General Rules about which size screws and in what direction

Sometimes there is some confusion about which size screws to choose from.  Typically, you have 1”, 1 ¼”, 1 5/8”, 2”, 2 ½” and 3” screws.

What Direction?

First, you should know what boards are being screwed together and in what direction.  Makes sense.
Always screw through the lesser board into the greater board.  In other words, screw through the thinner width to connect the thicker board.  For example, if you were to screw a 1x4 into a 2x4, you should screw through the 1x4 to enter into the 2x4.
This is not only structural, but very smart.


What Size?

If you are screwing into a 2x4, then you want to use 3” screws.
In this case, the 3” screw goes through the 2x4 on the 2” side (or more precisely, the 1 ½” side.)
If you want to screw together two 1x4 boards, then you use a 1 58” screws.   In this case, the 1 5/8” screw goes through the 1x4 on the 1” side (or more precisely, the ¾” side.)

A carpenter should always choose a screw that is at least twice the width of the board.  3” screws should be used to connect 2x4s and 2x6s.   1 5/8” screws should be used to connect 1x4s and 1x6s.  1 ¼” screws should be used to screw through something that is ½” thick.  1” screws should be used to connect anything less than that.

And as always, make sure the screw is not too long so that it pokes out from the back.  A pointy screw would be unsafe to precious hands.  It would have to be grinded off, which would make the screw useless in the long run and will also reduce your structural integrity for whatever project.

But you also don’t want to use a screw that is too terribly long.  If you use a 3” screw to attach a ½” board to a 2x4, the smooth head will be the only part holding the ½” board together.
Look at a 3” screw.  There is a long portion of it that is smooth and has no threads towards the screw’s head.

You don’t want that.  You want those threads to be a part of keeping the boards tight.  So choose something smaller.

I certainly hope this helps.  Keep building!

Build your own Rustic Fort:

Build your own Rustic Fort:

Some of us are not as creative or skilled enough to design our own forts.  This instructional document is to help the novice or semi-experienced carpenter to create their own fort for their children or even pets.

This fort was specifically designed in a certain manner.  It is called a Rustic Fort because it has uneven hoarding like a Civil War fort or Dark Ages fort.  The picture on the front cover is the fort that was designed for this plan.

Some modifications were made to simplify this plan for the novice.  However the original was designed to be a solitary 6x6x10 fort but an additional sections with rampart was designed afterward.  This is obviously optional.  It will be easy to add these portions later if you want, rather than build the entire project at once.

These instructions are a guide to build a six foot square fort that is roughly ten feet tall.  It has a ladder leading into the back side.  The housing area is four feet from the ground and the roof is four feet from the deck.  The underground area is four feet from ground.  The backside is designed to be open where as the sides have hoarding.

I would like to point out that the instructional drawings are not to scale.  They are renditions to help visually explain certain details, not to be taken as scale models.  They are approximate shapes and patterns but very easy to follow.

I would recommend thoroughly reading the entire instructions before proceeding with construction.  There are options, choices and special notes that may be of interest to you.

Cost:  The price for the materials to build this project would be dependent upon what material that you purchase.  Some lumber is more expensive than others.  However, the original structure was designed with standard pine so the general cost would be around $1000, that would include hardware.  The extended portion would cost another $1000.

Time:  I am not going to waste your time to estimate how long it will take you to assemble this fort.  Every person has a different speed and it depends on your tools and expertise, obviously.  As well as how much free time that is available to you.
Theoretically, it could be completed in one day.  Also theoretically, it could take you a week.  If you hire some of the contractors that I’ve heard complained about, it could take them a whole year.

There are further options to alter this plan at the end of these instructions.

Some of these options include moving the rampart connecting to another 6x6 fort.  Creating a trapdoor.  Creating secret hatchways to enter the bottom half.  Or building a sandbox at the bottom of this unit.

http://www.amazon.com/Rustic-Fort-Guidebook-ebook/dp/B00DON7LFM

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rustic-fort-ronald-rex/1116523605




Buy on Paperback for $9.99: http://www.amazon.com/Rustic-Fort-Guidebook-Ronald-Rex/dp/1492358622