Let's get the sexual innuendo out of the way. I am talking about one of the most pleasurable ways of joining two bits of wood together. So, get your mind out of the gutter while reading this very important information. This is a Reisser Cutter screw and it has become my favourite when working with wood. This is not a promotion or a paid-for advertisement, I am just a happy customer and marvel at the design) A normal screw is really such a simple iconic design. A metal spike with a spiral thread running its length, a point at one end and some sort of keyed mechanism at the other to allow you to drive it into the wood. Making two pieces of wood become one
What makes the Cutter screw a bit different and a great design improvement is the fact that the pointy end actually has some little slots cut into it transforming it into a drill bit. This allows it to cut its way into the wood rather than just push the wood fibres apart as it is inserted,
It is covered in a special coating which also helps it glide easier into the wood and at the top end just as it is to driven home the head has another cutting texture that creates its own countersink.
I know what you are thinking, it is just a bloody screw but these improvements make it a joy to use. Screwing had never been such fun. Especially when used at the end of a board.
Here are two screws from yesterday. The traditional one at the bottom and the cutter at the top. You will notice also that the cutter has a smooth shaft near the top. (Stop it!). This appears on some other screws also and it means that the screw will slip in the hole made in the first wood and help pull the two pieces together when it is driven all the way in.
Let us drive them both in around 1 inch or 2.2cm from the end. The traditional screw is a bit wider but I hope you will get the idea. Girth, in this case, is not important
The proof is in the pudding. this kind of join will usually require some sort of pilot hole to be drilled but with the cutter screw, it is not necessary.
The wood has cracked as the traditional screw brute forces it's the way through the wood but the Cutter has no such problem as it makes its own pilot hole. You will also notice that the head of the normal screw sits proud of the surface whereas on the Cutter it has used its last few turns to make itself a nice countersink and can sit flush without splitting the wood.
These screws can save a lot of time when building especially in the type of work I do. I have to build 4 vegetable planters tomorrow and all I need is wood and a driver.
I hope someone finds this post useful and if you have any questions ask away down below.
Good information buddy, I just read it. happy to read your article. I went through the same thing, by the way. everything is very bad splitting wood with screws it is very annoying. and I have to change the way it works by drilling holes in the wood first.
Drilling a pilot hole works great. These screws save you that process and also heads the head sit flush saving a lot of time and headaches. I wonder can you get them in your country?
!ENGAGE20
I seem to have seen it before. it's just that I just found out the function of your article.
I would love to see you post more about your work. I enjoy seeing how you do things and the tools and materials you use.
currently there is no work that i do but next week, I'm just getting started.
ENGAGEtokens.Stop what you're doing everything just fine on your own XD
Those cutter screws are sharp. I remember checking a couple of times after picking some up because I could feel them scratching and wanted to make sure they didn't break skin x_x
My fingers are all now being cut to sherds as I use them. They would probably do a lot of damage to a foot.
!ENGAGE10
Only if you drill it through D:
ENGAGEtokens.Oh, I so love these kind of screws, they are my favourites.
I love this, made me laugh and grin 🤣
It's the little things in life that make me happy. A restful nights sleep and a good screw.
!ENGAGE15
I agree, the little things indeed. Clean water and quiet are two of my favourites.
A restful night sleep would be great. Every night I get a visit from my 6 year old.
!ENGAGE10
Oh wow, yeah, no restful sleep there, but I bet you're well loved by that 6 year old. 😁
ENGAGEtokens.