Screwing wood to wood

Start by choosing a screw with a countersunk head that is long enough to pass through the piece you are fixing, and halfway through the piece to which you are fixing it. The screw head will be flush with the surface once the screw has been driven in. Screws come in different diameters called gauge numbers, but for most jobs you will need only two. 8 gauge screws up to 50mm long will be thick enough for most jobs; use a thicker 10 gauge screw up to 75mm long for heavier-duty fixings.

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STEP 1
Mark where you want the screw hole in the piece of wood you are fixing. Fit a twist drill bit slightly larger than the screw shank in your drill, and drill a clearance hole right through the wood. Place scrap wood beneath the workpiece so you do not drill into your workbench.

STEP 2
Exchange the twist drill bit for a countersink bit and drill the cone-shaped recess for the screw head in the mouth of the clearance hole. It should be as wide as the screw head.

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