s

26/08/2006 10:26 AM

Why are drywall screws black?

Is there a reason drywall screws are black? Is it just to distinguish
them from wood screws or are they made of a special alloy which makes
them black? Sorry. Just a newbie.


This topic has 26 replies

Cc

"CW"

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

27/08/2006 4:28 AM

Bad guess.

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> The3rd Earl Of Derby wrote:
> > [email protected] wrote:
> > > [email protected] wrote:
> > >> Is there a reason drywall screws are black? Is it just to distinguish
> > >> them from wood screws or are they made of a special alloy which makes
> > >> them black? Sorry. Just a newbie.
> > >
> > > 2 reasons- the black is a side effect of the heat treatment and it
> > > provides a slightly rough surface that the drywall mud can stick to.
> >
> > You serious?
>
> yes.
>

b

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 10:31 AM


[email protected] wrote:
> Is there a reason drywall screws are black? Is it just to distinguish
> them from wood screws or are they made of a special alloy which makes
> them black? Sorry. Just a newbie.

2 reasons- the black is a side effect of the heat treatment and it
provides a slightly rough surface that the drywall mud can stick to.

JP

"Jay Pique"

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 11:57 AM


New Wave Dave wrote:
<from his computer in Houston>

Speaking of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Daves, what ever happened to Bay Area Dave?
He was a pretty frequent poster here back when I started lurking.

JP

b

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 7:19 PM


The3rd Earl Of Derby wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> > [email protected] wrote:
> >> Is there a reason drywall screws are black? Is it just to distinguish
> >> them from wood screws or are they made of a special alloy which makes
> >> them black? Sorry. Just a newbie.
> >
> > 2 reasons- the black is a side effect of the heat treatment and it
> > provides a slightly rough surface that the drywall mud can stick to.
>
> You serious?

yes.

w

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

27/08/2006 12:25 AM

[email protected] wrote:
> Is there a reason drywall screws are black?
... are they made of a special alloy which makes them black?\

When these screws were first introduced, it was as a high-tech item,
using
stronger steel than nails, and having improved resistance to pull-out.
And, the 'black' coating was black chromium (very durable, intended
both
for corrosion resistance and for surface hardening).
Because they were a clear improvement, they caught on.

Some non-black coatings (zinc chromate and galvanized) are getting
common.

I doubt if all the black coatings are black chrome, there are cheaper
black
(black phosphate) coatings. When they were a 'new' item, though, that
tough black chrome finish was a selling point of these fasteners.

RC

Richard Clements

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 9:57 PM

Toller wrote:
> "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> "Leon" wrote in message
>>> "Toller" wrote in message
>>>
>>>> That said, McFeelys is certainly better (though I used Rockler last
>> time;
>>>> same thing...)
>>>>
>>> Swingman might beg to differ with you on that one. He recently had a
>>> problem with the Rockler screws breaking.
>> ... and went right back to Mc'Feely's.
>>
> I think you just cursed me. I have used a few hundred Rockler screws with
> no problem.
> Tonight I had 4 break on me. Maybe it was really really hard oak...
>
>
last time I twisted the head off a screw was putting hinges on my
china cabinet 2 years ago, oddly enough from Rockler. on the other side
I don't remember the last time I twisted the head off a drywall or
decking screw, but I almost never use them on anything but pine, rather
glue and staple/brad nail

MJ

Mark & Juanita

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 4:01 PM

On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 20:54:27 GMT, Phisherman <[email protected]> wrote:

>On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 17:56:26 GMT, "Leon"
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>><[email protected]> wrote in message
>>news:[email protected]...
>>> Is there a reason drywall screws are black? Is it just to distinguish
>>> them from wood screws or are they made of a special alloy which makes
>>> them black? Sorry. Just a newbie.
>>>
>>
>>And as a newbie let me advise you to not use dry walls screws for "hard
>>wood" wood working. Check out McFeeleys Square Drive Screws.
>>
>
>Besides that, all the drywall screws I saw at the BORG were "Made in
>China," or "Made in Taiwan." Fasteners made in the USA, Canada, or
>Germany are very good.

Haven't bought any screws from the Borg for years -- do they still twist
off at the slightest over-torquing? I think I just threw my last batch
out a few months ago when I found them. Trying to use them was not worth
the hastle; I'd have more twist off than would drive in correctly, and I'm
not a ham-fisted sort of person.



+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

TE

"The3rd Earl Of Derby"

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 5:35 PM

[email protected] wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
>> Is there a reason drywall screws are black? Is it just to distinguish
>> them from wood screws or are they made of a special alloy which makes
>> them black? Sorry. Just a newbie.
>
> 2 reasons- the black is a side effect of the heat treatment and it
> provides a slightly rough surface that the drywall mud can stick to.

You serious?

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite


Lr

"Leon"

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 6:05 PM


"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...



> That said, McFeelys is certainly better (though I used Rockler last time;
> same thing...)
>

Swingman might beg to differ with you on that one. He recently had a
problem with the Rockler screws breaking.

TE

"The3rd Earl Of Derby"

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 5:31 PM

[email protected] wrote:
> Is there a reason drywall screws are black? Is it just to distinguish
> them from wood screws or are they made of a special alloy which makes
> them black? Sorry. Just a newbie.

Probably because its cheaper to coat them this way.

Rather than galvanise/chrome them.

Jesus! who wrote this script?

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite


l

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 4:28 PM

In article <[email protected]>,
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Is there a reason drywall screws are black? Is it just to distinguish
>them from wood screws or are they made of a special alloy which makes
>them black? Sorry. Just a newbie.
>

The black oxide coating on DW screws and other hardware is very cheap
and gives a small amount of corrosion protection.

--

Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland
[email protected]

SB

"Steve B"

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 10:07 PM


"Richard Clements" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Toller wrote:
>> "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>> "Leon" wrote in message
>>>> "Toller" wrote in message
>>>>
>>>>> That said, McFeelys is certainly better (though I used Rockler last
>>> time;
>>>>> same thing...)
>>>>>
>>>> Swingman might beg to differ with you on that one. He recently had a
>>>> problem with the Rockler screws breaking.
>>> ... and went right back to Mc'Feely's.
>>>
>> I think you just cursed me. I have used a few hundred Rockler screws
>> with no problem.
>> Tonight I had 4 break on me. Maybe it was really really hard oak...
> last time I twisted the head off a screw was putting hinges on my china
> cabinet 2 years ago, oddly enough from Rockler. on the other side I don't
> remember the last time I twisted the head off a drywall or decking screw,
> but I almost never use them on anything but pine, rather glue and
> staple/brad nail

You got a lighter tough than I do. I'm twisting them off all the time.
But, my work is rough stuff, not fine work.

Steve

TT

"Toller"

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 6:02 PM


"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:eX%[email protected]...
>
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Is there a reason drywall screws are black? Is it just to distinguish
>> them from wood screws or are they made of a special alloy which makes
>> them black? Sorry. Just a newbie.
>>
>
> And as a newbie let me advise you to not use dry walls screws for "hard
> wood" wood working. Check out McFeeleys Square Drive Screws.
I don't use them anymore, but I have used plenty of dry wall screws in the
past for inappropriate purposes. They occasionally break when installing,
but I never had a problem with one breaking afterwards.
That said, McFeelys is certainly better (though I used Rockler last time;
same thing...)

NW

"New Wave Dave"

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 6:48 PM


"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>
>
>> That said, McFeelys is certainly better (though I used Rockler last
>> time; same thing...)

I see McFeeley's is offering a pretty complete assortment of
star-drive or what we call torx screws, actually a Canadian
manufacturer, GRK (I believe). We've been using them since discovering
them in the late 90s. I probably haven't twisted off a half dozen heads
in the nine or ten years we've been using them. They are often very
useful in tight spots where you can't get a hammer or nailer. I keep
using the same set of screws in successive sets of saw horses (which
mostly end up living outdoors) for the past four or five years.
Oddly enough, Circle Saw in Houston is the only retail outlet I have
been able to find them in here in Houston while I can find them at most
of the "Do It Best" home centers in the south Texas communities I
frequent.
--
"New Wave" Dave In Houston

Pg

Patriarch

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 5:22 PM

"New Wave Dave" <[email protected]> wrote in news:XH0Ig.1091$o42.227
@tornado.texas.rr.com:

<snippage>
> Oddly enough, Circle Saw in Houston is the only retail outlet I have
> been able to find them in here in Houston while I can find them at most
> of the "Do It Best" home centers in the south Texas communities I
> frequent.

My local Do It Best has a similar success in having 'the good stuff'.
Their fastener aisle keeps my McFeeley's orders down to once a year...

Patriarch

NW

"New Wave Dave"

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

27/08/2006 2:52 AM


"Jay Pique" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> Speaking of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Daves, what ever happened to Bay Area
> Dave?
> He was a pretty frequent poster here back when I started lurking.

No relation.

~:o) New Wave Dave in Houston

MJ

Mark & Juanita

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

27/08/2006 8:12 PM

On Sun, 27 Aug 2006 02:56:28 GMT, "New Wave Dave" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
>"Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 20:54:27 GMT, Phisherman <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Haven't bought any screws from the Borg for years -- do they still
>> twist
>> off at the slightest over-torquing? I think I just threw my last
>> batch
>> out a few months ago when I found them. Trying to use them was not
>> worth
>> the hastle; I'd have more twist off than would drive in correctly, and
>> I'm
>> not a ham-fisted sort of person.
>
> On occasion we've used the Deck Kings from the Borg only because it
>saved us the drive to Circle Saw.
> I can't recall but a few of them ever twisting off.

Now that you mention it, I have used their deck screws for our son's
swingset. They seemed to work OK. It's their woodscrews that have given
me grief, and most lately, I've had problems with their bolts as well.



+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 5:56 PM


<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Is there a reason drywall screws are black? Is it just to distinguish
> them from wood screws or are they made of a special alloy which makes
> them black? Sorry. Just a newbie.
>

And as a newbie let me advise you to not use dry walls screws for "hard
wood" wood working. Check out McFeeleys Square Drive Screws.

Pn

Phisherman

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 8:54 PM

On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 17:56:26 GMT, "Leon"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
><[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Is there a reason drywall screws are black? Is it just to distinguish
>> them from wood screws or are they made of a special alloy which makes
>> them black? Sorry. Just a newbie.
>>
>
>And as a newbie let me advise you to not use dry walls screws for "hard
>wood" wood working. Check out McFeeleys Square Drive Screws.
>

Besides that, all the drywall screws I saw at the BORG were "Made in
China," or "Made in Taiwan." Fasteners made in the USA, Canada, or
Germany are very good.

Sk

"Swingman"

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

27/08/2006 9:11 AM

"Toller" wrote in message

> I think you just cursed me. I have used a few hundred Rockler screws with
> no problem.
> Tonight I had 4 break on me. Maybe it was really really hard oak...

Had about 10% of Rockler's best break off at the head when screwing red oak
face frames together (pilot hole drilled correctly) ... that is unacceptable
and is "enuf o' dat stuff", as they say in NOLA.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/21/06

JB

Joe Bemier

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 4:16 PM

On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 17:35:00 GMT, "The3rd Earl Of Derby"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>[email protected] wrote:
>> [email protected] wrote:
>>> Is there a reason drywall screws are black? Is it just to distinguish
>>> them from wood screws or are they made of a special alloy which makes
>>> them black? Sorry. Just a newbie.
>>
>> 2 reasons- the black is a side effect of the heat treatment and it
>> provides a slightly rough surface that the drywall mud can stick to.
>
>You serious?

Technically, it is Black Oxide - that is applied in a plating process.
Since rust is an oxide the plating inhibits its formation - for a
while anyway.

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

27/08/2006 4:09 PM


"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>>
> I think you just cursed me. I have used a few hundred Rockler screws with
> no problem.
> Tonight I had 4 break on me. Maybe it was really really hard oak...
>

Get a can of paste wax and lube the threads with a short stab in to the
wax, the screws go in with much less effort from your driver. I use Minwax
finishing wax.

Sk

"Swingman"

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 1:08 PM

"Leon" wrote in message
>
> "Toller" wrote in message
>
> > That said, McFeelys is certainly better (though I used Rockler last
time;
> > same thing...)
> >
>
> Swingman might beg to differ with you on that one. He recently had a
> problem with the Rockler screws breaking.

... and went right back to Mc'Feely's.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 8/21/06




NW

"New Wave Dave"

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

27/08/2006 2:56 AM


"Mark & Juanita" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sat, 26 Aug 2006 20:54:27 GMT, Phisherman <[email protected]> wrote:

> Haven't bought any screws from the Borg for years -- do they still
> twist
> off at the slightest over-torquing? I think I just threw my last
> batch
> out a few months ago when I found them. Trying to use them was not
> worth
> the hastle; I'd have more twist off than would drive in correctly, and
> I'm
> not a ham-fisted sort of person.

On occasion we've used the Deck Kings from the Borg only because it
saved us the drive to Circle Saw.
I can't recall but a few of them ever twisting off.
--
"New Wave" Dave In Houston

SB

"Steve B"

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 7:00 PM


<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Is there a reason drywall screws are black? Is it just to distinguish
> them from wood screws or are they made of a special alloy which makes
> them black? Sorry. Just a newbie.
>

So you know it's quitting time when you can't see the screws.

duh............

Steve ;-)

TT

"Toller"

in reply to [email protected] on 26/08/2006 10:26 AM

26/08/2006 11:50 PM


"Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Leon" wrote in message
>>
>> "Toller" wrote in message
>>
>> > That said, McFeelys is certainly better (though I used Rockler last
> time;
>> > same thing...)
>> >
>>
>> Swingman might beg to differ with you on that one. He recently had a
>> problem with the Rockler screws breaking.
>
> ... and went right back to Mc'Feely's.
>
I think you just cursed me. I have used a few hundred Rockler screws with
no problem.
Tonight I had 4 break on me. Maybe it was really really hard oak...


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