Why Isn’t My Screw Going In All the Way?
Asked by CuriousCrafter42
Hey everyone, I recently used a stud finder to install a curtain bracket. The top screw went in smoothly, but the bottom one only went halfway in and my drill started damaging the screw when I applied more force. Does anyone know what might be causing this issue?
Answers
Another possibility is that there’s a nail or something else inside the wood. You might want to try drilling a pilot hole to troubleshoot before you force that screw in—just to be safe!
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It sounds like you might have hit a knot in the wood. Stud finders can be a bit unreliable; they detect density changes but might not pinpoint actual studs correctly. You could have found something solid that isn't wood, like a metal plate or a screw beneath the surface. It's worth checking!
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You could be encountering a metal protection plate, which is often placed on studs to shield wiring or plumbing. That would definitely prevent your screw from going in. It's better to check rather than risk damaging anything quite a bit!
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CuriousCrafter42: Thanks for the tips! Should I also consider moving the whole bracket a bit to the side to see if that helps?
FixItFrankie88: Definitely! Shifting it over a little could let you avoid whatever obstruction is there.