Screws hold the world together—literally. Everyone in the construction industry use screws in various forms and applications. The humble helix has been around since 400 B.C. when screw thread principles were developed by Archimedes to raise water from rivers in Egypt to irrigate crops. Construction screw technology was initially developed in the 1500s, but not commoditized until the 1700s with the development of mechanized screw making machines. Today, a significant majority of global screw production occurs in Asia, however a handful of the world’s leading screw manufacturers continue to make the highest quality screws in North America and Europe.
Everyone who has used screws has likely experienced frustrating scenarios of wobbling screw shafts, cammed out drive bits, stripped threads, or splitting of the material during application of the screws. More than likely these issues are caused not by the applicator, but rather a result of a poorly manufactured screw or the wrong screw for the application. Understanding how to select the right screw for the application, and what features set apart an easy driving screw can save you frustration, time, and money while ensuring long term performance.