pennview wrote:I understand that dry wall screws are brittle, but I've never had a dry wall screw break and I use them on most everything, and I predrill the pilot holes so there is no stress on the screw when assembling things. One exception for sure would be hanging kitchen cabinets on the wall or some similar use.
Typically though, glue is what holds my assemblies together and the screws are more or less merely the clamps that hold the parts together until the glue sets up.
I agree, I use "A LOT" of screws and also "A LOT" of glue on all sorts of things even repairs on barns.
Additionally there is a big difference in todays screws. I suppose that some places still carry those old cheap snappers but what I buy are labeled as "Drywall / Multipurpose Screws" and are nothing like those old cheap by the bucket drywall screws I used to buy years ago. About all I used those for was drywall or attaching plywood to something. I only pre-drill to avoid splitting or extremely hard stuff. In something like common construction lumber I just drive them on in using full driver torque. It's been years since I snapped a screw.
.




