Which screw for shelving on a stud wall?

itm2

I'm fairly clueless when it comes to DIY, and was looking for some advice on fitting some shelves to a stud wall. I've located the studs, and want to fix the shelving uprights to them, but don't know what type of screw to use. I have hundreds in my garage, but don't know how to tell which ones are woodscrews. I also don't know what length of screw I should use.

I've taken a photo of the three likeliest candidates, and was wondering whether anyone could advise on which would be the best to use?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/v86bdmycxgejgbp/20151207_155924.jpg?dl=0

BykerSands

They're all wood screws. Top ones should do it.

Reece_

I'd go for the top or middle of those 3, middle's probably best candidate as looks like it's a bit thinner and head will probably look neatest on the shelf bracket. Give it a pilot drill before screwing em in:cool:

London50

All in the photo will do the job, it just depends on the weight you will be putting on the shelf. The heavier the weight the longer/thicker the screw the better. Depending on the studding I would suggest {if you have any} that the middle one but thicker {like the bottom one} if there is going to be heavy items but if it is just light weight the middle one will do the job.
Make sure you use the correct drill bits to match the screw thickness to get a tight fit into the studding {to check it is the right drill bit hold the drill bit against the shank of the screw near the head then you know you have the correct size}

itm2

Haha I should have turned this into a poll - top vs middle!

As a matter of interest, what identifies them as woodscrews? I had been speculating that the gap between the thread and the head on the lower two might make them woodscrews, but the top one doesn't have the gap so I was wondering how to tell a woodscrew from another type?

itm2

London50 wrote: »

All in the photo will do the job, it just depends on the weight you will be putting on the shelf. The heavier the weight the longer/thicker the screw the better. Depending on the studding I would suggest {if you have any} that the middle one but thicker {like the bottom one} if there is going to be heavy items but if it is just light weight the middle one will do the job.
Make sure you use the correct drill bits to match the screw thickness to get a tight fit into the studding {to check it is the right drill bit hold the drill bit against the shank of the screw near the head then you know you have the correct size}

It's going to take a reasonable load - a 5-octave synthesizer (keyboard) on the top shelf and a few effects pedals on a shelf below it. So 2 shelves, about 10Kg.

London50

The thread shows they are wood screws, the ones in the photo are fast screw versions that means you do not need 10 months gym membership to screw them in tight enough to hold whatever.

If you are talking about both that type of weight {and replacement cost} I would go for the middle one but with a thicker shank if it was me.

itm2

London50 wrote: »

The thread shows they are wood screws, the ones in the photo are fast screw versions that means you do not need 10 months gym membership to screw them in tight enough to hold whatever.

If you are talking about both that type of weight {and replacement cost} I would go for the middle one but with a thicker shank if it was me.

Thanks for that. As I haven't been inside a gym since I was 16 that's good to know. Would something like this do the trick (TurboGold Woodscrews Double Self-Countersunk 5 x 80mm)?
http://www.screwfix.com/p/turbogold-woodscrews-double-self-countersunk-5-x-80mm-pk100/14516?_requestid=234262

itm2

On second thoughts, maybe the 70mm would be better? (more in line with the length of the 2nd screw in my original picture)

http://www.screwfix.com/p/turbogold-woodscrews-double-self-countersunk-5-x-70mm-pk100/15276

EssexExile

The size of the screw depends on lots of things, how many are you using, what weight will it have to support, how thick is the thing you're screwing through, etc. 2" no.8 (whatever that is in new money) is a good all purpose size. Personally I use what I've got enough of in that tin in the shed.

itm2

EssexExile wrote: »

The size of the screw depends on lots of things, how many are you using, what weight will it have to support, how thick is the thing you're screwing through, etc. 2" no.8 (whatever that is in new money) is a good all purpose size. Personally I use what I've got enough of in that tin in the shed.

The uprights that I'm attaching to the wall are 18mm deep. Each one is 430mm high, and will take 4 screws. The overall load will be about 10Kg, spread between 2 shelves. So maybe the thinner screws (the middle ones) would do the job?