Shoutout to the framer who insisted I pre-drill for 3-inch screws in pressure-treated pine

I argued it was a waste of time on a deck ledger last summer, but after snapping two screws and nearly stripping a third, I had to admit he was right, so what's a piece of advice you fought against that you now swear by?

2 comments

2 Comments

joseph_murray814d ago

Is it just me or did we all learn this lesson the hard way? I fought my buddy on pre-drilling for a fence last year, ended up with a screw head snapped off flush with the wood and had to drill it out with a reverse bit. Now I pre-drill everything even if it's just a quick shelf bracket, saves me from that 'why did I think I knew better' feeling every time.

robinson.jake14d ago

I learned the hard way with pressure treated wood last summer. The moisture makes it split so easy without a pilot hole, @joseph_murray8. I keep a cheap cordless drill with the right bit next to my driver now, so there's no excuse to skip it.