Currently Amazon is charging 35-40 bucks for a 5 lb box of these #10 stainless steel Spax "deck screws". That is a great bargain considering it is probably the highest quality screw that you'll find for general outdoor construction.
For the 2-1/2 inch length you get 420 screws per 5lb box.
For the 3 inch length you get 350 screws per 5lb box.
For the 3-1/2 inch length you get 285 screws per 5lb box.
The screw is rated for a working load of 240lbs shear and 750lbs pullout. The ultimate rated strength is 320lbs and 1000lbs, respectively.
These screws are listed as either made in the USA or Germany. I'm more than happy with either location as they're both good indicators of quality (not made in China for sure). The manufacturer is ISO 9001:2000 certified.
The quality of the screw is most evident when driving the screws into hard material. You can see the great quality control in the tight tolerances of the #2 square drive heads. I have never run into a malformed, loose fitting, or jammed up head after driving over a couple thousand of these screws. Keep in mind that these are stainless steel which is a relatively soft metal. They will not stand up to a lot of camming-out before the head strips and you can no longer drive it. So make sure you're aligned, applying adequate driving pressure, and don't use a worn out bit. If you're driving it into something really hard, make sure you pilot the hole first. This is true of any stainless steel screw. Compared to other stainless screws I've used, these are the least likely to strip the heads out or have the heads shear off.
These screws also use patented technology on the threads which helps them bite and cut into softer woods more cleanly and helps reduce splitting. The upper threads near the head are designed to improve clamp up. Often when a screw exits the first board and enters the second, the tip takes a moment to bite into the 2nd piece, creating a gap. The segmented thread design here improves the ability to suck up that gap.
The thread design shouldn't be confused with composite deck screws (like Double-Dekkers or Trapease screws) which have counter-threads at the top to prevent mushrooming around the screw hole on a composite board. These screws do not have that feature but are great for just about all other applications where you need a high quality, non-corrosive screw.
Using these is actually a pleasure, they work so well, you feel good about their quality and the quality of the item you're building, the clients are happy, they will last a long time. (Keep carrying this item Amazon!) Spax 4577000500767 10-by-3-Inch Flat Head Stainless Steel Screws, 5-Pound Container
Just to follow up on the previous excellent review, I bought a small box of Spax screws years ago, quite by accident. When I got home and used them it was clear that they were a big step up from the garbagey cheap screws I used in the past.
Two things set them apart from others:
1. They are made of decent metal that doesn't twist in half.
2. The threads have little saw-like edges that saw into the wood.
The local lumber yard has stainless deck screws. They are so expensive they stash them where they can't be stolen. When I saw that Amazon had them, and that they were a Prime item with free shipping (that is a surprise for an item like this), then it was obviously the choice for my little 100 square foot deck project.
The deck screws have two sets of threads so that the top plank is pulled down tight to the joists. I pre-drilled the planks, so that wasn't really an issue for me, but the feature does work. The screws also have little ridges under the head so that they countersink. That feature also works very well.
Square drive is pretty much a requirement for high-torque applications and the bit I had fit nicely into the square. There were no duds or slots filled with crud or anything.
I used both a little Bosch impactor and a powerful Milwaulkee corded 1/2" drill and did not break even one screw. The impactor action is nicer as you don't have to press down as much.
They don't exactly give Spax screws away. They are the most expensive ones in the screw department and clearly cheaper ones are fine for most projects. But, if your project is special or tough and you don't want to be digging out stripped or broken screws, then Spax makes sense. - Screw - Stainless Steel - Screws - Spax'
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