Screws – Brass
Screws – Brass
Screws are probably the most commonly used fastener for woodworking. It is a metal pin with a head and tapered shafts that, clamps two pieces of wood together. There are different types of screws available for different purposes.
Brass is an alloy of copper and zink. It is stronger than copper, but softer than some grades of steel. Brass doesn’t corrode (rust) easily and can be used outdoors. Screws can be made of solid brass or brass-plated. When the screw is brass plated, it will rust more easily because the layer of brass will eventually peel off and leave the inner steel to rust.
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High footprint Brass is made of zinc and copper. The mining of the latter creates toxic emissions to soil, air and water.
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Alternatives connections Low footprint
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Quick Very easy and quick connection. Non toxic Although brass may contain small amounts of lead that can leach and be harmful for humans, the amounts present in brass screws will be negligible (1). |
Costly Brass screws are more expensive than steel versions.
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Space saving When a wooden construction is fastened with screws only, components will be easily dis- and reassembled. This will save space and therefore energy in transport. |
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Non toxic Although brass may contain small amounts of lead that can leach and be harmful for humans, the amounts present in brass screws will be negligible (1). Long lifespan Brass screws do not degrade fast, so they make a durable connection. |
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Easy reuse Wood that is fastened with screws only (no glue) are easy to disassemble. The wooden components can be reused easily. Good quality screws can be reused as well. |
Difficult recycling Brass is 100% recyclable, but if the screws are incinerated with the product non ferrous metals cannot be recovered from the incineration ash.
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Alternatives connections Easy recycling
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Other Connections
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Examples on Harvestmap.org
