They are a type of fastener that is used to screw pieces of wood together. Wood screws can be used with chipboard, MDF, timber, softwood and hardwood materials. They are normally manufactured from strong materials such as steel, which helps to strengthen joints. Wood screws feature a tapered body and a pointed tip which helps them to cut their own thread when being screwed into the wood. Sometimes a small hole (known as a pilot hole) must be drilled into the wood first to help navigate the screw into the correct position.