Which screws

[DiscoStu]

I've just bought one of the Festool systainers with the removable boxes for screws. So I'm going to buy a multi pack of screws to fill it with, the question is which ones?

I've noticed screwfix do a multipack of 1400 for 16.99:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/goldscrew-woodscrews-trade-pack-double-countersunk-1400-pcs/69034

Or a multipack of 1400 for £50:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/turbogold-woodscrews-trade-pack-double-self-countersunk-1400-pcs/40237

What's the difference and is it worth it? Any others I should consider?

 

[custard]

Depends what you make and what materials you use, but personally I don't that see the cheaper multi-pack gives too much away, so I'd get that and top up with individual packs of whatever screw sizes get used up first. Incidentally, I've tried these "wax coated" screws, all I can say is they still go in a whole lot easier after a little rub with paraffin wax or beeswax.

 

[DiscoStu]

I'm just after some for general use. I already have some of the turbo gold.

 

[biskit]

Being Old, school that is I've always got the size I want at the time. But it is nice to have a few odd sizes hanging around just in case. :wink:

 

[No skills]

Turbo gold start easier and tend to go in easier, I think the design is slightly self drilling so to speak.

 

[graduate_owner]

I bought a set of screws from Screwfix, complete in metal case and with plastic compartments. The cost was about £12 ot so, on special offer. The value of the screws was about £15, and the cases sell for about £10 so a pretty good deal - if you can wait for one to come up. I think these are worth getting anyway, even if you have just stocked up. It is so handy to be able to just grab a box and be reasonably sure you have what you will need, although I'm diy person, not a pro. Pro's may need a wider range of sizes I suppose.

K

 

[Monkey Mark]

Keep an eye on the screwfix offers as the often put the turbo gold on cheap. The pack that comes in a metal tin then ends up cheaper than just the refil pack.

Edit: posted at the same time as above.

 

[sitefive]

the multi-packs ALWAYS ends up costing more..
1600 screws isn't that much across various sizes.

 

[blackrodd]

As in most things, it usually pays to buy scews in as you need them.
For cheap good screws I keep British Gypsums dry wall screws, boxes of 500 or 1000 and are good price.
They are all no 6 and available in 25mm up up around 90mm, I have 25's, 40's and 60's. and buy the rest, normally spax and Jewsons own, as I need them.
The black cheepo's will not pull down a chipboard floor, they tend to snap the heads off. and don't use the tek screws with a fine thread and drill point, They're for metal stud, to drill and cut it's own thread in the various steel components.
Rodders

 

[No skills]

Although I do buy in screws for particular jobs I also hunt through the screwfix offers whenever they are on (often) and buy up cheap boxes or packs of screws I'm likely to use. Having brought thousands of screws (and used them!) for silly money I'm quite happy to spend 10 minutes now and again looking through the website.

I know... sad *******...

 

[graduate_owner]

Sorry to disagree Sitefive, but I did calculate the costs of the contents of the kitbox ( it was an easy calculation using Microsoft Excel) and the contents alone were indeed cheaper than buying separate boxes of 100 or 200 from Screwfix, so a good deal and a free kit box. I'm sure you are right when the kit boxes are sold at normal prices but special offers - now that is a different thing.

K

 

[Wizard9999]

Sorry to disagree Sitefive, but I did calculate the costs of the contents of the kitbox ( it was an easy calculation using Microsoft Excel) and the contents alone were indeed cheaper than buying separate boxes of 100 or 200 from Screwfix, so a good deal and a free kit box. I'm sure you are right when the kit boxes are sold at normal prices but special offers - now that is a different thing.

K

OK if you will use all the sizes in the multipack, I think the point is that if you only actually need half the sizes the cost for those screws will be more. All dependent on personal needs I guess. I also bought one of the metal case multi packs on special (gold plus 2800 I think), was silly money so didn't really think about whether I had a short term need for all the screws, and I agree with comment above that being able to grab one of the plastic boxes is handy.

If I am buying a single replacement box I tend to get Reisser (from Toolstation) these days.

Terry.

 

[Graham Orm]

Depends what you make and what materials you use, but personally I don't that see the cheaper multi-pack gives too much away, so I'd get that and top up with individual packs of whatever screw sizes get used up first. Incidentally, I've tried these "wax coated" screws, all I can say is they still go in a whole lot easier after a little rub with paraffin wax or beeswax.

What Custard said.

I used to use Turbo all the time. They're expensive but I would put a few quid on the job price for them if I used any quantity. They start on their own and will screw right through the wood and out the other side if your bit is long enough. The others that you showed I also carry, they are good enough and work well.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

the multi-packs ALWAYS ends up costing more..
1600 screws isn't that much across various sizes.

No, they don't. :?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I've probably 70 or 80 boxes of different sizes, materials and heads - and I'll still invariably not have the ones I need.

 

[Graham Orm]

I've probably 70 or 80 boxes of different sizes, materials and heads - and I'll still invariably not have the ones I need.

What Phil said too!!! :lol:

 

[scrimper]

I've probably 70 or 80 boxes of different sizes, materials and heads - and I'll still invariably not have the ones I need.

Glad I am not the only one with good stocks of wood screws, I was beginning to feel like an 'anorak' ! I have two well stocked screw cupboards with practically every size from 3/8" x 2 to 4" x 16, in fairness I was given a lot of them by my late uncle who worked in a woodworking factory and had the screws when they closed, most are original Nettlefolds standard steel and some brass countersink screws, they are as bright and shiny as they were when manufactured over 60 years ago! Some of the sizes are odd, they were used in building farmyard elevators, sizes such as 3 1/2" x 16 and 1" x 14etc.

 

[biskit]

WOW scrimpie tree eighths twos :shock: have you a screw driver that fits those.?

 

[AJB Temple]

I find the turbo gold start very easily. I screw practically everything with an 18v impact driver these days and they are great for just running in straight off the bit and they do a pretty neat job of countersinking in most materials. Last time I bought them from Screwfix I am sure they were half that price though.