Remember that deck that you built last year or maybe it was a child’s play set or some other outdoor project where you had to fasten two pieces of wood together. You might have used the galvanized nail but that nail possibly pulled out of the wood or it has already started to rust. Well, you know what you can do, there is actually an alternative. You can get nails and screws that really hold and if you really want to go the next step, you can actually get ones that are rust proof.

I happen to like galvanized nails that have a ring type shaft. These are much better than ones that have a smooth shaft because they have greater holding power. You can also buy some galvanized nails that have a spiral shank as well. But, if you want to use galvanized screws on your job, make sure you buy ones that have coarse treads. These have much much greater holding power and always buy galvanized nails and screws that are hot dipped galvanized. But my weapon of choice, it happens to be the stainless steel screw. This is really a beauty and I will tell you why. It has got several features that set it apart from any galvanized product I have ever used. Number one, it has got a self drilling head at the top right above the treads on the screw, it has a narrowed edge that actually drills a hole for the shaft or the screws so that the wood does not split and screw does not snap off. And finally, just under the head of the screw, it has other little teeth that create the little cradle or the counter sink hole for the head of the screw. Stainless steel screws and nails, they are the best, if you do not want them to rust and you do not want any problem on your job, make sure you buy stainless steel.

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