Brass screw breakage

**4V50 Gary** · July 9, 2023, 10:51 AM

Broke two #3 5/8" long brass screws while screwing them down into a pre-drilled piece of oak. Anyone else have experience with the fequency of brass screw breakage?

Bob Willman · July 9, 2023, 10:58 AM

Try lubricating the screw threads by dragging them across a wax candle before screwing them in.

NRA Benefactor

Pahoo · July 9, 2023, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Broke two #3 5/8" long brass screws while screwing them down into a pre-drilled piece of oak. Anyone else have experience with the fequency of brass screw breakage?

Gary,
Likely, a flat-slotted brass screw and it broke before the bit slipped out of the slot ??? understanding your skill level, NO
I'll question the quality of the screw and not your method. I have encountered brass screws that were not tempered well and some of these were very old. ...

Be Safe !!!

Pahoo · July 9, 2023, 01:04 PM

Deleted; Duplicate !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Smoke & Recoil · July 9, 2023, 01:21 PM

@ 4V50 Gary, if you are talking about brass wood screws...you want a tapered pilot hole...akin to a sharpened pencil. You can find tapered wood bits from the likes of Home Depot and such.

**44 AMP** · July 9, 2023, 02:24 PM

Did you break the screw head (slot?) or the screw shaft (twisted the screw head off)???

FrankenMauser · July 9, 2023, 03:43 PM

I have a long history of breaking brass screws - wood screws, in particular.
For most wood screws, I pre-drill a hair smaller than minor diameter.
But for brass, as long as I can get away with it in the application, I pre-drill just larger than minor diameter.

I still break as much as 10-15%.
Normally, the head snaps off. Occasionally, they break somewhere in the threads.

603Country · July 9, 2023, 08:31 PM

I generally predrill, then use a steel screw, back it out and then the brass screw with a bit of soap or candle wax. Of course you need an assortment of steel screws, which I acquired. I hate breaking a small brass screw when installing hinges on a small fancy wooden box.

Smoke & Recoil · July 10, 2023, 06:58 AM

@ 603Country, your method of using steel screws first is a great idea...I'll sure give that one a try myself.

Pahoo · July 10, 2023, 02:40 PM

Quote:

@ 603Country, your method of using steel screws first is a great idea...I'll sure give that one a try myself.

I have assembled a few M/L kits and they all came with a set of steel wood screws as well as brass. The intent to assemble with the steel and replace the steel with the brass, as a finishing step. Some folks don't get it and have seen finished kit guns with steel screws. ...

Be Safe !!!

**4V50 Gary** · July 10, 2023, 06:13 PM

Screw snapped off below the head. Screw was brand new.

Good idea about the steel screw as a starter.

I guess I'll drill a slightly bigger hole.
Wax as suggested
Treat as a tap. One turn in, half out, one turn in, half out.

**4V50 Gary** · July 12, 2023, 10:33 AM

Beeswax makes life easier. Went in easily after beeswax was applied.

July 9, 2023, 10:51 AM	#1
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 22,293	Brass screw breakage Broke two #3 5/8" long brass screws while screwing them down into a pre-drilled piece of oak. Anyone else have experience with the fequency of brass screw breakage? __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

July 9, 2023, 01:04 PM	#4
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	A bad screw !!! Deleted; Duplicate !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing. Last edited by Pahoo; July 9, 2023 at 03:56 PM.

July 9, 2023, 01:21 PM	#5
Smoke & Recoil Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: East shore of Lake Michigan. Posts: 731	@ 4V50 Gary, if you are talking about brass wood screws...you want a tapered pilot hole...akin to a sharpened pencil. You can find tapered wood bits from the likes of Home Depot and such. __________________ Sent from my Tandy 1000

July 9, 2023, 02:24 PM	#6
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,441	Did you break the screw head (slot?) or the screw shaft (twisted the screw head off)??? __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

July 9, 2023, 03:43 PM	#7
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,770	I have a long history of breaking brass screws - wood screws, in particular. For most wood screws, I pre-drill a hair smaller than minor diameter. But for brass, as long as I can get away with it in the application, I pre-drill just larger than minor diameter. I still break as much as 10-15%. Normally, the head snaps off. Occasionally, they break somewhere in the threads. __________________ -Unwilling Range Officer -Unwilling Match Designer -NRL22/PRS22/PRO -Something about broccoli and carrots

July 9, 2023, 10:58 AM	#2
Bob Willman Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2018 Location: Bowling Green, Ohio Posts: 112	Try lubricating the screw threads by dragging them across a wax candle before screwing them in. NRA Benefactor

July 9, 2023, 08:31 PM	#8
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 4,039	I generally predrill, then use a steel screw, back it out and then the brass screw with a bit of soap or candle wax. Of course you need an assortment of steel screws, which I acquired. I hate breaking a small brass screw when installing hinges on a small fancy wooden box.

July 10, 2023, 06:58 AM	#9
Smoke & Recoil Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: East shore of Lake Michigan. Posts: 731	@ 603Country, your method of using steel screws first is a great idea...I'll sure give that one a try myself. __________________ Sent from my Tandy 1000

July 10, 2023, 06:13 PM	#11
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 22,293	Screw snapped off below the head. Screw was brand new. Good idea about the steel screw as a starter. I guess I'll drill a slightly bigger hole. Wax as suggested Treat as a tap. One turn in, half out, one turn in, half out. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

July 12, 2023, 10:33 AM	#12
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 22,293	Beeswax makes life easier. Went in easily after beeswax was applied. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*