The Phillips screw does not belong

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BillinOregon

BillinOregon

Cannon
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After rambling through a number of local "antique" emporiums looking for inspiration, I noted a high incidence of Phillips, or cross-head style screws in wooden items purporting to date from the 19th century -- at least in the sellers' imagination.
To clear up, something like this fastener pops up in Canada after 1908, but really takes off after a Portland, Oregon, businessman named Phillips buys rights to a screw head design and starts marketing it to the automotive industry in the 1930s.
So just saying, if you are thinking of using this style of screw (and I am guilty of abusing the now ubiquitous drywall screw) in building camp gear or a range box or some such, stop, go have a glass of sweet tea and rethink your dedication to historical accuracy. You'll be glad you did.
 
...and if you what to take things one step farther, forget about using solid brass or plated brass screws and only use un-plated iron screws! __ It's my understanding, that plated screws were not a common thing until after the mid 19th Century!
 
Rick: One o' my favorite tricks is throwing plated screws, bolts, hinges, etc. in the charcoal forge and cooking off the plating (in a well-ventilated area, if zinc is involved). Drop it in water to help shock off the crud, hit it with sandpaper or emory and then put it back at the edge of the heat and let it fire blue. It may not be authentic but it looks a heap better.
 
Use white vinegar. It will remove zinc plating and leave a grey steel surface.
 
thanks for the post ... I knew that 'phillips' head screws weren't right, but I didn't have a handle on the details.
 
While on this topic, I believe a flat head is always pc. On the oval/round heads- there were some at the time but I believe the dome was more shallow than seen today- maybe someone else has the low down on that issue.
 
Phillips head screws belong nowhere, in any era. They were designed for fast assembly, never to be removed, and have been out of date for several decades. Like Imperial measurement, the US of A is the only country still using the Phillips. Replaced by the Posi- drive...looks the same but different internally.
 
That's my understanding, a flat head screw is always pc. On a round head/ dome, if too high- you might want to file it down just a little.
 
Snap off an all brass screw in a project and you will switch over to steel pretty quick! :cursing: I just rub the exposed portion on a cheap, sharpening stone to rub off any galvanizing, and hit 'em with a little mustard a day before I want to do the project. Gives them a patina.

LD
 
Store bought dome & round head screws are not correct for a ML or accessories, IMHO. You need what I refer to as a half-dome head screw. In comparison, on the older style screws the dome was about 1/2 the height of the modern ones. Most ML venders sell these low domed head screws. Yes they cost more, but hey, do you want it to look 1790 or 2013 ? .

Keith Lisle
 
The common twinfast (think drywall) screw is used more and more because it is readily available and easy to use. It can be easily counter sunk and cover with a beeswax plug or if desired countersunk deeply and covered with wooden plugs. Since I buy them in fifty lb. boxes for use in modern cabinets, they find their way into my camp furniture, except for hinges or other places where they can not be countersunk and must show. :idunno:
 
How often would a 19th century craftman be using a screw to fasten two pieces of wood together anyway?
 
Gunny, speaking of cut nails, I have found "square" horseshoe nails available at many Ace hardware stores. D'ye think these are a reasonably authentic choice for some projects? I have not used them enough to know the risk that they will split wood -- or whether it makes sense to pre-drill for them. They sure look "right" though!
 
The angle of cut nails for wood are different than for concrete or horseshoe nails, so I would advise against them. Cut nails for wood are designed to compress the wood fibers when driven, resulting in less chance of splitting, and a tight hold. You can buy them on-line here (where I get mine) in various head designs and sizes: http://www.tremontnail.com/ .
 
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