Thais tend to use nails for for most home construction projects. I prefer to use screws which pull the sections of timber together making a stronger bond due to the friction between the pieces.

I used to use normal everyday screws which but have found that roofing screws are easier to use and do a better job.

The wood type roofing screws have special point which makes them easy to start and provides a pilot hole for the whole screw. Screws for metal rafters have a different point and don't work so well on wood.

A hexican socket is available to use with cordless drill and if that's not powerful enough for your job use a mains power drill and that will drive a screw home for sure. Just be careful with a power drill as the kick can be quite strong to get the screw moving. There roofing screws are strong, haven't had one snap on me yet no matter how tough the wood, and as an added bonus no problem getting them out if you need to.

No more drilling pilot holes as with normal screws, getting the cross heads burred so it's stuck and you can't get it out to start again and some just breaking off when used on some of the harder woods.

 

 

Just thought I'd share 

very true   possible thin hardwood will tend to split   (straight grain)

Only 4 things l would add if you use nails in a certain way 2 woods will hold.

The roof screws are good but can still break going in 1 certain Thai hardwood l have used them on for sure.

Using a correctly set tek gun it won't twist your wrist off.

Also using a drill you can set it to lower speed so it stops at a certain pressure.

No matter what kind of screw or nail is used, I would drill a pilot hole first and make things a lot easier.

Even after you drill a pilot hole if you soap the threads of the screw it goes in much easier.  I have a jar of leftover small soap bars from the bathroom.

All good points and each has it's merit.

 

Roofing screws are just another way for certain jobs.

 

Using soap is as old as erm! well even older than me and I still use it on occasion but have you tried to get one of those out at a later date.

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Daffy D said:

 

 

 

Been there, got the t-shirt :)

 

I've used the self-drilling screws all over the place, nice hex head for easy driving.

 

Soap, no way, an impact-driver (mains, battery or air) is the answer :)

Yes soap..and my dad used a block of wax but that was old school,  when your best  Stanley ratchet screwdriver was the dogs <deleted>; long before power drills.

 

I would also pilot drill every hole into timber. I have had to fix ateel plates into solid hardwood posts and the very respectable 3 inch coach bolts I used just sheered straight off.

that was with a washing up liquid filled hole!

 

Its horses for courses but screws are designed for their purpose. For metal its the self tappers you are using, the point is scalloped out, or its a diamond head but they are generally too thin. wood screws have a bigger gauge and are robust....

 

the down side to hex head screws is that they are visible and unless you counter plug then in my opinion its not gonna look good with wood.

 

(now i am thinking the Peter Kay sketch about hob nobs and rich tea biscuits as a comparison)