[...]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 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 regular 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 4577000500637 10-by-2-1/2-Inch Flat Head Stainless Steel Screw, 5-Pound Pack
I put my deck together with these screws. They are easy to use, don't split wood as easily as traditional scews, and draw warped boards better than traditional screws. I LOVE them! I had used several other Spax products (lag bolts etc...) before building my deck. There was no doubt what I was going to buy for the deck. I ran out of some lengths during construction and went to the nearest store and bought traditional deck screws. They went in harder and didn't pull the wood together as well. I went back and replaced them after I received my new boxes of Spax screws. Spax is great!
In today's world I tend to roll my eyes at the marketing done with most products and reserve judgment until I have put something to use. In this case, I would totally agree with the selling points listed for these Spax fasteners.
First of all, the quality control for these is outstanding. I went through two boxes (10 lbs.) of the 2 1/2 inchers refacing a deck with not a single unusable screw....unheard of with most manufacturers. There was nary a buggered up head nor misshapen thread in the lot.
Second, the thread pattern really performs as advertised...it starts quickly with no need for undue force and runs true without the need for pilot drilling to avoid splitting. I was fastening pressure treated 5/4 inch decking material, so most deck screws would work, but I was impressed with the performance, nonetheless.
Third, the split thread design does its job well of sucking up the gap between decking and framing...holding the board tight to the frame.
Lastly, the #2 square drive works well, but with the caveat that you need to keep a fresh bit in the drill to lessen the chance of cam out and buggering up the head beyond saving. The stainless is a softer material compared to a standard deck screw with hardened and brittle carbon steel...and it will definitely take less of a mistake to butcher one. I would suggest you count on using more than the one bit provided per box to be safe. A new bit will fight to remain stuck in the screw head for the first 100 or so...then you hit the sweet spot for about 200 when it performs like butter...and then about 301 the performance will taper so you are always on the edge of spinning out and fouling a head. I ended up fouling about 4 of the screws, but it was usually when I was tired or off balance...not bad for over 800 cycles.
All in all, I feel the Spax screw is worth the money for its quality and ease of use...and I will be purchasing more.
These screws are the best performing fastener for a wide range of jobs. I always keep a bunch handy in my toolkit. The square drive means limited slipping. The length is perfect for 2x4s and other medium-large projects. They are very high quality and do not break or snap like a cheap deck screw.
Everything the other reviewers said is true. These are great screws. It is hard to get excited about a screw but man these are great. They work very well, drive in easily and frankly I think you could drill one in as far as you have the bit to reach. I just bought more of these today. You will be impressed as I was impressed. Quality, quality, quality. I will be a Spax customer for the foreseeable future. - Spax - Ss - Outdoors - Stainless Steel'
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