Fasteners are some of the most ubiquitous products in many projects, from industrial work to DIY tasks. You will find them almost in every product because almost every product requires fasteners. However, rarely are they given enough attention, yet they can result in huge risks when handled incorrectly. Some of the common mistakes that people make with fasteners when working with material handling equipment, pumps, and other industrial machines are using the wrong tools, overdriving the screw, and picking the wrong fastener. In this post, we will dig deeper into overdriving screws to answer the big question, “What are the common issues and risks?”

Overdriving Screws Damages the Holding Ability of the Screw

Screws are fasteners designed with a head and threads running down the lower part of the shank. Every screw also features a self-tapering flute and a tip that helps them run right through the targeted workpiece as shown below. Depending on the equipment, you can also have other categories, such as machine screws and socket cap crews that do not have a tip.

Overdriving the screws using a screw gun can easily compromise their strength and holding ability by damaging their structure, at times even full breakdown. This could further result in a number of things. One, the parts you are joining are likely not to hold firmly as anticipated. Therefore, sooner than later, the equipment under consideration might be of no use or require repairs. Two, you are likely to require a lot more screws to finish the project that you are working on. Well, this will directly translate to additional costs for the project.

The Risk of Striping the Screw Head Off

Another common issue with overdriving screws is that you can easily strip their heads. Most people, especially novices, hold the view that tightening a screw more will make the joint more powerful but end up ruining them by damaging the heads. With a stripped head, you will no longer be able to loosen or tighten the screw to make adjustments. Let’s put this into focus.

Imagine a situation where you have used multiple screws to assemble your equipment or make the housing of equipment/part, such as a sheave or flanges, and it is time for maintenance. If the heads are blown off, it is likely to be challenging to access the tool or disassemble different parts. This could also mean damaging the workpiece, prompting the need to redo it afresh or buying new equipment. All of these translate to additional cost of maintenance.

Cracking the Material of Your Project

In extreme cases, overdriving a screw is likely to crack the project material you are working on. Depending on the type of project and material, this could translate to serious structural challenges that will compromise the finished product. If the screws were being applied to the face of the finished product, its appearance might get damaged. Finally, your customers, who were promised flawless products, might single out such an issue and reject the product when it is finally delivered to them.

Along with the above issues, overdriving fasteners is likely to add undue pressure, resulting in damage to the tool you are using. If the joint was meant to make water-tight joints, overtightening the screws can also result in the loss of sealing performance and shaft misalignment. So, how exactly do you tighten a screw correctly? It is pretty simple; you only need to drive the screw until it is tight. Do not turn them beyond that point.