Screws are extremely handy fasteners because they are easily removed if you change your mind about your construction, but they aren't always the right fastener for the job. Nails, staples, bolts and adhesives are all fastener options that may work better than screws for certain projects.

Screws have very noticeable heads that are difficult to hide discretely. This may be an advantage in some instances because you can find them easily, but it can mar decorative objects or make your projects unattractive. Whether the screw heads are slotted, Phillips, star or square doesn't matter—each is easily visible even when the screw color matches the surrounding area.

Screws can rip right through certain materials, making them a poor fastener choice for weak, thin woods. Door skin (1/8-inch plywood) and similar materials may allow screw heads to sink or rip right through. Very soft woods such as balsa will also sink or dent under the pressure of a screw head being driven in.

For a smooth, even surface, screw heads must be countersunk precisely. This means that in addition to the hole the screw shank goes into, a wider hole with angled sides must be drilled to allow the full thickness of the screw head to sink into the project's surface. Without the countersink, the screw head sticks out and can catch on passing materials, becoming dangerous.

• Screws are extremely handy fasteners because they are easily removed if you change your mind about your construction, but they aren't always the right fastener for the job.
  
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• Door skin (1/8-inch plywood) and similar materials may allow screw heads to sink or rip right through.