What is a Truss Screw and What is it Used For?
If you’re a do-it-yourself enthusiast and you enjoy building furniture, remodeling, and other home improvement projects, it’s important to learn about the various types of fasteners. Screws and bolts are often preferred to nails, but what are the various screw types, and what is their function? The spotlight today is on truss screws. If you haven’t yet heard of this type of screw, you’re in the right place. Here is everything you need to know about truss screws.
What is a truss screw?
According to Hunker, a truss screw is a fastener with a unique heady type that is identified as being extra wide. The top of the screw has a slightly rounded surface that will stick out above the surface of the piece of material you fasten. It doesn’t sit flush like some other screw types, so it’s not used for all fastening applications. Another characteristic of a truss screw is that the surface area that sits just under the head of this fastener is also wider.
What is a truss screw used for?
Truss screws are unique screw types that are made for a variety of very specific purposes. Truss screws are often used for the truss/rafter to plate and stud to plate connections, but this is not the only application suitable for this versatile type of screw. They work exceptionally well for fastening thin membranes to materials. For example, if you’re fastening a one-ply material through insulation, this type screw does a good job. They’re also used for attaching cabinets to steel studs, as well as for attaching sliding shelf supports. The head of the truss head screw isn’t so high that it interferes with the guide operations of siding shelves.
What are the advantages of truss screws?
In addition to securely holding thin materials, truss head screws are frequently chosen for fastening sheet metal and other material types that have large holes. The wide head of the screw works to cover holes that are larger than the body of the screw for an attractive finish. The dome shape of the heads of truss screws is low enough to use for most projects, but an advantage is that the screws are difficult to remove or tamper with. Another advantage of a truss screw is that the wide head prevents it from sinking too deeply into the material and causing tearing. This is why they are so highly valued for fastening thin materials and membranes. This is the ideal choice when you are working with delicate materials to ensure that the screw doesn’t rip through the material and cause damage to the project.
Other uses for truss screws
According to Mutual Screw, truss screws are also used in the building and repair of electronic items. They are available in machine screws with a truss-style head that is slightly rounded. They’re used to create customized fasteners for a variety of different applications. You may also find them in the automotive industry for fastening the pop-tops on vans and other recreational vehicles. Truss head screws are also used to fix metal lathes as metal studs. There are a variety of screw types as we see here, that are classified as truss screws because the term refers to the shape and size of the head.
More facts about truss screws
According to YH Screw (https://www.yhscrew.com/what-is-a-truss-head-screw.html), Truss head screws come in a variety of different sizes. They come in a variety of thread specifications and materials. Most often, truss head screws are used as fasteners for applications where you want to discourage tampering because they are difficult to remove. They are also referred to as mushroom-type screws because of the extra width of the head. They are also available in a choice of either Phillip’s head or standard heads.
Customization of truss screws
Truss head screws are frequently used as a substitution for pan head screws. They are made out of a variety of different materials, grades of material, or quality finishes as well as in metric and inch sizes. They may also be customized and ordered in a variety of different colors, depending on the project that you have in mind. You may order them in a range of color options including anodized red, black, blue, green, pink, and others. Truss screws are available in a variety of different plating options including Cr + 3 plating, zinc, phosphating, oxide, nickel, gold plated, copper plated or copper construction, and a variety of pained surfaces and coatings. You can also find truss head screws with a nylok band to give it an extra snug fit for certain applications.
Final thoughts
Truss screws are used in a variety of applications but they’re especially useful when using thin or delicate materials. The extra-wide head of a truss screw comes in handy for covering p sheet metal holes as well as for adding extra security to guard against the screw ripping out of the material. They’re a versatile screw with a low-profile slightly rounded head that makes them almost tamper-proof. They’re used most commonly for sheet metal applications as well as for work involving the fastening of rafters to the connection plates. You can find them in a variety of different materials, widths, lengths, and thread specifications Some manufacturers provide customized truss screws that you can order in a variety of different colors and coatings. As a do-it-yourselfer, it pays to know all of the possible applications and fine details about the various fasteners to make the best possible choices for your home improvement projects. Truss screws are not the best solution for every home improvement project, but there are many different things that they work well for. If you’re involved in a project that involves delicate materials, sheet metal holes, or decorative projects that you want to color coordinate, you might want to consider using truss screws as the fastener of choice.
