Thread 2950594

Need some advice on a computer desk I am trying to build, never done anything like this before so I don't want to screw it up. I bought a 6' x 25'' x 1.5'' butcher block. I then got some custom legs because all the ones on amazon looked like cheap shit that would break. The company I ordered them from told me "The holes are 5/16'' so most people use 1/4'' lag screws''.
Went down to the hardware store and bought a handful of them. But looking at them at home they look kind of small, you can see the picture of the legs there is a bit of space between where the legs would sit against the table. It seems to me that they would barely go into the wood. Am I just ignorant or should I have gotten ones that were longer? If so any specific length you think I should be aiming for?
Also any advice on doing it in general, I was planning on using a drill to make small holes and then use a socket wrench to screw them in. Does that sound like the right idea?

>>2950594 (OP)
bump for curiosity I'm trying to plan and build the perfect computer desk too
>The holes are 5/16'' so most people use 1/4'' lag screws'
Were they referring just to the diameter and not the length of the screw? I agree they do seem a bit short, there's probably a reference sheet somewhere for that stuff. I bet they'd hold but I'd aim for them to make it like halfway into the countertop (based off literally nothing and I'm a complete hack fwiw). I guess you could try them and see if it's sturdy, you can always go get longer ones.

>>2950594 (OP)
>>2950601
samefag
>I was planning on using a drill to make small holes and then use a socket wrench to screw them in. Does that sound like the right idea?
Yeah start with a small pilot hole to get started and then a bigger one, roughly a little bit smaller than the screw. You want it to be tight but not too tight that it cracks the wood.
Careful also that you don't drill all the way through, that and cracking the wood are probably the only two ways to badly screw it up, but even then you could probably fix it somehow.

>>2950594 (OP)
those screws are a little short, with 1.5" of total wood thickness I'd want at least 1" of screw touching wood. I'd try for 1.25" screws, but wouldn't buy 1.5" screws because you'd have to pre-drill very closely to the surface to keep the tips from splitting the wood. When you pre-drill the holes, what you want to do is use a drill bit that is the same size as the shaft of the screw, like pic related. The threads won't make the wood split, but the shank of the screw pressing apart the walls of a too-small hole could.

>>2950610
Thanks for the info, do you think 1.25'' is good taking into consideration the screws aren't going to be flush against the wood? I can't tell how thick that metal beam is though. Or would it make no real difference?

>>2950594 (OP)
what? 1/4 is the diameter of the screw. why do you think it would be the length of the screw when clearly they are 1 inch long.
the gap between the leg and table might reduce when you tighten the screw, it might not.
a one inch screw into a one and a half inch table top is plenty. if it goes too deep you will bust through the top.
drill diameter should be the size of the screw minimum diameter. look up a diagram if you don't know what that is. you only get work done by the threads, you don't want any wood being where any part that isn't the thread is going to be.
should you get longer screws? how thick exactly is the steel that the screw has to pass through. unless its 1/4 inch you still should have 3/4 penetration into a 6/4 top. which should just be enough in my opinion.
also depends on the block, dense hard wood will need fewer threads of the screw to hold than a light/soft wood.
you can use a ratchet to tighten, but i would use as little of the handle as possible or if you have a torque ratchet set it to something really small. you really just need it to be a hair past hand tight. put a little oil on the thread if its tough going in.
do you have a pillar drill? how are you going to depth stop? don't trust tape wrapped around a drill, it will easily push against the work and the hole will get deeper every time you drill.

>>2950612
Appreciate the effort but most of that was lost on me, like I said I've never done anything like this before. I'm not really a diy guy most of the time. I don't have any of those tools or even know what they are. Was just going to borrow a drill from my parents. This is the butcher block I am getting. Not sure how hard it is in comparison to other woods. And the 1/4 is just what the leg company told me they didn't say how long they should be. Guess I could ask them again and see if they reply.
How easy would it be to completely fuck up the table? Do I need to be super accurate with all these pre drilled holes and everything?

>>2950611
put the screw all the way in the hole in the leg bracket, then hold the drill bit next to the threaded section poking through, and wrap a piece of masking tape around the drill bit where the tip of the screw ends, then you know how deep to make the hole, stop drilling when the tape touches the wood.

>>2950617
That's a neat trick thanks.

>>2950618
the other guy said not to trust tape, but just remember to stop as soon as it's close, if you keep pushing yes the tape will slide up the drill bit but only a shrek could have this problem

>>2950610
Asked the leg company again and they suggested 1.25'' also so I guess that checks out. I'll take these back and go get longer screws.
Not sure on what all tools I need to get them in though that other post mentioned a bunch of them but I don't have any and not sure if I have any friends that do either. Would a socket wrench and a drill not be enough to get it done?

Asked my friend about this and he's freaking out thinking it's not going to work. Says the screws aren't going to be strong enough. Guess I didn't do enough research I thought this would be pretty simple just screw a few screws in some holes. Really hope I don't destroy all this stuff.

>>2950620
a pencil to mark drill hole locations, a clamp or two to hold the leg on the table while you mark the holes for drilling, a tape measure to make sure the legs get clamped in the right place before you mark them. Beyond that, remember a socket wrench has lots of torque, you'll strip the hole if you crank on it, so just torque the bolts until they stop, and then give it another 1/8 of a turn or so. If you hear the wood crunch, stop there.

>>2950638
Breh just get the 1.25" screws and you'll be good. Don't overthink it. Just wing it, you'll be fine.