FF-S-111 Wood Screws — Round & Countersunk

FF-S-111 wood screws are externally threaded Federal Specification fasteners engineered with a coarse, deep thread and a sharp gimlet point. They are explicitly designed to bite into and anchor within wood or similar structural materials without requiring a mating nut or pre-tapped thread. The specification traditionally covered multiple styles, including round head wood screws, flat countersunk wood screws, and oval countersunk configurations, which could be driven with either a standard slotted or a cross-recessed drive.

As with several other legacy Federal Specifications for basic wood and general hardware assembly, FF-S-111 was marked inactive for new design by Notice 1 in December 2000. While it remains heavily referenced for the replacement and repair procurement of existing military and infrastructure structures, contemporary designs should evaluate modern alternatives. Official cancellation notices and part data can be verified on the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) QuickSearch index.

To ensure adequate shear strength and longevity, the standard outlined specific manufacturing materials. These included carbon steel (grades 1010 through 1022, or 1108 through 1118 per various ASTM specifications), corrosion-resistant steel (types 302, 303, 304, 305, 316, or 384), and copper-base alloys such as brass. When zinc coating was specified for standard steel hardware, it strictly followed Type II Class 3 of QQ-P-416 or the equivalent MIL-C-81562 requirement, applied either via electrodeposition per ASTM B633 or through mechanical deposition.