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Why use “better” drywall screws?
By Michael Keisner, managing director
Evolution Fasteners (UK) Limited
Cheap headline prices might look attractive but are they always as good as they seem? Drywall screws demonstrate the old adage that “you get
what you pay for”. Price advantage can be achieved by sacrificing performance but does this constitute a real saving for the installer? I strongly
suggest that the “better” fastener should represent the preferred option for both distributors and end-users.
Benefits of premium product
at a minimum of 32Kg /Cm to mitigate the risk of production. However this does carry significant
Premium sharp point drywall screws should drill
head snap. cost implications.
through 1mm of steel in less than 0.7 seconds.
The screws should be plated with either zinc Irrespective of the raw material and machinery,
This can obviate the need for more expensive
3 micron or a 48 hour phosphate coating, sorted properly trained machine operators and engineers
self-drilling screws, and will save operator time
to eliminate swarf and impurities, and packed play an essential part in ensuring the production
and effort thus increasing productivity and thereby
in strong boxes. They should be palletised on of the “better” drywall screw. A positive quality
reducing labour costs.
control philosophy is requisite and needs to be in
The core requirement of an end user is that his
place at every stage of the production.
fasteners work. He requires screws that drill
without heads snapping. The “better”
The “better”
The use of modern heat treatment plant
with precise temperature control will
drywall screw offers a consistent
directly impact on the hardness,
level of mechanical performance drywall screw will increase
and hence performance, of the
with minimal wastage. Each
finished product. Additionally
fixing should work and the
customer satisfaction at all levels
specialist techniques are
“screw on the floor syndrome”
required for treating long
should be eliminated.
and should eliminate costly
length screws to ensure
Properly applied plating is
dimensional stability.
essential to mitigate the risk of
complaints and returns.
The most common coating
corrosion, within the tolerance
used for drywall screws in the
of the particular coating used. The
UK is Chrome 6, 3 micron coating.
use of premium product will militate
This only offers limited corrosion
against the risk of rust.
resistance, but is a very stable coating.
Drywall screws should be of consistent
However a chrome 3, or indeed chrome free
dimensions. The “better” drywall screw will offer
coating should be preferred to minimise damage
this. Recesses should be formed to ensure that
to our environment. Alternatively a 48 hour salt
insert bits are tightly engaged on a “Stick-fix” basis
properly formed and protected solid wood pallets spray resistant phosphate coating is available but
thus improving usability of the fixing.
to ensure safe warehouse handling. this coating can react with certain compounds
The elimination of swarf and contamination
used in construction.
is essential as a contribution to a safer working
Issues relating to manufacture Sorting of product is vital to eliminate swarf and
environment. The use of premium product
In achieving the characteristics listed above impurities. Excessive oil should be removed and a
will eliminate this risk. The strong packaging
various matters must be addressed. Arguably final quality check be made prior to packaging the
associated with quality screws will protect against
the most important is the quality of the raw final product, which should be packed in strong
burst boxes and wastage, thus improving overall
material used. C1022 and C1018 wire rod are boxes to avoid damage and wastage.
cost of effectiveness.
the most commonly used base materials,
The “better” drywall screw will increase
however precise chemical composition of the Conclusion
customer satisfaction at all levels and should
wire rod varies from factory to factory and Whilst the “better” drywall screw is certainly
eliminate costly complaints and returns.
hence ultimate performance of screws will more difficult and expensive to produce it offers
vary according to the precise source of the raw distributors increased customer satisfaction and
Key characteristics of a “better”
material. Likewise the quality of the annealing delivers cost savings
sharp point fine thread drywall
process will affect the finished product. to the installers by
screw
The quality of the heading and threading increasing speed
Screws should be sharp, but not excessively so.
machines used in the manufacture of of operation
An angle of between 23 and 25 degrees offers
the screws obviously impacts on the and reduction of
consistent penetration performance. They should
production of the screws. The use of wastage.
have 18 threads per inch with a thread diameter
modern machinery featuring good
of 3.6mm. The heads should be concentric
heat resistance and tight
with a diameter of approximately 8.2mm, and
tolerances is crucial. As
a minimum recess depth of 2.6mm. Other
important a factor is the
dimensions must conform to strict tolerances.
precision of the moulds
Surface hardness should be a minimum of
and their length of use.
650 HV whilst core hardness of at least 380 HV
Moulds should be changed
is recommended. Hardness is a key factor as
frequently as the longer the
regards to the penetration capabilities and speed
moulds are used the greater
of the screw. Breaking torque strength should be
the potential for inconsistencies in
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