screws

[Russ Peters]

What type of screws do you use to attach face plates either to the piece itself or to a waste block?

[Andrew Derhammer]

I believe we use exterior screws. Don't use drywall screws, they snap!

[Lee DeRaud]

#8 sheet-metal screws for the aluminum Don Pencil faceplates: they have rather small holes. The big iron honker that came with the lathe gets #14s.

[Jeff Paxton]

One of the things I did a few months ago was switch to hex heads. The phillips head type screws tend to strip out in certain woods. I put a hex head driver on the end of my cordless drill and have not had a problem since. Some of the woodturning catalogs have square head screws that would solve that problem too, but you have to pay shipping, and don't get as many. I just pick my hex head screws up at Lowes.

Jeff

[robert hainstock]

McFeelys has a nice intro package of square drives. I would also caution you to avoid the drywall screws. :)
Bob

[John Sheets]

I vote for the hex head also. I try to use ones that are a close diameter fit in the faceplate holes. Got a $3 mini tackle box at WM, and keep 1 inch, 1 1/4, 1 1/2 and 1 3/4 in the different diameters.
Tried the square drive, but had trouble with the drive bit sticking in the square hole. Maybe my driver was not accurately sized, but it turned into a chore.

[Richard Madison]

Deck screws. They look much like "drywall" screws, but are not as brittle. Tried the square drive screws (ace hardware brand) when building the last deck and did NOT like them as well as the phillips head style. Probably varies with with different manufacturers.

[Leo Van Der Loo]

For large blanks where I use the faceplate for, I use good quality flathead Robertson screws, they last for years, I use either 3/4" or 1" #12. (#12 I think, could be #10, not sure and I'm not going to measure ;-)))
For 15" and smaller bowl blanks I use the woodwurm screw in my Oneway Stronghold chuck, much easier and faster than going the faceplate route.

[john taliaferro]

i use ss they stretch , not so bad at popping the head. 1.25 or 2 with heavy shank #14 ? and the square hole . i can do 6 on 100lb log .

[Bill Kesler]

I use pocket hole screws. Very strong.