Quick question. What screws do you use to screw cabinets into a wall?

2 1/2 inch #8 lag screws.

-- Chuck, Washington D.C.

I don’t know that I’d use brass screws for anything that bears weight. I’d agree with Chuck.

-- "Checking for square? What madness is this! The cabinet is square because I will it to be so!" Jeremy Greiner LJ Topic#20953 2011 Feb 2

Depends on the wall and what’s behind it. Definitley not brass though.

-- Life is good.

Not to be a smartass, but I would use a cabinet screw...

If they are heavier cabinets, or you want to go overkill, lag screws into studs.

-- "I suggest a new strategy, R2: let the Wookiee win."

Agree with Nick85, a cabinet screw is the way to go. I’ve installed several kitchens over the years and they are all still hanging without any problem. The extra length going into a stud gives a good solid feel to it. BTW have done the same for quite a few book 8’ bookcases with the same results.

-- • "I have noticed that nothing I have never said ever did me any harm."....... Calvin Coolidge

I think nick85 is correct. I was looking at my kitchen cabinets which were installed 25 years ago by the home builder and they just used sheet rock screws and they seem to be holding fine, but not sure that thats a good option. I always thought that sheet rock screws didnt have a very high shear strengh rating.

-- Wayne - Plymouth MN

Cabinet screws are the only ones I’ll use….....

-- Our village hasn't lost it's idiot, he was elected to congress.

Cab. screws with square drive.
Bill

-- [email protected]

I usually use 2.5” or 3” deck screws with the square drive. I use red for dark cabs and the tan screws for light cabs. I don’t worry about the color since they’re always hidden when the cabs are filled.

-- Adversity doesn't build character...................it reveals it.

Two and a quarter inch screws, unless it’s 5/8 sheetrock. There is absolutely no need to go to lag screws. That’s just a whole lot of work.

If the house is older, I wax the screws because the doug fir studs can get really hard. I have nailers in my uppers top and bottom. I can’t imagine any risk of anything shearing off, Wayne, and your 25 year history is a pretty good piece of anecdotal evidence to support that.

In my leased industrial shop I have cabinets attached to the wall which is steel studs—not a recommended practice at all—and they are holding fine.

Kindly,

Lee

-- "...in his brain, which is as dry as the remainder biscuit after a voyage, he hath strange places cramm'd with observation, the which he vents in mangled forms." --Shakespeare, "As You Like It"

Thanks for the replies

Last night I found these around the house and used them. I didn’t want to make a separate trip out to the Depot for screws. They are 2 1/2” long and look to be #8. Deck screws? Whatever they were, they worked great!

I will buy some 2 1/2” cabinet screws at Home Depot on my way home tonight.

I think you’ll be fine with those.

One thing a lot of people don’t realize is that once you screw a cabinet tightly against a wall, friction does much of the work of holding it up.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

3” cabinet screws. Some cabinet manufactures send screws ie Kraftmade for one. 2 1/2” finish screws to fasten the stiles.

-- You can't trust a dog to guard your food.

3” cabinet screws – they have a wider head on them than your standard #8 FH. I recommend square or torque drive though those are sometime hard to find at Lowes or HD.

-- Shameless - Winner of two Stumpy Nubs Awards

I use these from Home Depot. No pre drilling, and I have never broken one off.

Spax Cabinent Screws. I hold my very large clamp rack to the wall with 4 of these.

-- Lee - Phoenix, AZ