Screws vs. Nails

You may have debated at times which fastener to use during assembly of a project. You’ll get just as many opinions as woodworkers you ask, but generally you can follow these guidelines.

Use screws for:

• a lot of holding power in a high-stress connection.

• fastening hardwoods that tend to split, or that would bend a nail.

• when the “purchase” of the fastener is limited to a short depth, as in stock that’s too thin to hold a nail with sufficient strength.

• a project you want to disassemble later (don’t forget to NOT use glue).

• when the screw heads serve as a visual element in the design.

• a project that involves fine craftsmanship, including recessed fasteners covered by wood plugs.

Use nails for:

• when you need to work fast, especially when power-nailing with a pneumatic nail gun is an option.

• fastening soft or semi-hard woods that “give” sufficiently to accept a nail without splitting.

• using common construction or carpentry techniques such as rough framing, attaching plywood sheathing, and so on. (Subflooring installation is an exception, as nails can cause squeaking.)

• keeping project costs as low as possible.

• attaching molding and other finish trim where a small fastener head is desired.

• when hammer dents in the material won’t detract from the project.