Battling Stubborn Screws

A little lubricant will make the job a lot easier.

Have you ever snapped off or stripped the head of a screw while trying to force it into hardwood?

Before screwing into hardwood you should always pre-drill a "pilot hole". A pilot hole should generally be about ½ the diameter of the screw in hard woods and ¼ in softer woods.

Sometimes even with a good pilot hole, a stubborn screw will refuse to go any further. To solve this simply rub a little moist bar soap or paraffin wax on the threads to act as a lubricant. This is especially useful with soft metal screws such as brass and aluminum. Click on image to enlarge

Note: Do not use oil or grease as these products may leach out into and stain the wood.

Ted's Woodworking - Guide eBook

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