Definition

Noun: A lag screw is a heavy-duty wood screw with a thick shaft and coarse threads. It has a square or hexagonal head designed to be driven into wood using a wrench, not a screwdriver. This design allows it to create a very strong, secure fastening, often used to join heavy timbers or to attach heavy objects to wood.

Usage

Lag screws are used for heavy wood-to-wood connections where exceptional strength and load-bearing capacity are required. * Secure the deck's main support beam to the post using a large lag screw. * The carpenter used a wrench to tighten the lag screw that held the shelf bracket to the wall stud. * For this project, you will need to pre-drill a pilot hole before installing each lag screw.

Advanced Usage

• Structural Fastening: In construction and carpentry, lag screws are a primary choice for structural connections, such as in framing, deck building, and timber work.
• Lag Bolt: The term "lag bolt" is often used interchangeably with "lag screw," though technically it is a screw. This usage highlights its bolt-like strength and the need for a wrench.

Variants and Related Words

• Lag bolt (n): A common synonym for lag screw.
• Hex lag screw (n): Specifies a lag screw with a hexagonal head.
• Coach screw (n): Another term used, particularly in some regions, for a large lag screw.

Synonyms

• Coach screw
• Lag bolt

Related Phrases

• To lag something down: A phrase describing the act of securing an object firmly using lag screws.
  • Make sure to lag down the playground equipment securely for safety.

Noun

1. a heavy woodscrew with a square or hexagonal head that is driven in with a wrench