Question for those of you who do DIY work around the house

As a "beginner" DIY'er still in his first house (I am the third owner), I can tell you that I use whatever is laying around, or which *looks* right for the job.

Need some new screws or nails to fasten part of the backyard BBQ counter back together? Just take an old one (if possible) to the local Lowes/Home Despot/Osh and get ones just like it.

Probably not the answer you were looking for, but I would think a lot of new/non-hardcore DIY'ers do the same.

-dp

 

well, since no one else responded.

I do all kinds of work both on my house and for others.

Some things I ALWAYS have on hand are 1 1/4, 2 inch and 3 inch drywall screws, then the same thing in galvanized screws.

The only nails that I have all the time are 3 inch coated sinkers........a few finish nails laying around, but the others I always have 2 boxes of each.

 

Ditto on the sizes above. I also use 3.5 drywall and galvanized. I cannot remember the last time I used any type of nails other than when I reroofed the house and garage.

 

2 1/2 inch coated deck screws. boxes and boxes of em left over from a deck project. Always finding some use for them.

 

How could anyone choose? Everybody's got everything from brads to spikes.

However..

the most useful nail ever made is :

the 6 penny finish nail.

Hang a poster, hang a plant, use it's head as a punch to punch a new hole in your belt, heat it up in a vicegrip and melt a hole in your dog's nylon collar, replace a pin missing out of your motorcycle seat, put them under your project so the varnish does not glue it to your work bench.

 

The only thing I use these days are TORX screws. I think that's the brand name they go by? They've really expanded their line to include large lag srews with washer, stainless lags... the only thing to use in my opinion. Funny thing is that at least here in northern WI/MN you can't get them at Home Depot or menards. I can only get them through local hardwares like Ace/Hanks and tool specialty places.
Don't know their reasoning (torx) but I'd think an account like Home depot would be pretty big...

 

I hardly ever use nails. Typically, the only time I use nails is in my air-nailers for baseboards, crown mouldings and finish work.

I mostly use corse threaded drywall screws in various sizes for almost all construction projects. I also use Tapcons when necessary.

 

Lord! What a bunch of screw snobs!

 

Ouch.........

 

I can't beleive this is a real thread with a serious question!

 

There are plenty of DIY pipe-layers on the forum. Most hang out in off-topic and insult each other.

 

1.5" drywall screws come in very handy for alot of needs.

 

LOL

 

Yea, these are pretty good. I'm sure you're refering to the gold jobs. They work because anything shorter that has become stripped can be substituted with the longer screw and drilled in for better hold.

 

Me too, those things are great.

 

Buy or obtain a jar, box or something like that.

When you first have to fix something you will have to go to a hardware store ... er, probably most times ... to buy what you need to complete the job. You never order exactly what you need, either because you don't really know, or you have to buy nails/screws in preset packages, etc. Thus you end up with left overs ... chuck them in the jar!

Over time this jar will fill up and will be your first place of call. Every DIY person has a odds and sods jar like this.

I personally do not stock screws and nails for these jobs ... just left overs, 'cause I have found that the next job always appears to require something different, no matter how hard you thought about it when stocking up. Saying that I DO use the stuff in my jar many times ... but I can guarantee that if I went out and bought 50 of those and another 50 of something else, thinking ahead ... er, they would be the wrong things

Pete

 

SrfCity, have used the gold but mostly have green. Don't remember if there's a difference.