What to attach slats with?

[Vermilion]

I am now building a privacy screen for my patio and am now wondering what I should fasten my slats with? They are 21x45 mm. I have one of those nail guns from Jula, I think it can handle nails around 5cm. Can I use it? If not, what should I use to fasten all the slats? It will be quite a lot

 

[Nyfniken]

Screw.

 

[ÅkeSun]

Alt1
If you choose screws, use assembly screws with a large, flat head and don't forget to pre-drill
Alt2
You can also use a dyckertpick with the longest nail, but then you should probably supplement with outdoor glue

If it goes wrong with alt 2 today or in the future, go to alt1!

 

[Jonatan79]

Pre-drill and screw

 

[Vermilion]

One or two screws per post?

 

[Snickarkirre]

Go with regular wood screws with a countersunk head, I think. Like one that is 3-4mm thick, and depending on what you're attaching them to, you can decide the length. It might be an advantage to drill with a drill bit that is 1mm thicker than the screw so it grips better if they are short screws, and there's less risk of splitting. One screw per post is enough.

 

[fribygg]

Go for a regular wood screw with a countersunk head, I think. Like one that is 3-4mm thick, and depending on what you're fastening them into, you can decide the length. It might be advantageous to drill with a bit that's 1mm thicker than the screw, so it holds better if they're short screws and there's less risk of them cracking. One screw per post is enough.

If TS is going to pre-drill, it shouldn't be done with too thick a drill bit.

 

[raveper]

Screw, glue, assembly screw, dyckert, pre-drill...
Shit...
Regular stainless decking screws will work. Why complicate things?

 

[ÅkeSun]

If you don't pre-drill, at least the screws that are less than 5 cm from the end of the batten, the batten WILL crack and the batten will fall off or bend. In my world, the same applies to countersunk screws. I've tried it; it held for three months, then it looked like crap.

 

[Vermilion]

So regular decking screws that I pre-drill one per post sounds reasonable?

 

[fribygg]

Common deck screw without pre-drilling is reasonable, and if you decide to pre-drill, use the correct drill bit size.

 

[Vermilion]

Regular decking screw without pre-drilling is reasonable, and if you decide to pre-drill, use the right size drill bit.

I am not knowledgeable in this area, what size would that be? I usually use a drill bit that is the same size as the screw "without" the threads, just a bit smaller.

 

[fribygg]

I'm not knowledgeable in this area, what size would it be? I always use a drill bit that is the same size as the screw "without" the threads, so just a little smaller.

That's probably the right way for end joints on decking, but it shouldn't be necessary for fence slats.
The advice to pre-drill with an oversized bit that someone gave could possibly have led you to choose the wrong drill bit.

 

[Nyfniken]

Make the hole just a bit smaller than the screw. You'll notice if it was the right size when you screw it in; it should be tight towards the end.

 

[Vermilion]

Just make the hole slightly smaller than the screw. You'll notice if it was the right size when you screw it in; it should be tight at the end.

As I usually do then, perfect