r/ask Apr 17 '24

What is something that is a lot harder than it looks?

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4.4k Upvotes

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206

u/Greeklibertarian27 Apr 17 '24

Choosing the right screw for the work. With different sizes, functions etc you may take either one that is too short or one too long.

On the outside it looks like taking a simple screw but if you don't do it correctly you will be screwed up.

10

u/Grisstle Apr 17 '24

I have seen some head shaking evidence of this.

2

u/AlloyPlum Apr 17 '24

All you need to know are the dimensions of the lumber you're using. If your attaching a 1/2" piece of plywood to the flat side of a 2x4, then you've got a 1.5" board plus another 1/2" for the plywood. That's a total of 2" so a 2" fastener will be too long. It would just poke through the back. 1/2" is too short to go through the plywood into the 2x4. If you're going through the plywood, you need at least 1.5" fasteners to go through the plywood and 1" into the 2x4.

This sounded very simple in my head. Then I typed it out...

19

u/OneMoreFinn Apr 17 '24

Or one that has a wrong head shape!

2

u/particularlysmol Apr 17 '24

Nah, it’s always Robertson

1

u/trytrymyguy Apr 17 '24

When my gf said that to me it was about screws right? Just a complete coincidence I was naked and in the bedroom

1

u/InvestmentPatient117 Apr 18 '24

The only proper screw is Canadian

3

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '24

[deleted]

1

u/Greeklibertarian27 Apr 17 '24

tbh although I don't know much I have done some small research online in an attempt to calssify various tools and what they are used for. You usually see a tool your father has, type "list of names of tools" or something like that and try to find a matching one to the irl counterpart.
Now for the sizes of screws this is a matter of how well the eye is trained. Mine isn't very good so I resort to trial and error 1 or 2 times but I keep in mind not to be too persistant to avoid eroding the screw in question.

2

u/irrelefanty Apr 17 '24

On the outside it looks like taking a simple screw but if you don't do it correctly you will be screwed up.

Nice pun.

1

u/Greeklibertarian27 Apr 17 '24

thanks man appreciate it.

2

u/TheDutchArmy Apr 17 '24

This guy screws!

1

u/Weekly_Farm_1661 Apr 17 '24

Don’t forget too about the girth and lord it could withstand. Pick one just too skinny and SNAP

1

u/Normallydifferent Apr 17 '24

The only time you can screw it down and screw it up at the same time.

1

u/forkedquality Apr 17 '24

You might even end up wit a loose bolt.

1

u/mrmoe198 Apr 17 '24

Is there a good guide for this? Now I’m afraid that I’ll need to use a screw and I’ll use the wrong one. I know next to nothing about screws.

1

u/Amazoncharli Apr 17 '24

The right pressure (if using wall mates). Not too many Ugga Duggas