Personal preference: Pilot holes before wood screws?

[lemonshindig]

I'm building some shelving in my garage and it's extremely slow going.

I used a drill bit to drill pilot holes and ended up breaking the bit on my 7th hole.

Then i found out that the bit wasn't long enough, screws would drive well until the end of the drilled hole and i'd be left with 1/4" of screw head that would not go in. I need them all flush in order for this design to work.

Plus, my rectangles seem very flimsy and not at all rigid.

And no matter how hard I push on the drill, it won't drive the screws in that last 1/4". It has plenty of torque to do it, but the bit skips.

Grr.

I'm wondering if i should just give up on pilot holes. They seem to be causing me way too much trouble.

[6t9mach1]

Keep doing the pilot holes or you will split your wood when driving in the screws...then you will be really mad

[copasspupil]

Always use a pilot hole. You'll either strip the head or snap it off.

[69 Rustang]

With old wood I usually drill a pilot hole. I have snapped screws off or stripped the head trying to go in without one. New wood on the other hand has enough moisture content that screws usually go in with no problems.

[Teebone]

Sounds like your drill bits are not sharp..I always drill holes even in wood to prevent it from splitting..I would try some wood glue in the holes before you drive the screws home..once it drys you will have a good bond

[musgofasta]

2x4's and such - I've never used pilot holes.

An impact driver (not a standard drill) is the key for me to drive long screws. No stripping the head either.

[pprince]

+1 on the impact driver.

Unless you are screwing hard wood like oak or maple you don't need pilot holes.

[silverblueBP]

Softwood, pilots are a good idea, but not absolutely necessary. Hardwood, pilot hole or it will crack and probably split with the grain. I always drill the pilot hole the same size as the body of the screw or just one size smaller, varies with conditions.

You can get self cutting wood screws from lots of places, but McFeely's has some of the best.

Get the #2 square drive screws for particle board...those babies are the bomb. Plus, they're thermally protected against hydrogen induced delayed brittle fracture.

Old joke amongst cabinet makers

[coupesix]

+1 on drilling pilot holes! If you cut corners you'll only regret it.

[Black_67stang]

I have always drilled pilot holes. Not real hard to do and it will always prevent your wood from splitting.

[Mustangerbob1]

+1 on pilot holes, deep enough, and the correct size for the screws.

Plus, you might try liquid soap on the threads.

[lemonshindig]

Originally Posted by Mustangerbob1

+1 on pilot holes, deep enough, and the correct size for the screws.

Plus, you might try liquid soap on the threads.

I read to try wax, as soap can induce rusting.

-Matt

[lemonshindig]

What's the advantage of an impact driver rather than my drill? I have a Makita cordless hammerdrill and i can buy an impact driver for like 70 bucks to go with the batteries i have but i thought it was pointless since the drill puts out 560in*lb of torque.

[66HertzClone]

Use pilot holes, I have tapered bits that also will cut for countersinking the screw heads. Bees wax is a great lube for installing screws. I have switched to the square head screws for work like this, no more of the camming out that happens so often with phillips screws. You can find a box of these with the driver bit, I have a box sitting here that are 2" long #8 size, intended for deck construction.

[pprince]

If pilot holes were required can you imagine the cost of a new house?