Think I could use nails instead of screws on a kids playset?

[Deere Dude]

I find the torx style bits to be pure magic...I can easily drive a screw while standing on a ladder, overhead, arm at full extension, and the bit will not skip at all. With a Phillips bit, I would be in danger of stripping the head, and then I would be inventing new swear words :dance1:

I just might get a small box of those and try those Torx head longer screws. It seems I tried some already at a dime a piece and I had to predrill them to keep from stripping the heads. #3 Phillips worked best for me but I only have about a dozen left from 25#. Either way, if the OP doesn't get screws that go in easily he will curse this forum.

 

[square1]

Na, I've been a lurker for a while. I didn't realize that was my first post!

Welcome. Don't worry about being laughed at, they laughed at my first post too. I joined to thank someone for making a post that saved me a ton of money on maintenance / repairs. They laughed and said TBN will cost you money over the long haul (or something to that effect).

 

[Rustyiron]

Now I can't find any of those made for Phillips #3 screws anymore and any other kind using Torx bits or square bits just don't work well for me unless I use balsa wood. The kind that used multiple styles of bits are useless unless used on thin soft material.

Screw's, in 8 years you can un-screw it and sell it. GRK screw's only:thumbsup:

Try the "GRK" brand screws, you'll have a new favorite. Even the blue or orange big box stores have them now. All my phillip's head screws got thrown out years ago.

 

[Egon]

There is a difference between structural and just ordinary screws! I like the ones with a hex head.

Phillips screws may have a place but if a fellow by the name of Robertson had sold patent rights they would not have become popular.

 

[GLyford]

Check the pressure treated fastener ratings. A lot of the latest PT formulas aggressively attack uncoated steel, so either epoxy coated or hot-dip is usually specified. I have yet to see a proper hot dip nail for a framing gun, but I admit I've not looked very hard. I use regular loose nails with a palm nailer, but for structural stuff I usually go straight for carriage bolts. Directions often say to use lags, but I can never tighten those later when the heads loosen, the threads will be stuck in the wood. At least with a carriage bolt I can still snug the nut a year or two later. I know really the wood will keep swelling, crushing the fibers, and shrinking again and never really be tight so a lag would end up exactly the same, but I feel better being able to put a wrench on it.

Once you have had a nail pull out once and driven it back down, the wood fibers will never grip it again and it will always give you trouble. I have pulled 8d to sink in a 10d or 16d, but that starts to look a little silly on holding down decking, and the points start sticking through.

If you REALLY want to use nails, you could go back to historical practice for nails that won't pull out...drive the nail all the way through both materials, until the amount sticking through and the amount left to drive is about the same (1/2" to 1" on each side is good). Bend the point over perpendicular to the grain. Drive the nail through the rest of the way, then bend the point over again so the point enters the wood pointing back towards the head. This is a "clench" or "boat" nail. Or just use a bolt...

 

[FTG-05]

When we built the Madison AL Kid's Kingdom in 1997 and during the rebuild in 2004, we used nothing but screws and galvanized bolts and nuts. No nails whatsoever in the construction. This is a professional designed, community-built public playground. The same people who designed the Madison playground also designed the community-built and public playgrounds in Huntsville and Athens as well.

That might something you would might call a clue right there.

 

[xtn]

Depends on who's kids will be using it.

 

[FTG-05]

Depends on who's kids will be using it.

My kids used it until they outgrew it. Being on the KK Build and Rebuild Teams is one of the major reasons I don't nails anymore.

 

[petebert]

I'm just going to stick with the screws. Just torx head deck screws because that's what I use for everything and it's what this build calls for too.

 

[Ford850]

I'm just going to stick with the screws. Just torx head deck screws because that's what I use for everything and it's what this build calls for too.

That sounds like the best solution, and what I would do. I love torx head screws. I also try to use self drilling, or 'no drill' type screws for treated lumber. That helps reduce splitting with screws close to the ends of the boards.
The other screws I use for treated lumber are stainless, but I've only found them with square bit heads.