bedding fasteners

[boatrat]

Do most of you bed transom fasteners(screws) in something (pine tar,grease, sno seal, soap,etc.) before driving? If so,what& why? To ease entry, prevent splitting, avoid rot, add holding power, something else? In fact, do you even drill in this age of self driving screws? If it sounds like I have a screw loose on this topic, I probably do. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks.

[Bruce Hooke]

For boat work I still use "proper" wood screws with full size shanks. With that as a given I also drill a "proper" stepped pilot hole. If lubricant is called for I still like beeswax, but I recently got some Ackumpucky (sp?) from the WoodenBoat store to try out.

[boatrat]

Thanks Bruce.I've been using Sno Seal for rivets and Pine tar on screws on a Norse pram as suggested by a builder. I forgot the tar on some transom fastenings and am wondering if I should leave them alone or withdraw them and replace with tarred ones but I'm not sure what I'm risking or gaining with either choice.

[bepone]

Always drill a pilot hole for any fastener. Just look at a wooden dock where the nails are driven and see the cracks that radiate along the grain from those nail holes. Without drilling, the wood will be under constant tension and it will eventually crack.

Drill a tapered hole, countersink the head, and use silicon bronze wood screws.

Never lubricate with soap, the lye will destroy the fastener after time. If you need to lubricate, because you're working with a difficult wood, then use something inert.

Beeswax, as mentioned, is very good. Anhydrous lanolin has excellent lubricating and water repelling qualities. It's generally available at drugstores.

bepone