The Simpson Strong-Tie SDWH19600DB Strong-Drive SDWH Timber-HEX Screw is a 6 inch structural wood screw made for wood-to-wood fastening in exterior and general framing applications. This is a wood screw designed for structural wood-to-wood connections, including ledgers. Model Number: SDWH19600DB. If you need a long fastener that installs faster than traditional lag screws in many common wood jobs, this is the one built for that kind of work.

What makes this screw matter is how it goes in. Simpson uses a SawTooth point that helps the screw start fast, cuts installation effort, and eliminates the need for predrilling in most applications. On a real job, that saves time on repetitive fastening and makes it easier to keep production moving when you are working on deck framing, ledger attachment, pergolas, planters, or heavy exterior wood assemblies.

The thread design is another big part of the story. The bold thread profile is there for holding power, not just for looks on a spec sheet. When you are fastening thick members together, you want the screw to pull material tight and stay put. The large hex washer head adds more bearing area at the surface, which helps reduce pull-through and gives the connection a more secure seated feel in structural wood applications.

The head and drive setup are jobsite friendly. This screw uses a 5/16 inch hex drive, which gives positive engagement and better control than a lot of smaller drive styles when you are pushing a long fastener into dense lumber. The underhead nibs help the head countersink into wood with reduced splintering, so you get a cleaner finished seat instead of a ragged surface around the head.

For exterior work, the coating matters just as much as the geometry. This SDWH Timber-HEX screw uses Simpson's double-barrier coating, which the manufacturer states provides corrosion resistance equivalent to hot-dip galvanization for certain exterior and preservative-treated wood uses described in the evaluation report. If you are building outdoors, fastener finish is not a throwaway detail. It directly affects service life and long-term connection reliability.

Size-wise, this specific version is 0.195 inch shank diameter by 6 inches long with a 0.650 inch head diameter, 6 threads per inch, and 2-3/4 inch thread length. That combination gives you a long body for deeper structural reach while keeping the aggressive threaded section where it can do the pulling. It is well suited for thicker wood members where a short screw simply is not enough.

The Simpson Strong-Tie SDWH19600DB Strong-Drive SDWH Timber-HEX Screw is a smart buy for deck builders, framers, remodelers, general contractors, and serious DIY users who want a structural exterior wood screw with faster install and strong holding power. If your work is mostly wood-to-wood fastening and you prefer a hex-head drive over a socket or wrench-driven lag setup, this screw makes a lot of sense.

Simpson Strong-Tie SDWH19600DB Strong-Drive SDWH Timber-HEX Screw for Exterior Structural Wood Jobs

This is the kind of structural wood screw that earns its keep when you want lag-style holding power without turning installation into a chore.

• Who it's for: Contractors, deck builders, framers, and serious DIY users doing exterior wood-to-wood fastening and ledger work.
• Why it stands out: Fast starts, solid hex-drive engagement, a large washer head, and exterior-rated coating all make it more jobsite friendly than a basic long screw.
• Worth knowing: This is a specialized structural fastener, not a general finish screw. It is built for strength and holding power in wood connections, and the 600-count pack makes the most sense when you have real footage to cover.

• What is this screw designed for? It is designed for structural wood-to-wood and engineered wood connections, including ledgers.
• Does it usually require predrilling? Simpson Strong-Tie states the SawTooth point eliminates the need for predrilling in most applications.
• What drive does it use? This screw uses a 5/16 inch hex drive.
• Is it intended for exterior use? Yes. The double-barrier coating is intended for certain exterior and preservative-treated wood applications as described by the manufacturer.