commonly used on drywall screws, and sometimes has a high/low design.
Pullout resistance is not as good as the deep-thread design, but you’ll
gain faster assembly times, especially when you’re using long screws.
Cut Thread:
(Also called tapered wood thread). This is the traditional wood-screw pattern,
which mimics the old-fashioned process of cutting the threads into a
metal rod. The unthreaded portion of the shank is the same diameter as
the major diameter of the threaded portion, and the root diameter tapers
to the tip. The thread depth is consistent along the length of the screw,
even in the tapered portion, accentuating the pointed appearance. Good
holding power in solid wood.
Tapping Thread:
Although this is some-times called a "wood-tapping" screw, it
is basically a sheet-metal design. Typically the threads extend from tip
to head. Sheet-metal screws are generally manufactured to a higher standard
than ordinary wood screws. Be sure to drill an adequate body hole in the
first board to prevent a jaced joint. |