@@danielashman1753 Well, I don't know. It's a good question specially the "where to" part. Woodworking in general it's changing (as always has, I guess. But now things seems to change faster), It's kinda trending right now. More and more people are looking into diy projects, pro tips, even those weird ASMR things. I believe that skilled pros will be more appreciated. Where will it lead? We can speculate, and watch or try to influence it in a good way.
You make really good videos. It's perfect for someone like me, with no background in carpentry or building stuff, but who wants to learn the details and how to do it right. The fact about nails being stronger against sheering forces and safer to protect buildings from high winds, was especially interesting I thought.
I prefer screws over nails.I love what your doing with your channel It’s getting bigger and better and the content is always informative thanks for sharing
I built my entire building out of screws and the difference is so dramatic. kneeling things together eventually they will separate and have space between them
Also in some applications it is making sense to pre-drill holes for the nails. With a pre drilled hole there is more outer surface area engaging with the wood, giving the connection much more strength. I was amazed when i heard this the first time but our structural engineer calculated it properly and it was indeed a better connection. Sorry for my bad english. Great video though ! Greetings from germany :)
Thanks for writing in from Germany, Peter! I believe my grandfather used to pre-drill for his larger nails, and he was an utterly meticulous builder and mechanic 🙂👍
I would agree with you. Driving a nail into wood often times creates a small split, pushing the grain out of the way. Pre-drilling allows the nail to make contact with the wood in a 360 degree area without splitting the grain.
Yeah, but if you think about it, what's mainly holding the piece of wood to the other piece of wood you are attaching it to is the nail head. In many applications, you can pre drill the hole the same diameter as the nail or slightly bigger and it will hold just fine. It's really the friction of the nail into the board being attached to that is providing the holding power.
I appreciate the information. Very informative and it all makes sense. I know screws are stiffer than nails, because nails will bend quite easily, but I never thought about how brittle screws could be. 👍
Thank you for verifying what I always thought. I see a LOT of decks, stairs, etc done with nails and wonder-WHY? Then it hit me...time! It's soooo much faster to "punch" a nail, then to screw a...well screw. However, if you want it to last, screws come out ahead EVERY TIME!!
A screw will beat a nail even in the vertical stress tests but its not due to a shear-out (fastener snapping). In every single test run (using a hydraulic press that monitors pounds of force) on a board that was attached horrizontally to vertical studs was the nail is going to pull out of the board that the tip is in which would be the studs. When you run the same test on a screw the force it took to make the screw pull out was farrrr more than the nail could hold. The test ends when either the fastener can not hold the boards together anymore and the tip is pulled out of the board and the boards seperate (pull out) or the fastener snaps (shear out) or the integrity of the board itself gives and the board snaps, or the pressure applied to the board against the nail or screw causes the nail/screw to cut through the board and eventually tears through the edge of the board (tear out). When one of those things happens the test is stopped and the force pounds are recorded. The screw beat the nail at every single test. Ive heard "nails have superior shear strength" a million times (meaning the screw is going to get snapped by vertical force) but thats not what happens first. Long before that happens the nail is going to get pulled out. People are focused on the wrong thing - shear strength. Its the other things that are going to happen long before screw is at a snapping point and by that time ithe nail had been pulled out long before that pressure point was reached.
I learn so much from these videos, for good working principles. Thanks. To remember from this video: nails are stronger against shear forces and safer to protect buildings from high winds. Screws fasten parts in place together better, due to the threads; whereas contraction/ expansion of wood can cause nails to pop up/ out of position/ no longer fastening anything at that point.
What kind of screws do you recommend for attaching an extra stud, to the stud of a shed, (when the extra stud is bearing heavy duty lag bolts to adhere a 3 shelf steel lumber rack/ {4 racks in series}, which bears the massive heavy weight of piles of wood)? (I'm using construction adhesive on all the parts as well)
Ethan James, you are just an amazing carpenter and a tutor as well, I Binge watched your whole channel in less than two weeks, so keep on doing what you love, cause you are doing it better than anyone.
If you just predrill, your wood will almost never split. These "screw enhancements" have just made screws more expensive and they are not very effective at preventing wood from splitting. In some ways, screw technology went backwards, drywall screws are cheap but incredibly brittle. The only real positive enhancement to screws I can think of is torx and pozidriv heads that have drastically reduced cam-outs that phillips and slot screws suffer from, the rest is just expensive fluff.
We are doing a down to the studs renovation of our home. We decided early on to use screws and nails in conjunction on all the framing ,especially on load bearing walls! We added framing to all exterior and load bearing walls and whenever we drove a nail we also ran a screw next to it. We figure this way we have the best of both worlds. We initially had 2x6 walls that we increased to 2x8 ,not only for the added insulation but also for the added strength. Good video! I would amagine alot of people don't understand the that screws while being stronger at holding boards together don't have the needed shear strength needed!
This was very helpful. I agree that both have a place in construction and sometimes I have used nails and at other times screws. It really depends on what I am building. Thanks for sharing this.
I am now a believer in screws - even in the vertical stress applications. A screw is far superior even in the vertical stress applications where you would think the nail would win. A test was done that fastened 2 x lumber together in various ways. In each test, one used screws and the other used ring shank nails. A hydraulic press was used that monitors the pounds of pressure applied to one of the boards fastened and the test ends when either the boards separate ("pull out"), or the fastener snaps ("shear out") or the integrity of the board gives and the board breaks, or the fastener cuts through the wood and comes out the edge ("tear out"). In every single test run, it never made it to the shear out point where the fastener snaps. One test i remember was a board run horizontally that was attaching to vertical studs. The hydraulic press applied downward pressure to the horizontal board that was attached to the vertical studs. This was a case where I thought the nail would for sure win because "nails have superior shear strength." It never makes it to the point of shear out. The nail is going to pull out of the board long before it snaps. The screw won in the test where I thought the screw would win but it also won all of the tests where i thought the nail would win. Not only did it beat the nail at literally ever single test, it beat it by a huge amount. The nails worst problem is pull out and thats where it fails. The screw was never snapped. One of the other things happened before the screw was snapped. Nails are preferred by contractors b/c they're cheaper and can be applied with a nail gun much faster than screws can be driven with an imapct. There would be a lot more man hours required to build a home if screws were used, thats why contractors and home owners dont want to use them. The cost of 1000 nails is much lower than the cost of 1000 screws. So nails win in the financial appeal in every way. Building code approves both screws and nails to use but you hardly ever see screws used b/c of the financial downside to them. But in no way are the nails structurally superior. To the contrary, screws are far superior structurally. Once you put a nail and a screw into wood, shear out is not where you should be focused.
Thank you, I have often wondered which was better. Also, I have started using screws to fix my timber fence as I have found that nails rust out more quickly and as the timbers weathers screws hold better.
I'm currently converting a vintage travel trailer to another mobile coffee shop. I've noticed that all the framing has been nailed together, not screwed. Makes perfect sense considering it was made to be mobile. The nails in the framing are giving those walls a chance to flex and move a little in transit. Great video!
I liked the explanation of why nails are used when they are. Didn’t know the reason. I always just thought it was a cost factor. Thanks for the knowledge.
Having taken apart a few pallets recently, I can attest to the efficacy of Ring Shank Nails. They're like the missing link between nails and screws. I imagine they're much quicker to install than screws, but a REAL pain to remove. Thanks as ever for the vid. Cheers from the UK.
I like screws because I ALWAYS hit my fingers while trying to place nails...(gotta get one of those nail guns). Plus I'm always taking my projects apart as I'm just learning to be a carpenter now that I'm in my 70's and my eyes aren't what they use to be. LOL You have great videos....I'm learning a lot. Thank you
I tend to always use screws for the exact reason you mentioned. I had to remove and old deck when I was youner built with nails and vowed to not follow in those foot steps. I like the you highlighted a use for the them saving cost in areas where you dont plan on deconstructing. The problem is I always at some point want to change things up
I've only ever had one screw fail from shearing - it was a drywall screw that a previous owner used to hang a gutter, and it more or less rusted through before it failed.
I'm glad I subscribed to your channel because you give good information in an easy to understand format. The intro for each one is great. Short, sweet and engaging. Keep up the good work.
Good job! I would like to see videos comparing in detail different types of screws and nails. I know you covered them a bit here, but there are so many choices. Thanks.
You mentioned using adhesive, but not coated nails. The coating acts as an adhesive that heats up under the friction of the hammering and helps secure the nail. I think the biggest issue is that screws tend to be more brittle as opposed to the ductility of most nails. They each have their own purposes
I want to do a whole video on nail coatings at some point Bennet, including types of galv finish. It gets crazy complicated when you start breaking down the types.
I am currently seeking proper way to attach wall blocking for baseboards. Some corner don’t have anything for which to attack molding to the wall other than drywall. (And we both know where that’s headed) The higher areas will be getting screws but the bottom corners - well, I’d like to use a framing nail gun. Comments?
@@TheHonestCarpenter Costs are also greatly effected with finish and coatings. It drives me nuts when you cannot find cheaper interior screws because all the exterior coated (more expensive) screws are front and center at my local Lowes and Home Depot.
Another well done and worthwhile video. Thanks. Obviously, this left a lot of material about screws vs nails behind. For example, there are times when nails are used over screws because they make teardown and reassembly more practical, like in trim/molding applications. Finish nails allow for the removal and replacement of trim without completely destroying the origianal material. The nail's head is shaped to allow it to be pulled through the wood with little damage.
As a beginner I have learned a lot of the basics from you videos. Just building a project that will experience shear so going with nails and construction adhesive.
If you want to prevent nail pop but want the shear strength, use both. Im remodeling a 1950's house and after demolition and any reframing I might need to do, I shoot a screw or two where there is nail pop. Then I drive the nail back in. You can also do this with new framing. I shoot one screw through the top and bottom plates into the studs and then come back and shoot two nails. Makes assembling a bit easier when driving nails with a hammer too.
A simple trick that will give your attachments more holding strength is to install the nail screwbor Red Head At an Angle. Use different entry angles and it becomes impossible for a board to come lose due to heat or moisture. If moldbisva problem or rot paint the backsidebof thebwood before installing, water penitation, use silocone on rough concrete, or a sealant on finished concrete.
I wish I had this video when I was 19 and had just moved out to live on my own. For a good year or so, I had two planks in the bed I was using that refused to stay attached, and it took me forever to figure out that nails weren't gonna cut it. It's all very trivial of course, and I don't beat myself up over not knowing better as a teenager, since there was no one around to teach me this stuff. I finally did get the idea from a friend's father to replace the planks and use screws this time. It worked great.
25 years ago, I used SS square drive 3" and 3.5" deck screws to hold my deck together including the standard deck boards. Not a single issue, no broken screws, no rusting in PT wood. These screws have a cutting tip, so really no predrilling except maybe board ends. They can be reused. Maybe 5 years of life though on my FIL deck using standard coated deck screws. Many of them snapped off. They did that cause the wood decking was not finished, like mine. The wood moisture cycles and expands and contracts over and over, and all that movement of the wood caused those coated steel screws to break. So, the SS screws can bend a lot, even more than steel nails and not break, they hold great and do not rust.
I always use screws or the brad/wood glue approaches on my projects. I've never considered the shear strength between screws and nails though. You learn something new everyday! Thanks for the video! 👍
Awesome as always thank you. Can you direct me to a video for choosing what size and type of screws to use please and how to do a pilot hole please? Thank you
Hey great video as usual. It was very very informative for sure. The information is and will be most helpful. Thanks again for your time and knowledge.
Timely appearance of this video in my timeline--was pondering this question yesterday, wondering if nails were now fairly obsolete. Appreciate the analysis of the benefits of each. But what if one doesn't have a nail gun and suitable air compressor? Then it seems screws win even more ground.
Project farm did a cool video showing the data on nail holding strength you just anecdotally provided, as you said, all nails were blown away by even cheap drywall screws, what was cool was the other types of nails with spiral shank, that actually were lower than a standard nail, and ring shank nails which improved holding power slightly
Mostly I use screws because they are stronger and it's easier to change something later if you want. But for framing I use nails. Thanks for a great video, as usual!
Screws are not stronger, they're harder. Screws are rigid and have great pulling force. But screws are also brittle and the moment they encounter shear force they snap. Tap a screw sideways with a hammer and it breaks, a nail does not.
Wow! As a woman DIYer, I actually understood everything that you explained today, screws vs nails! I have some experience with both, including a compressor with a nailer and brad application. You broke it down so expertly. Thanks!
I'm a woman DIYer too. I just built my own deck! All screws. My little 12v impact driver was a real star! But the noise might be worse than a nail gun and compresser!
Love your channel. I am learning so much. Thank You. Your tool recommendations are super helpful. The Pro & Con videos on various subjects are superb as you teach me what to use when. And I really appreciate your safety tips. If possible, can you gear a few videos towards people who live in apartments & don't have a garage/workshop to do projects & store equipment. My projects would be along the lines of putting up wood shelves above doors to take advantage of dead-space for storage.
I think this is a great video. There is a lot more to say on the topic and maybe a few ways to use nails that you didn’t mention. It doesn’t always work, but depending on the situation you can drive nails in at alternating angles as well as clench them. Clenching works especially well when the wood is relatively thin and there isn’t enough thickness for a screw to bite. I have had great success with these two additional methods.
Good video. I definitely detest nails when it comes to doing any kind of demo. Prying them out, and then having to deal with them so you don’t cut yourself open, trying to carry all the scraps out, or worry that somebody’s going to shove a nail through their foot.
Screws hold better and more secure in any scenario I've ever seen, renovated over 10 homes here...... idk where this magical shearing screw comes from, wish it was that easy to remove screws in renovations lol
I really appreciate your guidance. After viewing your presentation on nails vs. screws my wife Peg asks why hasn't anyone invented a screw-gun similar to a nail gun?
Nails will pull out more easily than screws, UNLESS the nail has rusted into place. I never considered that until about 50 yeas ago I had to remove some 10 year old siding, then I found out just how well (uncoated) nails can resist pull out. OK, not for decks and such, but things like siding nails work.
Well done and informative video. Succinct and on focus. Much better video than many that are poorly thought out and jump all over the place while skipping Key points. Well done.
@@ouimetco I once made a list of recommendations for my son ( he was a finish carpenter). “Wear flip flops so that when you step on a nail it’s easier to pull out.” “Scatter your tools all over the work site so you can spend many fun filled hours looking for them.” I forget the rest. I’m a mother.♥️
![Eminem - Fuel (Shady Edition) feat. Westside Boogie & GRIP [Official Audio]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/k1OquBida9s/mqdefault.jpg)
You avoided screwing up the video: you nailed it.
😏
lol
🤣🤣🤣
Womp womp
Lol. Witty!
You are an important figure in the transition of our craft.
Great role model for pros, diyers and clients.
Thank you!
Thank you, Daniel! 😄
What is the transition from and to?
@@danielashman1753 Well, I don't know.
It's a good question specially the "where to" part.
Woodworking in general it's changing (as always has, I guess. But now things seems to change faster), It's kinda trending right now.
More and more people are looking into diy projects, pro tips, even those weird ASMR things. I believe that skilled pros will be more appreciated.
Where will it lead?
We can speculate, and watch or try to influence it in a good way.
Always fasten-nated with your videos. Keep hammering home the info. Knowledge and Experience creates wisdom.
You make really good videos. It's perfect for someone like me, with no background in carpentry or building stuff, but who wants to learn the details and how to do it right. The fact about nails being stronger against sheering forces and safer to protect buildings from high winds, was especially interesting I thought.
Thank you, Daniel! I try to fill the channel with advice for new DIYers from a pro perspective 🙂
Always the best carpenter show. The explanations are great.
Thank you, Paul! 😄
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I prefer screws over nails.I love what your doing with your channel
It’s getting bigger and better and the content is always informative thanks for sharing
I built my entire building out of screws and the difference is so dramatic. kneeling things together eventually they will separate and have space between them
Also in some applications it is making sense to pre-drill holes for the nails. With a pre drilled hole there is more outer surface area engaging with the wood, giving the connection much more strength. I was amazed when i heard this the first time but our structural engineer calculated it properly and it was indeed a better connection.
Sorry for my bad english. Great video though ! Greetings from germany :)
Thanks for writing in from Germany, Peter! I believe my grandfather used to pre-drill for his larger nails, and he was an utterly meticulous builder and mechanic 🙂👍
I would agree with you. Driving a nail into wood often times creates a small split, pushing the grain out of the way. Pre-drilling allows the nail to make contact with the wood in a 360 degree area without splitting the grain.
Yeah, but if you think about it, what's mainly holding the piece of wood to the other piece of wood you are attaching it to is the nail head. In many applications, you can pre drill the hole the same diameter as the nail or slightly bigger and it will hold just fine. It's really the friction of the nail into the board being attached to that is providing the holding power.
I appreciate the information. Very informative and it all makes sense. I know screws are stiffer than nails, because nails will bend quite easily, but I never thought about how brittle screws could be. 👍
Thank you for verifying what I always thought. I see a LOT of decks, stairs, etc done with nails and wonder-WHY? Then it hit me...time! It's soooo much faster to "punch" a nail, then to screw a...well screw. However, if you want it to last, screws come out ahead EVERY TIME!!
A screw will beat a nail even in the vertical stress tests but its not due to a shear-out (fastener snapping). In every single test run (using a hydraulic press that monitors pounds of force) on a board that was attached horrizontally to vertical studs was the nail is going to pull out of the board that the tip is in which would be the studs. When you run the same test on a screw the force it took to make the screw pull out was farrrr more than the nail could hold. The test ends when either the fastener can not hold the boards together anymore and the tip is pulled out of the board and the boards seperate (pull out) or the fastener snaps (shear out) or the integrity of the board itself gives and the board snaps, or the pressure applied to the board against the nail or screw causes the nail/screw to cut through the board and eventually tears through the edge of the board (tear out). When one of those things happens the test is stopped and the force pounds are recorded. The screw beat the nail at every single test. Ive heard "nails have superior shear strength" a million times (meaning the screw is going to get snapped by vertical force) but thats not what happens first. Long before that happens the nail is going to get pulled out. People are focused on the wrong thing - shear strength. Its the other things that are going to happen long before screw is at a snapping point and by that time ithe nail had been pulled out long before that pressure point was reached.
hey barry, check out the difference between then and than
@@gg-gn3re Yeah, I see my HUUUUUGE mistake, didn't realize the grammar police were in town! It must really suck to NOT have a life....geesh!
@@barryallenflash1 It's ok, you won't go to jail this time, you're stuck sucking your no-life for now.
I appreciate this type of video - very informative and brief. Thanks.
I learn so much from these videos, for good working principles. Thanks. To remember from this video: nails are stronger against shear forces and safer to protect buildings from high winds. Screws fasten parts in place together better, due to the threads; whereas contraction/ expansion of wood can cause nails to pop up/ out of position/ no longer fastening anything at that point.
Good summary! And screws will perform better against that expansion/contraction in deck applications 🙂
What kind of screws do you recommend for attaching an extra stud, to the stud of a shed, (when the extra stud is bearing heavy duty lag bolts to adhere a 3 shelf steel lumber rack/ {4 racks in series}, which bears the massive heavy weight of piles of wood)? (I'm using construction adhesive on all the parts as well)
Ethan James, you are just an amazing carpenter and a tutor as well, I Binge watched your whole channel in less than two weeks, so keep on doing what you love, cause you are doing it better than anyone.
👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼...™️!!!!
Hit me up
❤️❤️ ..
Screw technology has drastically changed. Love it since now I am not splitting wood like crazy when driving screws in.
If you just predrill, your wood will almost never split. These "screw enhancements" have just made screws more expensive and they are not very effective at preventing wood from splitting. In some ways, screw technology went backwards, drywall screws are cheap but incredibly brittle.
The only real positive enhancement to screws I can think of is torx and pozidriv heads that have drastically reduced cam-outs that phillips and slot screws suffer from, the rest is just expensive fluff.
We are doing a down to the studs renovation of our home. We decided early on to use screws and nails in conjunction on all the framing ,especially on load bearing walls! We added framing to all exterior and load bearing walls and whenever we drove a nail we also ran a screw next to it. We figure this way we have the best of both worlds. We initially had 2x6 walls that we increased to 2x8 ,not only for the added insulation but also for the added strength. Good video! I would amagine alot of people don't understand the that screws while being stronger at holding boards together don't have the needed shear strength needed!
This was very helpful. I agree that both have a place in construction and sometimes I have used nails and at other times screws. It really depends on what I am building. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks for being a true professional and keeping it simple!!
Very informative. Thank you. I'll nail everything and add 1 screw time permitting for security.
I am now a believer in screws - even in the vertical stress applications. A screw is far superior even in the vertical stress applications where you would think the nail would win. A test was done that fastened 2 x lumber together in various ways. In each test, one used screws and the other used ring shank nails. A hydraulic press was used that monitors the pounds of pressure applied to one of the boards fastened and the test ends when either the boards separate ("pull out"), or the fastener snaps ("shear out") or the integrity of the board gives and the board breaks, or the fastener cuts through the wood and comes out the edge ("tear out"). In every single test run, it never made it to the shear out point where the fastener snaps. One test i remember was a board run horizontally that was attaching to vertical studs. The hydraulic press applied downward pressure to the horizontal board that was attached to the vertical studs. This was a case where I thought the nail would for sure win because "nails have superior shear strength." It never makes it to the point of shear out. The nail is going to pull out of the board long before it snaps. The screw won in the test where I thought the screw would win but it also won all of the tests where i thought the nail would win. Not only did it beat the nail at literally ever single test, it beat it by a huge amount. The nails worst problem is pull out and thats where it fails. The screw was never snapped. One of the other things happened before the screw was snapped. Nails are preferred by contractors b/c they're cheaper and can be applied with a nail gun much faster than screws can be driven with an imapct. There would be a lot more man hours required to build a home if screws were used, thats why contractors and home owners dont want to use them. The cost of 1000 nails is much lower than the cost of 1000 screws. So nails win in the financial appeal in every way. Building code approves both screws and nails to use but you hardly ever see screws used b/c of the financial downside to them. But in no way are the nails structurally superior. To the contrary, screws are far superior structurally. Once you put a nail and a screw into wood, shear out is not where you should be focused.
Thank you, I have often wondered which was better. Also, I have started using screws to fix my timber fence as I have found that nails rust out more quickly and as the timbers weathers screws hold better.
I'm currently converting a vintage travel trailer to another mobile coffee shop. I've noticed that all the framing has been nailed together, not screwed. Makes perfect sense considering it was made to be mobile. The nails in the framing are giving those walls a chance to flex and move a little in transit. Great video!
As always, instructive and professional. Thank you
Thanks for watching!!
I liked the explanation of why nails are used when they are. Didn’t know the reason. I always just thought it was a cost factor. Thanks for the knowledge.
Tough as a nail. That’s its strength. They don’t break. They bend.
Having taken apart a few pallets recently, I can attest to the efficacy of Ring Shank Nails. They're like the missing link between nails and screws. I imagine they're much quicker to install than screws, but a REAL pain to remove. Thanks as ever for the vid. Cheers from the UK.
I like screws because I ALWAYS hit my fingers while trying to place nails...(gotta get one of those nail guns). Plus I'm always taking my projects apart as I'm just learning to be a carpenter now that I'm in my 70's and my eyes aren't what they use to be. LOL You have great videos....I'm learning a lot. Thank you
I tend to always use screws for the exact reason you mentioned. I had to remove and old deck when I was youner built with nails and vowed to not follow in those foot steps. I like the you highlighted a use for the them saving cost in areas where you dont plan on deconstructing. The problem is I always at some point want to change things up
I have always fought with the decision on which to use and when. Well, now I know. Such a great, helpful video!!! Thanks so much!
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I've only ever had one screw fail from shearing - it was a drywall screw that a previous owner used to hang a gutter, and it more or less rusted through before it failed.
BRAVO !! Awesome presentation ! YOU HIT EVERY SHOW OUT OF THE PARK ! THANK YOU !!
JAY SPARK
I can't remember the last time I've driven a nail. Screws all the way.
I'm glad I subscribed to your channel because you give good information in an easy to understand format. The intro for each one is great. Short, sweet and engaging. Keep up the good work.
Your videos are so helpful. Thank you sincerely
Thanks for helping me out
I building a 10 x 12 shed
Planned on screws
But now will use individual nails
I used to that
Watched from Alberta Canada
Good job! I would like to see videos comparing in detail different types of screws and nails. I know you covered them a bit here, but there are so many choices. Thanks.
Thanks, I think you nailed it.
Thanks, Harry! 😆
Screws provide a great advantage in pulling pieces in. Having a stubborn board or a tight spot where you lack advantage really saves the day.
Clear, simple, and concise!!!
You mentioned using adhesive, but not
coated nails. The coating acts as an adhesive that heats up under the friction of the hammering and helps secure the nail. I think the biggest issue is that screws tend to be more brittle as opposed to the ductility of most nails. They each have their own purposes
I want to do a whole video on nail coatings at some point Bennet, including types of galv finish. It gets crazy complicated when you start breaking down the types.
@@TheHonestCarpenter I like the idea of a nail coating video. There are so many coatings now days. 🙂
I am currently seeking proper way to attach wall blocking for baseboards. Some corner don’t have anything for which to attack molding to the wall other than drywall. (And we both know where that’s headed)
The higher areas will be getting screws but the bottom corners - well, I’d like to use a framing nail gun. Comments?
@@TheHonestCarpenter Costs are also greatly effected with finish and coatings. It drives me nuts when you cannot find cheaper interior screws because all the exterior coated (more expensive) screws are front and center at my local Lowes and Home Depot.
@@TheHonestCarpenter I look forward to it, I very much enjoy your presentations and the attitude and information you present
Another well done and worthwhile video. Thanks.
Obviously, this left a lot of material about screws vs nails behind. For example, there are times when nails are used over screws because they make teardown and reassembly more practical, like in trim/molding applications. Finish nails allow for the removal and replacement of trim without completely destroying the origianal material. The nail's head is shaped to allow it to be pulled through the wood with little damage.
As a beginner I have learned a lot of the basics from you videos. Just building a project that will experience shear so going with nails and construction adhesive.
I like both and if used properly the both serve their purpose.
If you want to prevent nail pop but want the shear strength, use both.
Im remodeling a 1950's house and after demolition and any reframing I might need to do, I shoot a screw or two where there is nail pop. Then I drive the nail back in.
You can also do this with new framing. I shoot one screw through the top and bottom plates into the studs and then come back and shoot two nails. Makes assembling a bit easier when driving nails with a hammer too.
PS
A simple trick that will give your attachments more holding strength is to install the nail screwbor Red Head At an Angle. Use different entry angles and it becomes impossible for a board to come lose due to heat or moisture. If moldbisva problem or rot paint the backsidebof thebwood before installing, water penitation, use silocone on rough concrete, or a sealant on finished concrete.
I wish I had this video when I was 19 and had just moved out to live on my own. For a good year or so, I had two planks in the bed I was using that refused to stay attached, and it took me forever to figure out that nails weren't gonna cut it. It's all very trivial of course, and I don't beat myself up over not knowing better as a teenager, since there was no one around to teach me this stuff. I finally did get the idea from a friend's father to replace the planks and use screws this time. It worked great.
Honestly, that’s how I’ve always learned best, J A. You don’t ever forget the lesson that you learn after a mistake 👍
This is useful information presented perfectly.
Thank you.
I'm glad I'm subscribed.
Thank you, citron! 😄
Brad nails and glue is the best way I've found to put together DIY cabinetry. The rest of the time I'm using screws.
Very good information Ethan. I use screws almost all of the time, since I like the look of my thumbs just the way they are. ;-)
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25 years ago, I used SS square drive 3" and 3.5" deck screws to hold my deck together including the standard deck boards. Not a single issue, no broken screws, no rusting in PT wood. These screws have a cutting tip, so really no predrilling except maybe board ends. They can be reused. Maybe 5 years of life though on my FIL deck using standard coated deck screws. Many of them snapped off. They did that cause the wood decking was not finished, like mine. The wood moisture cycles and expands and contracts over and over, and all that movement of the wood caused those coated steel screws to break. So, the SS screws can bend a lot, even more than steel nails and not break, they hold great and do not rust.
Thanks for addressing some very basic subjects without treating us like idiots! Love all your videos.
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Best channel out there 👍👍👍
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I always use screws or the brad/wood glue approaches on my projects. I've never considered the shear strength between screws and nails though. You learn something new everyday! Thanks for the video! 👍
Awesome as always thank you. Can you direct me to a video for choosing what size and type of screws to use please and how to do a pilot hole please? Thank you
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Hey great video as usual. It was very very informative for sure. The information is and will be most helpful. Thanks again for your time and knowledge.
Thank you
Holy Crap?!?!?! Who Knew?!?! Thank you again!!! Nice job!
Timely appearance of this video in my timeline--was pondering this question yesterday, wondering if nails were now fairly obsolete. Appreciate the analysis of the benefits of each.
But what if one doesn't have a nail gun and suitable air compressor? Then it seems screws win even more ground.
Project farm did a cool video showing the data on nail holding strength you just anecdotally provided, as you said, all nails were blown away by even cheap drywall screws, what was cool was the other types of nails with spiral shank, that actually were lower than a standard nail, and ring shank nails which improved holding power slightly
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Great info. Thanks! My projects keep improving because of the information you provide.
Mostly I use screws because they are stronger and it's easier to change something later if you want. But for framing I use nails. Thanks for a great video, as usual!
Screws are not stronger, they're harder. Screws are rigid and have great pulling force. But screws are also brittle and the moment they encounter shear force they snap. Tap a screw sideways with a hammer and it breaks, a nail does not.
@@sophieedel6324 The only time a fastener encounters shear is when the house you are building falls down. Screws prevent the house from falling down.
@@notapplicable430 each time wood expands and contracts screws experience shear force, that's why screws on sidings or deck snap all the time
@@sophieedel6324 Nonsense.
@@notapplicable430 not nonsense, you learned something
This explanation was very helpful. I love that your videos are always informative and to the point.
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Wow! As a woman DIYer, I actually understood everything that you explained today, screws vs nails! I have some experience with both, including a compressor with a nailer and brad application. You broke it down so expertly. Thanks!
I'm a woman DIYer too. I just built my own deck! All screws. My little 12v impact driver was a real star! But the noise might be worse than a nail gun and compresser!
Great explanation, thanks! I always learn so much from you. And I’ve been a carpenter for many years!
Excellent video, thanks so much. Your content is super helpful. Educational and concise.
That's an excellent tip. I will go with screws for my piece of panel that has come loose. Thanks.
Love your channel. I am learning so much. Thank You. Your tool recommendations are super helpful. The Pro & Con videos on various subjects are superb as you teach me what to use when. And I really appreciate your safety tips. If possible, can you gear a few videos towards people who live in apartments & don't have a garage/workshop to do projects & store equipment. My projects would be along the lines of putting up wood shelves above doors to take advantage of dead-space for storage.
This one was particularly useful for me! thanks! I am starting out doing paid work and I am finding your videos very insightful. THANK YOU
This video is by far the best narrative describing the advantages and disadvantages of screws and nails. Great presentation!
I think this is a great video. There is a lot more to say on the topic and maybe a few ways to use nails that you didn’t mention. It doesn’t always work, but depending on the situation you can drive nails in at alternating angles as well as clench them. Clenching works especially well when the wood is relatively thin and there isn’t enough thickness for a screw to bite. I have had great success with these two additional methods.
Good job and you did not have to partner with anybody else you are the expert
Thanks Ethan
Very informative
Good video. I definitely detest nails when it comes to doing any kind of demo.
Prying them out, and then having to deal with them so you don’t cut yourself open, trying to carry all the scraps out, or worry that somebody’s going to shove a nail through their foot.
Great job. So many people get it wrong, but it's as simple as nails are better in shear and screws are better holding things together.(tension).
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Screws hold better and more secure in any scenario I've ever seen, renovated over 10 homes here...... idk where this magical shearing screw comes from, wish it was that easy to remove screws in renovations lol
Thanks for the comparison video. I needed this. 😎👍
You’re welcome, Bats! I’m aiming to get all the fundamentals covered on the channel over time 🙂
Could you do a video n some of the special nails and screws you use, and for what purposes?
Yes I will, Ryan!
Great video
I really appreciate your guidance. After viewing your presentation on nails vs. screws my wife Peg asks why hasn't anyone invented a screw-gun similar to a nail gun?
I love working with deck screws for most projects.
Great job as always, Ethan. Thank you for posting consistently great and informative content.
So if you are going to put two of them in one joint spot maybe one could make a mix - one screw and one nail and angle them additionally 🙂
Thank You...gret videos, presentation, explantion, clarity...
Best comparison I've seen. Thanks!
Thanks! I felt dumb wanting to ask my friend this question multiple times and not being satisfied with his answer 😅
I’m glad it helps, Jerome! 🙂
Nails will pull out more easily than screws, UNLESS the nail has rusted into place. I never considered that until about 50 yeas ago I had to remove some 10 year old siding, then I found out just how well (uncoated) nails can resist pull out. OK, not for decks and such, but things like siding nails work.
Thank you!
Good one....no one is talking about it. Thanks
So clear. So useful! Thanks a lot for your videos!
Well done and informative video. Succinct and on focus.
Much better video than many that are poorly thought out and jump all over the place while skipping
Key points.
Well done.
Good information, thanks
Thanks, David!
Always brillient. Thankyou for putting it out
Great info! What about threaded nails?!?
Excellent video. Interesting and informative. Thanks
Thanks Michael!
Agreed on all points !!!! I always frame with screws.
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That is very dumb
I saw a carpenter video that says to use nails when framing a house because the frame needs to be able to move when the house moves or settles.
Interesting video. Thanks for sharing
My decision is often based on what is in the can of mixed leftovers, or how far away is my drill and hammer
Jajajaa. Now that’s some deep honest talk there brother hahaja
@@ouimetco I once made a list of recommendations for my son ( he was a finish carpenter).
“Wear flip flops so that when you step on a nail it’s easier to pull out.”
“Scatter your tools all over the work site so you can spend many fun filled hours looking for them.”
I forget the rest. I’m a mother.♥️
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Great.
Great content. Thanks for taking the time to create this.
Thanks for the great info man!!!!!
Awesome videos as always