Drive a Woodscrew

Here are steps and tips to help you drive wood screws into different materials with different tools.

Steps

Select the proper screw for the job. Make sure it is long enough and strong enough.
Mark the hole location accurately. Use a cross (+).
Drill a pilot hole in the center of the cross.
Make a larger, shallow hole to countersink. This is not for flat head screws.
Start the screw with a hand driver. Finish with a power driver -- but resist the temptation to drive with too much speed, as sharp screw threads can act as a drill bit and strip the screw hole.

Choose the drill bit by the diameter of the screw shank, which is the width of the screw inside the threads.
Use the proper size and shape bit in your power screwdriver.
Rub a wax candle over the threads before driving. The paraffin melts as the screw turns, providing lubrication.
These days, most professional carpenters are using driver drills, which use an impact action to drive in screws. They make the job much easier than a normal drill, and the prices have come down so that many homeowners should consider purchasing them for driving screws and other fasteners.