The use of "Drywall Screws"

[Little Bill]

Commercially, I have never seen any type of screw used for electrical installations except the correct machine screws. Maybe sometimes an oversized 8/32 because someone got crazy with their drill while installing the device. Residentially is where this seems to run rampant. What I don't understand is 99.9% of the time the provided machine screws that are shipped with the fixture. Get thrown on the floor or in the trash. That is something I will never understand. The problem I see with using any other type of screw is that it does not make good contact with the box. I have seen devices literally come out of the box when a drywall screw was used, just from use.

The reason you see them laying on the floor is the installer couldn't throw them any farther!
90% or more of the fixtures I install that have the mounting screws come with them, the screws are junk! I have not found many that will fit in a round ceiling box. They should be an 8-32 but they aren't. If I'm in a hurry and the light is not at all heavy, such as a keyless, I will use a course thread drywall screw if that's all I have. But I keep a jar of 8-32 and 6-32 for just this purpose.

 

[hillbilly1]

Commercially, I have never seen any type of screw used for electrical installations except the correct machine screws. Maybe sometimes an oversized 8/32 because someone got crazy with their drill while installing the device. Residentially is where this seems to run rampant. What I don't understand is 99.9% of the time the provided machine screws that are shipped with the fixture. Get thrown on the floor or in the trash. That is something I will never understand. The problem I see with using any other type of screw is that it does not make good contact with the box. I have seen devices literally come out of the box when a drywall screw was used, just from use.

The resi guys like them because of the coarse thread into a plastic box is much faster.

 

[electrofelon]

I did a search on HD"s site, but apparently they decided not to list them in size order.

Yeah, as has been discussed on here before, the home Depot website is almost the worst website out there

 

[hillbilly1]

Yeah, as has been discussed on here before, the home Depot website is almost the worst website out there

Yeah, but they think they have the greatest! LOL! It’s a bunch of kids fresh out of college that runs that place.

 

[infinity]

There is nothing wrong with the black drywall screws for electrical work. Yes they're more brittle than other types of screws but they're fine for mounting stuff to wood, drywall, etc., if installed properly. As far as breaking if they don't snap off when installed then it's likely they'll never snap off after installation. I challenge anyone to drive an 1.25" black drywall screw into a stud and try to pull it out with a claw hammer.

 

[ActionDave]

I use gold drywall screws because I'm not a hack.

 

[Hv&Lv]

There is nothing wrong with the black drywall screws for electrical work. Yes they're more brittle than other types of screws but they're fine for mounting stuff to wood, drywall, etc., if installed properly. As far as breaking if they don't snap off when installed then it's likely they'll never snap off after installation. I challenge anyone to drive an 1.25" black drywall screw into a stud and try to pull it out with a claw hammer.

I agree completely when mounting boxes like your talking about.
I’m not wild about their use to hold the fixtures in place like the OP is asking about, especially fans.

 

[infinity]

I agree completely when mounting boxes like your talking about.
I’m not wild about their use to hold the fixtures in place like the OP is asking about, especially fans.

I agree. Regarding the OP's question definitely not a use for drywall screws.

 

[goldstar]

I generally use coarse thread, galvanized deck screws with fender washers for mounting breaker panels and meter pans to a wooden surface. I often see sheet-rock screws used for mounting light fixtures to recessed outdoor junction boxes as well as using them for receptacles in kitchens when a granite back-splash is installed. You can tell, right up front, that this probably wasn't done by an licensed electrician (at least not one worth his salt). That said, if you are at a residence for a service call to replace a kitchen counter GFCI receptacle that was installed into a plastic JB with long sheet-rock screws, you may not have a choice but to re-use those screws as the mounting holes in that JB will no longer accept threaded machined screws.

 

[kwired]

I use gold drywall screws because I'm not a hack.

gold in color or actually gold plated?