On Feb 17, 5:06*pm, "Robert Green" wrote:
"Bob-tx" No Spam no contact wrote in nk.net...





"Gary Sokolisch" wrote in message
. ..
If you pre-drill, the screw doesn't have much to grab onto. *In the old
days, they simply turned the screw without any pilot holes. *In fact, my
dad used to do it that way. *The screw threads thereby get a good "bite"
into the wood.

The right size pilot hole is just a hair smaller than the inner shank of
the
screw, not the threads. *Thereby giving plenty of wood for the threads to
hold onto.

I sometimes put a couple drops of glue on the screw threads. *It
lubricates
the screw and it goes in easier, and once the glue hardens, it stays
better.
I only do this in places I figure the screw won't have to be removed. *I
know I'll probably get caught one of these days and have to take out one
of
my glued screws, and then I'll cuss myself for doing it.

I do just the opposite. *I use a drill slightly smaller than I would
normally use and coat the screw with candle wax. *Sure makes them go in
easier. *They feel plenty tight and I find that I don't bugger the head as
often since the resistance doesn't suddenly build up. *Hope they won't fall
out from the wax! * The real danger of not using a big enough pilot hole is
that the wood will split. *That can happen years later when the wood dries
out and there's some sort repetitive action involved (like opening and
closing a door each day).

--
Bobby G.

"...and coat the screw with candle wax"

Grandpa always had a beat up bar of soap in his toolbox