Covering Screws

[Miriam C.]

Lynn
My side walls are glued on and I have screws at the top an bottom. That will be covered with trim so they are flush. The top of the side is screwed into the spars and the bottom into the floor from the outside. The glued frame is then screwed to the floor also.

I did worry about it at first but the roof is the same way. Glued to all the spars and ends with screws at the ends where I will have trim.

[halfdome, Danny]

Counter sinking screws into 1/4" plywood won't leave much meat to pull everything up tight. The screws are only there as a clamp until the glue dries as it is when you glue & nail things together. Why not just use the best glue possible and just fill up vessels like buckets, cans etc and anything else of weight and place it all on top of your framing as weight clamps while the glue dries for a day or two. Make sure every inch is covered with glue & weights. This way you don't need the screws or need to fill those countersink holes. I use a soft plastic Bondo spreader to spread my glue on projects as it's flexible and spreads glue very fast.;) Danny

We glued first with weights, so you're saying we don't need to put screws in? That would be awesome. Lynn

As long as your plywood and framing is glued tightly together it would be a waste of time and effort to use screws. When you buy plywood that is glued together under high pressure you don't need screws to keep it together. I make woodturnings that are held together with glue & clamps and they hold up like solid wood. Wood glue joints ,if properly done, are stronger than the wood itself. Danny

[bledsoe3]

Lynn, I used screws to "clamp" the wood until the glue dried. Then I removed the screws.

I could have left them if they didn't stick out the other side.

[Lynn Coleman]

As long as your plywood and framing is glued tightly together it would be a waste of time and effort to use screws. When you buy plywood that is glued together under high pressure you don't need screws to keep it together. I make woodturnings that are held together with glue & clamps and they hold up like solid wood. Wood glue joints ,if properly done, are stronger than the wood itself. Danny

Hi Danny,

Thanks so much for this time saving information. Wow, I'm excited now, we've eliminated a day of work.

Lynn

[Lynn Coleman]

Lynn, I used screws to "clamp" the wood until the glue dried. Then I removed the screws.

I could have left them if they didn't stick out the other side.

Awesome two confirmations that I don't need the screws, well not in that spot anyway.

Lynn

[Steve_Cox]

Lynn,

To screw, or not to screw: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The nails and staples of outrageous joinery,
Or to take arms against a sea of plywood,
And by opposing glue them? To screw: to nail;
No more; and by using epoxy say we end
The heart-ache.