Here at BS Fixings, we constantly update our online catalogue with new products for our customers. By keeping our stock up to date, you can find everything that you need all in one place! From fixings and fastenings to home and garden products, finding the correct item for your project will never be a struggle, especially with our help.

On our website, we supply many different types of screws that can be used with all sorts of construction, building, and DIY tasks. Now, you may have come across fixings such as drywall screws, machine screws, and self-tapping screws, but what about coach screws?

We have recently added a new product to our screw range, the Coach Screw Hexagon Head A2 Stainless Steel, which is the first of its kind on our website! If you haven’t heard of this type of screw before, we have created this blog post to help you out. Find below everything you need to know about coach screws and what they are useful for – you might need them for your next project!

Coach screws, also commonly known as ‘lag screws’, are mainly used to fix into timber. Most users typically use this screw type to hold heavy timber structures together, as well as metal-to-timber tasks and masonry to concrete. They are designed for heavy-duty projects that require significant holding power. For example, construction materials that are particularly weighty such as hardwood will need a strong and durable fixing like a coach screw to hold them in place.

Features of coach screws

The most prominent feature of a coach screw is its hexagon head, which makes the fixing easy to install and remove. In some cases, you can also find coach screws with a square head. The hexagonal head offers greater torque, enabling you to create a secure, long-lasting fastening.

Coach screws are typically found partially threaded, with a coarse single thread that grips onto materials such as wood with ease. The partial thread enables the top end of the shank to latch onto the attaching material, holding it in place with significant force.

Coach screws are also great as they do not require a nut, they can simply be used in one simple motion which makes them attractive to many people. However, if your screw is going to be on show and needs a neat finish, we recommend using a washer with the screw, so the fixing material is not impacted.

As these screws are generally used for heavy-duty purposes, they need to withstand a variety of conditions, in both indoor and outdoor environments. As a result of this, coach screws tend to be manufactured out of stainless steel, most specifically A2 (304) and A4 (316) steel grades. Both of these stainless steel grades offer excellent corrosion resistance and can withstand a wide range of temperatures. The coach screws that we have in stock are made from A2 stainless steel, meaning they won’t rust or degrade, no matter the weather.

How to use coach screws

When installing coach screws, you always need to drill a pilot hole first as this will prevent materials such as wood from splitting. You will most likely need a wood or twist drill bit to create the hole.

Generally, the diameter of the drill bit and pilot hole will depend on the material that you are drilling into. If you’re inserting the fixing into a softwood, the hole roughly needs to be half the diameter of the coach screw, whereas if you are fixing into hardwood, it should be three-quarters of the diameter.

After the hole has been created, you can simply drive the screw in!

If you require more information about coach screws or the other fixing products we have on offer, please feel free to contact us and a member of our team will be delighted to help.