When taking on a loft conversion even experienced builders may view the calculations and regulations required a little daunting. However help is at hand; Carpenters Mate has created an ingenious solution to this task, in the form of CalcuMate. CalcuMate is a simple and easy to use programme which requires only some basic figures, which […]

Nails vs Screws Both Screws and nails have played a major part in construction for many years and there is, and perhaps always will be, some disagreement regarding when to use each type of connector for certain tasks. As construction has evolved to meet modern day requirements, so too have both have screws and nails […]

For around 30 years loft conversions have been one of the most popular choices of home improvement. It is not difficult to see why; loft conversions have been so appealing because this type of project can be completed relatively quickly and when finished can add value and space to a property. A loft conversion can […]

Timber Connectors Choosing the right timber connector is not always a straightforward decision, but whether you are a master carpenter or you are just starting out on your first DIY project, you need to select wood fasteners that are going to do the job and do it right. At OSC we take a huge amount […]

Using Coach Bolts Coach screws are heavy duty screws designed for metal to timber connections, or for joining heavy timbers together. These types of screws are often used at critical joins in construction due to their strength and sturdiness. Coach screws are the ideal fastener for heavy load bearing connections, and for when additional support […]

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TIMBER SCREWS Home Carpenter’s Mate Home Carpenter’s Mate News Listing The different types of timber screws Types of Timber Screws Timber screws are arguably the most common type of screw for fastening pieces of wood together, with a clamping force that is renowned for strengthening joints. The main use of wood […]

With self-tapping screws, you can drill a hole into the material as you screw. They are useful for screwing into a range of materials, including plastic, metal and wood, in an efficient manner. Simply take a drill and hold the tip of one of our OSC self-tapping screws to the material and start drilling to […]

Which composite deck screws are right for the job? With so many different screws available on the market today, it can be confusing to know which is the best for a given job is. Each type will be suited for a particular application and this is especially true when choosing composite decking screws. Decking is generally […]

Types of screws There are many times when an individual may be unsure when it would be better to use screws or standard nails to fasten two or more surfaces together. It should first be understood that nails are primarily designed to resist the shearing force between two objects. Due to their surface area, screws […]

OSC is running demonstrations of its market-leading Carpenters Mate self-drilling screws, plus special CAMO invisible decking tool demos at builders’ merchants around the country from 20th July until October – and there’s a Makita combi-drill up for grabs. The free-to-enter prize draw will see one lucky demo visitor win a top of the range Makita […]

What are self-drilling screws? From domestic use through to large industrial projects, carpenters require tools that will aid their speed and efficiency. However, too many tools can also prove to be a problem; swapping over drill bits or drive tools can become a fiddly task that slows progress and adds costly additional time to projects. […]