Screws For Attaching Window Bucks – GreenBuildingAdvisor

Cottagebuilder,

If your time is more available than your cash I can suggest two ways to allow for shorter and cheaper screws.

Most basic would be to set up a station with some form of spacing marks to keep things orderly and simply drill a preset depth with a speedbore bit or forstner bit. The forstner will be slower, but cleaner and less likely to dive into the wood. A small drill press would help a lot. If not available then a stop collar on a 1/2 bit would do. Drill about half depth of the buck and use deck screws and some framing glue to attach. Use a bit extender or buy a long shaft bit driver for the screws you plan to use.

If you happen to have a Kreg pocket screw guide and bit (and again the time) set up a clamping station and put pockets on alternating sides. You might be able to use 2 1/4-1/2″ screws this way. Framing glue, too.

If you don’t have a Kreg pocket screw guide, but you do have a small drill press to have on site, then make an angled cradle to hold the buck stock at about a 30 degree angle relative to the drill bit path. A brad point, forstner or some speedbore types would work without too much angst. Dimple the buck stock sides about an inch above the sheathing contact face, again alternating sides to ensure square contact over time. Framing glue as well.

It may be possible to put large enough dimples with this last method using a forstner bit to allow use of a framing gun. If the nose fits in and sets a nail within the dimple edge it shouldn’t interfere with fitting the window or flashing tapes. Ring shank nails and framing glue should keep the bucks in place over time as well as screws, but I have not tried this in practice.

A possible dodge to all the fussy drill press set up might be a plunge router with a 90 degree V-groove bit or a flat bottom V-groove bit. Set the plunge depth to just enough to create a surface that will fit the screw head width and jab your self feeding screws (like deck screws) at 45 degree angle to the buck’s side face. The screw should feed in at that angle and the head will finish up buried in the soft wood enough to be out the way. Maybe a nail gun would work here too.

A 90 degree 1/2″ V-groove bit is available at HD for 40 bucks. Other sources, other sizes and prices. Do stop and count how many 5″ screws you will need and of course how long you want to drag out the buck installation. Cost benefit ratio is up to you.