Particle board screws??

[jhart]

Looking at using particle board for a shop cabinet carcass. I've seen something about using special screws designed for particle board. Anyone have any info on these screws? Where can you get them? Any of the big box stores have them? Do you really need them or can you just use coarse drywall screws?
I am aware that whatever I use will need to be pre drilled.

[sacherjj]

I picked those up at either Lowes or HD. They just say particle screws. The look like standard drywall screws, but with wider screw threads (sticking out farther from the center of the screw) and less threads per inch. Mine were brass colored because of some coating. These worked better than drywall screws in MDF.

[bigsteel15]

A local hardware up here calls them low root screws. they are not as coarse as drywall screws and drywall screws don't come in the variety of lengths.
HD also sells them as Joe said but not sure of selection. They charge way too much for them.
I buy them here for $8/kg ($3.60/lb) and that gets me about 500 screws for under $10 compared to 15-20 at HD.

[spazlab]

Re: Particle board screws??

I have seen them at Lowes here in PA. They are pretty expensive though. I have never used the ones from Lowes. I have had good experience with the "Ultimate Screws" at Woodworker's Hardware:

http://wwhardware.com/catalog.cfm/Gr...ad%2C%20Square

you can order them through Amazon, I think. You'd have to pay shipping, though.

[bigsteel15]

If you ever go across the line to Canada, stop at a Home Hardware. that's the place I get them in bulk. It's only a 6 hour drive to Thunder Bay.

[mschrank]

"Confirmat" screws are typically recommended for particle board and MDF.

You can find them at McFeely's, and I'm pretty sure they are available from most other suppliers (Rockler, Amazon etc)

[bigsteel15]

I just checked out McFeely's prices. WOW.
I would never pay those prices for Robertson (square drive) screws.
I'm so happy, I finally found something that is cheaper in Canada and more readily available.
Somebody I'm sure will burst my bubble by telling me that square drive are no big deal to get good prices on in the US.
For now I'll just bask in the glory. LOL

[jziegler]

The problem is that here in the states square drive screws are hard to come by. And in general McFeely's doesn't seem that much more expensive than buying phillips head at HD or Lowes. For example, #6 x 1 1/4" flathead wood screws are $3.02 at McFeely's. They are probably just under that ($0.10-$.20) at HD. They're a little more expensive by the piece (still phillips) at my local True Value, probably $.04 each. Usually no boxes on the shelf there in wood screws. Sounds like a good reason to like Canada. I wish we had more square drive here.

Jim

[bigsteel15]

Maybe I just discovered my retirment fund business.

[drumpriest]

Don't rule out cam lock systems, or barrel nut and bolt systems for that type of cabinet, they will last longer than even particle board screws.

[bigsteel15]

Is this worth investigating?

Now you've got me wondering about this as a viable thing.
What is the general feeling by people about phillips head screws?
Personally I hate them. I know that torx are sometimes seen as the alternative, but what is the availability of them?
Is this something worth looking into as far as shipping quantities of square drive screws to US, or am I barking up a dead tree?
Shipping and such would probably be a killer unless I could ship huge amounts and distribute from a central location (Tulsa or Houston).

Are screws in general worth the effort? Considering that HD up here have half an aisle just dedicated to screws, maybe it's an idea.

I see almost nothing on e-bay except green deck screws at ridiculous high prices. BTW, these are pretty much the same as PB screws.

Thoughts?

[mschrank]

Sorry Joe, I realize I contributing to hijacking your thread...but looks like you got the answers you need....?

Now you've got me wondering about this as a viable thing.

Thoughts?

I don't want to discourage a potential business opportunity, but seems you'd need to get your supply pretty cheaply to make a go of it. While it sometimes takes a few more clicks, I have never had much trouble finding square drive screws here in the states...and they usually only cost a couple dimes more per 100.

For example: Without looking too hard I can get a box (100) of
#8 x 1-1/2 for $3.49 USD for square drive or $3.59 USD for phillips.

What is a comparable price in Canada for square drive screws?

[bigsteel15]

I didn't intend to hijack the thread. It was mostly in jest.
I am curious though and will follow this up and post a new thread if it looks doable.
I always got a kick out the fact that there is a specialty store in the US for something that we in Canada take for granted in "square head" screws. They are by far the most popular fastener here.

[TheRic]

I didn't intend to hijack the thread. It was mostly in jest.
I am curious though and will follow this up and post a new thread if it looks doable.
I always got a kick out the fact that there is a specialty store in the US for something that we in Canada take for granted in "square head" screws. They are by far the most popular fastener here.

I can believe that, since the square head was invented by a Canadian 28 years before an American invented the Phillips.

[jhart]

Thanks for all the recommendations and potential business opportunities.
Picked up some "particle board" screws at Menards locally. Had lookd at HD when I bought the particle and didn't see any (didn't have my glasses with me, so some of the boxes were hard to read)
Anyway a pack of 25 was $1.79

Good Luck on the new businesses