Customer Reviews for DECKMATE #10 x 3-1/2 in. Tan Star-Flat Head Wood Deck Screw 1 lb.-Box (56-Piece)

One of the best wood screws that I have come across in recent years. Strong, fast and powerful drive force. Really bite into the wood and hold.

I only use deckmate screws, nothing even comes close to their ease of use.

Good product. Easy starting and the star head makes for no stripping.

Not a flaw in in the whole package. That's a first! Good price and excellent quality.

Easy to use

I use these and shorter ones as well ALL THE TIME!

Nice T-25 bit, not T-20. Seems strong. They screw fine.

This is a great screw for deck boards in outdoor applications. But that is the extent of its application. Anyone who has worked with redwood and cedar knows that how these materials can discolor at the nail or screw locations, and treated lumber will react with almost any metal. These screws have a warranty for the life of your project, and are coated with something to eliminate that problem. Warnings on the package lead me to think that it might be something containing lead. It is too soon to tell if these will discolor the wood, they shouldn’t, but it often takes a year or two depending on the climate. These are cedar tan colored, so they will blend in (until the cedar starts to weather). A couple of features of these screws make them different than others. One is lack of thread on the upper shank. This should allow a tighter fit of the deck board to the joist, allowing it to draw up firmly. These are also self-tapping, so no pre-drilling is required and splitting is greatly reduced. The lower side of the head is ribbed for countersinking. I found that the included T-25 torx bit was of poor quality and didn’t last long, so you should plan on using a higher end bit and a magnetic drive guide for easier installation. There seems to be more resistance to removing these screws, so I wonder if replacing a deck board in the future could be a problem if they do corrode slightly. Time will tell. I was also disappointed with the lack of any available information regarding their sheer strength, and there is no website information on the package, so I can only assume that they should NOT be used for any other application, such as headers, rim or joist connections that have any shear weight load, especially joist hangers.

The product is a 5 pound box of 3" - #9 exterior coated screws. The heads are T25 star bit compatible. There are about 309 screws per box and it comes with a T25 star bit for a standard or power drill. The construction of the threads on the screw combines a cutting surface to the drill threads. The cutting surface helps to start the bit into the board. The star head is a problem for some electric drills. I have found that the Low speed setting on the drill is best for me. If you use the high speed setting the bit seems to come out of the screw and in doing so, damages the star surface. Damage is also caused from not having the drill aligned with the Star. This is critical for some screws but this product was able to be screwed in at significant angle. Try to always keep it aligned as it is least likely to be damage the screw. The screw threads are only along half of the length. This helps fix a problem when the screw meets the second board it will stand off before it bites into the wood. Full threaded screws are driven in further and then backed out partially until the space between the boards is removed. Then they are re-tightened. This screw does not care as you just continue tightening and the threadless section is pulled through the first board when the screw head starts contacting the first board. This is a 3 inch screw. Two 2x4s are slightly less then 3" and thus there is a point tip sticking out. If you drive the screw too far into the top board, the more tip sticks out. Photos show some of the projects that I am building in which I used these screws. These screws can be used with pressure treated wood. The injected liquid will damage an unprotected screw. I like them. Not sure the purpose of their "Lifetime" warranty.

Deckmate screws have always been solid for me and these are no exception. Even though these are fairly beefy #9's and a slightly shallow thread they bite fairly easily and drive quickly. Because of that thickness I've had no issues with broken hardware. QA also seems to be good as I've not come across any defects or rough burrs. I do wish these had some thread closer to the head - I find that helps cinch down everything right as you countersink and keeps things tight. Otherwise solid hardware. 

These wood screws with the star head are much better then the phillips heads are. I haven't had any heads round out like the phillips heads, Just make sure you have the right S bit for the screws, I recommend a 2" long bit. The box of screws come with a short bit in the box. I'm in the process of replacing all my phillips screws with these star head screws. THEY ARE THE BEST

The Deck Mate #9 x 3 in. Star Flat-Head Wood Deck Screw can be used in a variety of scenarios from building a deck with pressure treated or composite lumber to a number of home improvement projects. The star head allows the bit to grip tightly and limit the potential for slippage with often leads to stripping the head. The self drilling feature allows you to easily drive this three inch screw quickly and easily. These screws are extremely strong and durable. I performed a strength test on this screw. I took two pairs of vice grips and bent the screw until it snapped. The screw almost made it to ninety degrees before it snapped. So I think it goes without saying that if the screw can take that much stress it will last the life of whatever project you use it in. I would highly recommend these screws. The peace of mind they provide is well worth the investment.

Know your application, and don't fear the star, embrace it. Bit quality is just OK. Don't get these for the bit, get them for the screws. I took off a star because I found that the included star bit cammed out on me on a few screws that may have had a bit too much coating in the star head. With a different star bit from a quality driver set, I had no problems. Star bit? Yep. Best. Won't cam out as much as a Philips. You want the star... and even the included bit is good enough. Drive them with an impact driver and it is gold for putting down deck boards. I'm pretty much finding everyone is going to star bits. Be aware that there is a long smooth lag area on the shank above the threads. This is good for putting down boards and for screwing cross-cut to the grain which is typical for most applications, such as driving deck boards onto the joists. In this way, the screw will pull down the top board and not fight against the bottom support joist. I found that the long smooth lag area and short threads didn't work so well on a little project I had that involved screwing into the end grain. This isn't a typical application, so I'm not deducting anything. I simply needed a different exterior screw that had no lag, and threads all the way up to the head. Made in Taiwan

I have used Deckmate screws extensively on outdoor decking projects and have come to trust the brand. These 3” screws have a new feature; a series of little bumps on the shaft between each thread of the screw. The box claims its a new patented feature but makes no claim as to what they achieve. What do they do? A video at HD says they push the wood out. Anyway, they claim that the design results in 40% more screws per battery charge, which is great! (This suggest that each screw uses only 71% of the energy of the older design). The box includes a T-25 Torx bit which fits the screws. There are about 309 screws in the box. The screws drive in without a problem as one would expect from this well known brand. The heads end up flush and I have not had any wood splinters stick up from the screws. I use the 3” ones for places where I need to fasten heavier lumber, or if fastening decking to some older lumber that is a bit soft at the top, relying on the additional length to dig deeper into the wood below. Lifetime warranty. Made in Taiwan

If you have an outdoor structure such as a fence or deck and you want the screws to hold up well over time and go in strong without any snapping then these are the way to go. I’ve used these and power pro screws on outdoor projects like fencing and while both are good products these are a step up from the power pro ones for a couple reasons in my experience. (1) The shafts are heavier for the screw size so they are strong and won’t snap off if your sink them up or the wood you are driving in is a little hard. (2) They weather better over the long haul. I’ve had some of both out for a very long time (over 15 years) and these have not shown any rusting while some of the power pro ones have. The star drive is definitely way easier to work with than anything else. I’ve got some repair work to do on about 400 feet of fence I built by sinking PT 4x4’s into concrete and using PT 2x6 cross pieces and PT 1x6 pickets. I left it raw and unpainted. It is now around 20 years old. While most of it has help up well a few pieces have deteriorated so it is time for some repair before winter sets in. I have the highest confidence I can put things together with these and forget about it. You just can’t go wrong with these.

The star drive on these deck screws is a nice feature minimizing driver slip when installing. Since I am waiting on supplies to begin my deck update, I tried them on a piece of standard 2" x 4" lumber and the drive was quick and the tool never slipped in the head of the screw. Also, these are designed with a self-drilling feature that ensures a smooth installation. The 5 pound box also includes a driver bit for the star drive. The coating on the screws has a lifetime warranty.

Wouldn't dream of building a deck or fence without this type of screw... time tested star drive head that won't slip or strip, reinforced neck to prevent snapping, self-drilling tip (pilot holes not needed) and an engineered thread pitch/flute design that requires almost half the amount of force required when driving compared to other typical screw designs (translates to longer power tool battery life). Also has durable weather resistant coating to eliminate corrosion a long way down the road. Last but not least, a T25 bit that fits 1/4" impact drivers is included for those who might not have an assortment of Torx bits handy.

Useful length (two 2-bys). Very slick design! Coated and notched to go in quick and easy, beefy head. I use a lot of 3-inch screws in 2-by construction. Holds better than nails, and easier on my arm. These are rust-proofed with a color which blends into treated deck-wood. The T-25 star-drive (one bit included) won't slip. The under-head area is beefy to avoid head breakage. Head ribs ease the wood so head sits flush.

The Deck Mate #9 x 3 inch Star Flat Head Wood Deck Screw is great for building with pressure treated lumber. Highly recommend using an impact drill to drive them in and use a T-25 star-bit, incuded with the screws. These screws are coated and specially designed to use with treated lumber. I have used these screws many times on many projects, most recently building a ramp on an existing deck to replace the steps. The 3 inch length is the perfect length for fastening 2 – 2x6’s (or any 2x?) boards together, but they also come in shorter and longer lengths. The thread design only utilizes half of the screw making it possible to pull in the adjoining board and make a tight fit. The star drive head provides a solid hold with the drive bit that avoids slippage, like you get with phillips screws and the star heads keep the impact drill centered, unlike the old straight-line heads.

Used to secure wood in a non-deck situation (but needed the length) versus nails. Worked like a champ. Having an extra star bit (included) is always a benefit.