When is a screw better than a nail and the reverse question?
A screw is (most of the time) a reversible fastener, it is non destructive, and offers retention in the axial as well as radial directions, whereas a nail offers constraint in only the radial direction.
The only time a nail would be better than a screw is when something needs to be assembled quickly, when the object to be assembled is soft enough to allow for a nail, and when screws are too expensive.
Iād argue that from a design standpoint, if you can afford a screw, you should never use a nail
2 Likes