The average person might only have the use for a couple of different types of screws. But hundreds of different types of screws exist, each with their own use. And as the professionals know, if you want to do things properly, having the right screw for the job is vital.

Depending on your specific needs, screws may be made from different materials, in different shapes, with different heads, different types of threads, and many other variables.

At Shop4Fasteners, we are screw experts. We stock almost any sort of screws you could imagine. Here’s a list of some of main types, along with a quick description of their uses.

Woodscrews

Woodscrews are suitable for use in hard and soft woods, as well as chipboard and MDF. They are usually made of steel or brass. Woodscrews are a type of self-tapping screw, which means that, with their tapered body and pointed tip, they create their own thread. However, woodscrews usually require the drilling of a pilot hole, to prevent cracking the wood. Woodscrews are usually countersunk, and are available with a range of different heads. Our woodscrew ranges includes:

– Premium woodscrews
– Twin thread screws
– Chipboard screws
– Single-thread screws
– Coach screws
– Decking and construction screws
– Flooring screws
– Screw cup hooks and eyes
– CSK Carcass screws 

 

Thread-forming screws

Thread-forming screws are used in plastic or metal. With either pointed or blunt ends, they create their own thread by removing material. They may need a pilot hole drilling before they can be screwed in. At Shop4Fasteners we stock the following types of thread-forming screws, with a wide variety of different screw heads: 

– Thread-forming screws for thermo plastics (a variety of heads available)
– Thread-forming screws for metal (a variety of heads available)
 

Self-tapping screws

Self-tapping screws create their own hole as they are driven into a material, and have a wide range of uses and applications. They can be sub-categorised as either thread-forming screws (which do not remove material from a hole) or thread-cutting screws (which do remove material from a hole). Self-tapping screws generally require a pilot hole. We stock the following types of self-tapping screws:

– Pozidriv recess
– Slotted drive
– Torx recess
– Hex head
– Security self-tapping screws
– Micro self-tapping screws
– Hammer drive screws

 

Security screws

Security screws are designed for use where there is a high risk of vandalism or theft. They cannot be unscrewed with a normal screwdriver, and require special tools to remove them. Shop4Fasteners stock the following security screws, with a wide variety of different heads:

– Security machine screws
– Security self-tapping screws
– Security self-drilling screws
– Security woodscrews
– Tri-head screws
 

Machine screws

Machine screws are similar to bolts, except that they have a socket in the head, allowing them to be driven with a screwdriver. They have uniform threads, which means that the thread has the same diameter for its whole length. This is in contrast to the tapered threads you find on woodscrews, which cut their own thread. We stock the following machine screws in a wide range of materials, with a wide range of different heads:

– Pozidriv recess
– Slotted drive
– Torx recess
– Security machine screws
– Micro machine screws
– Thumbscrews

 

Socket screws

Socket screws, also known as socket cap screws or Allen bolts, are designed for use where screwdriver access is limited. They are fastened using a hexagonal wrench. Shop4Fasteners stock the following socket screws in a variety of sizes and materials:

– Socket capscrews
– Socket button head screws
– Socket countersunk
– Socket setscrews
– Shoulder screws
– Micro socket screws
– Taper pressure plugs

 

Self-drilling screws

Self-drilling screws are like self-tapping screws, but they have a drill-like tip. The drill-like tip means that self-drilling screws often do not require a pilot hole. Tek is a popular brand of self-drilling screw, so much so that the name ‘Tek screw’ has become synonymous with self-drilling screws. Shop4Fasteners stock self-drilling screws in different materials and with a variety of different heads:

– Hex head Tek screws
– Cross-recess drive Tek screws
– Security self-drilling screws

 

Drywall screws

Drywall screws are designed specifically for attaching drywall or plasterboard to the wood or metal framing of a building. Unlike woodscrews, the whole length of a drywall screw is threaded. Made of brittle, hardened steel, drywall screws can snap if drilled into hard woods. Shop4Fasteners stock drywall screws with a variety of different heads:

– Drywall screws for wood
– Drywall screws for thin sheet metal
– Drywall screws for heavier gauge metal

 

Buy all types of screws online with Shop4Fasteners

Shop4Fasteners take pride in stocking many types of screws. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Please get in touch by phone or email and we will do our best to supply it for you.