Ray K wrote:
I'm building an outdoor planter box(about 6.25"x6.25"x13 feet)that will
attach to the side of my house. The pine lumber was nominally 1x8,
ripped to 6.25" and with a true thickness of 3/4". How should I select a
screw or nail to attach the 7.75 x 6.25" end cap? I only have 3/4" to
stick the fastener into, which means that there is only 3/8" of wood on
either side of the fastener.

The concern is splitting. Number 7 screws, 1.5" cause splitting, even if
I predrill; #6 screws can work if I predrill everything and am careful
to make the pilot holes perfectly parallel to the face of the lumber.
With about 40 fasteners required, this is tedious.

The original box was held together with 1.5" staples. I don't own a
stapler, but renting one is a possibility. Any suggestions for nail sizes?

Thanks,

Ray

This has been a great thread and I learned a lot about screw geometry.
Thanks to all who have contributed.


I have one question, directed both to the OP and the other
responders.

AIUI, this is to be an outdoor planter box.

Why pine?

Why not a wood more resistant to the kinds of damage that
dirt and water in a planter box will do to wood?

Seems to me the labor part of building this (as evidenced by
the OP's iitial question) is the hardest part. In my experience,
with pine, you are going t d this agan in 5 - 7 years.
Why not use cedar or cypress or even redwood?
Or a composite? Or a really tugh South American wood?
Sure, its more expensive for materials than pine,
but ou don't have to re do it.