PRODUCT REVIEW


I hardly noticed any difference when using them in hard and softwoods or ply and chipboard. That is the joy of well-designed screws and a few Nm of torque from a drill driver – but is also a reality for the modern jobsite where versatility is a requirement.


Retailer stuff For retailers’ information, Beaverscrews® are available in M4 in 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70mm sizes. In M5, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100mm lengths are currently in the range – and these will cover most end users’ needs.


For POS displays, there are counter displays for boxes of screws for the impulse purchase. For users who need larger quantities, there are bulk tubs available in four popular sizes. The tubs are quite durable and made to withstand jobsite conditions.


Smooth countersinking is made possible by having six slightly raised nibs that cut a smooth path into the timber allowing the head to countersink neatly flush, or slightly below the timber surface. I am not a fan of the fad of driving the screwhead deep into the timber – it just makes it difficult to extract if you need to.


Although the shanks of the screws are slim (they come in M4 and M5 gauges) they are hardened for extra strength. Technical details are c1022 carbon steel hardened to 550 -800 HV 0.3. One of the ways of reducing the torque load on the screw shank is the milling or reaming on the midsection above the thread. This cuts a slightly wider hole that eases the passage of the screws through thick timber as well as preventing jacking – that pain-in-the-neck scenario where two pieces of timber being screwed together are forced apart rather than being screwed together.


Deep cut thread for higher pull out loads It was often possible to pull out old- fashioned screws with a claw hammer if you needed to. This reflected the relatively shallow thread used, since the friction of a deep thread pattern would have been too difficult to drive with a hand screwdriver. Today, drive torque is not a problem – just pick up a combi drill or impact driver and you are ready to drive screws with ease.


I tried the claw hammer trick on an 80mm- long Beaverscrews® and I managed to mark the wood around the screw very badly but failed to seriously dislodge the screw. Clearly, the deep cut thread is doing its job of ensuring a strong connection between the joined pieces and justifying the Beaverscrews® CE approval for Load Bearing Timber Construction.


Getting to the point


I want wood screws to make an almost instant and positive start into the timber, sometimes without the guidance of my second hand in supporting the screw to keep it on target. The Type 17 starting point consists of a deep V-cut in the thread and a very sharp point that does actually bite into the wood when you put a bit of pressure on it. The relieved point reduces initial friction so that the start is quick and precisely positioned and, of course, cuts a quick way through the timber as it is driven.


I tried driving a few screws close to the edges of a 50mm-thick piece of softwood (roughly 4 - 6mm away) and I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was little or no splitting of the timber. The point and sharp thread are doing their job. As is the quality wax coating that helps lubricate the entire screw as it is driven. If you want to test how effective it is, just unscrew one and feel how little friction-generated heat there is.


And the rest…


Quality screws are also judged on their working life and the way to ensure that is plating and passivation. All Beaverscrews® have a 3.5 micron zinc plating and a yellow passivation that provide good corrosion resistance for regular applications.


There is no doubt that Beaverscrews® are good at eating their way through wood and are another timely addition to the highly competitive world of woodscrews.


A good drive slot is key to a good drive with modern wood screws and the Pozi 2 slots on the head of the Beaverscrews® I used are substantial without being over large."


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