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hazpat t1_j2919qj wrote

Reply to comment by Montecristo905 in Building a work bench: wood screws or lag bolts? by CaptInsane

Screws become loose and can't be tightened. Bolts can always be tightened.

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Montecristo905 t1_j2952bh wrote

they don't come loose. this is not an issue at all.

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hazpat t1_j2969u9 wrote

You think a wooden work bench is going to stay solid? Lol The wood flexes and the joints get loose. Bolts can be tightened indefinately, screws eventually strip the wood.

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Montecristo905 t1_j2ae856 wrote

yes, the workbench will stay solid. Have you ever built or used a wood workbench?

For the workbench I provided a link to, I can thrown hundreds of pounds on it, lawnmowers, snowblowers, compressors, pressure washers, me walking on it and using it as a step or ladder, and there is no give or loosening of screws.

only time I've used lag bolts was for folding legs on one of my workbenches, so just 1 lag bolt in each corner. Still rest of workbench was all wood screws.

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Carapute t1_j2berm9 wrote

We miss some context about the environment the bench is going to be used in tho. Depending on humidity and room temperatures you might want to protect the wood better and also account that ultimately, it will degrade. If its an always 20 degrees room with no fluctuation in weather condition, I'd follow your advice. If its a somewhat badly isolated garage or something, that the wood goes from 40 to - 20 celcius throughout the year and goes from super dry to wet to dry again then super wet etc.. I'd advise to invest more unless you want to build a workbench every 5 years.

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MeshColour t1_j2alttj wrote

Have you looked at modern construction or deck screws lately?

Many have two thread pitches (to help pull layers together and resist unscrewing). Many also have other ridges and wavy shapes to also resist unscrewing

And steel quality has really improved in the last few decades, cheap steel is quite a bit stronger now

Project Farm on YouTube tested various types of screws, and you do get what you pay for to a good degree

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