There’s nothing more unfortunate than being deep into your CAMP build, power armor upgrade, or crafting run, only to hit a wall because you’re out of screws. Yes, screws. Minor metal bits that somehow bottleneck everything from weapon mods to crafting benches.
If you’ve played Fallout 76 for more than five minutes, you already know the struggle. Screws are one of those materials that seem plentiful, until they aren’t. And once you run out, your entire gameplay slows to a crawl.
So how do you stockpile screws without losing your sanity? That’s what this guide is for. We’re breaking down the best places to find screws fast, how to farm them efficiently, and what junk to look for that breaks down into screw gold.
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Why Screws Are So Important
Screws are used in nearly every crafting recipe that involves moving parts:
- Weapon mods
- Power armor repairs
- Workbench builds
- CAMP items
- Mechanical turrets and defenses
- Base security
You’d think Bethesda would’ve made them easier to stockpile, but nope. Screws aren’t exactly rare, but they’re annoyingly inconsistent to farm unless you know where to go and what to look for.
So if you’re constantly running out, you’re not alone, and you’re not doing anything wrong. It’s just one of those Fallout things.
Best Areas to Farm Screws in Fallout 76
Here’s a breakdown of the most reliable and repeatable locations where you can farm a decent haul of screws in a short amount of time.
1. Whitespring Resort & Service Entrance
Why it’s great:
- Robots everywhere, tons of broken furniture, and desk fans inside the Service Tunnels.
- Kill robots → loot their scrap → screws.
- Break down typewriters, fans, and clipboards.
- Close to vendors for dumping and resupply.
Tips: Clear out the service entrance, then loop through the interior of the resort. Bring a power armor suit or hazmat gear, sometimes there’s radiation in the lower levels.
2. Sugar Grove (Savage Divide)
Why it’s amazing:
One of the best spots for screw-heavy junk. Sugar Grove is a government research facility full of terminals, fans, and office equipment.
- Typewriters, desk fans, clipboards galore
- Usually respawns daily
- Moderate resistance, mostly robots or scorched
Tips: Bring high carry weight or a backpack mod — you’ll walk out with 20–40 screws at minimum per run. Don’t skip the upper floors and side rooms.
3. Charleston Capitol Building (The Forest)
Why it’s great:
A massive government building full of broken offices and old tech.
- Tons of typewriters and desk fans
- Easy fast travel access
- Occasional event overlap
Tips: Head into the DMV area and check all office desk zones. Look for Overseer’s quests here too, they often send you back through.
4. Vault-Tec Agricultural Research Center (Flatwoods)
Why it’s great:
An early-game area with excellent junk value. Don’t underestimate it.
- Small interior, easy to clear quickly
- Office areas and back rooms contain decent screw loot
- Great for newer players or fast farming runs
Tips: If you’re under level 25, this is a top-tier spot to get screws without dealing with tougher enemies. Just bring some carry weight boosters if you plan to clean the place out.
5. Arktos Pharma (Toxic Valley)
Why it’s awesome:
Classic screw-hunting zone. Packed with office equipment and terminals.
- Loaded with clipboards and desk fans
- Multiple levels and locked doors with extra loot
- Great for farming plastic and aluminum too
Tips: Bring lockpicking or hacking skills, some side rooms hide high-value junk piles. Scrap at the on-site workbench to reduce weight before leaving.
Other Honorable Mentions
If you’re on a longer farming session or running a full loop, throw these in:
- Watoga High School – Classroom junk is surprisingly useful (globes, magnifying tools = screws).
- Camp McClintock – Military gear and robots can net a modest screw haul.
- West Tek Research Center – Not screw-focused, but great if you’re also farming XP or super mutants.
- Dyer Chemical Plant – Not always populated, but worth checking for mechanical scrap.
Junk Items That Break Down Into Screws
You’re not just killing enemies. You need to grab the right junk. Here are the MVPs when it comes to screws:
- Typewriters – Can yield 2–4 screws each.
- Desk Fans – Usually give 2–3 screws plus gears.
- Clipboards (yellow) – 1 screw each, and super lightweight.
- Globes and magnifying lenses – Some types include screws.
- Toy Trucks – Surprisingly valuable, especially from homes and schools.
- Radios – Found in various houses and shacks.
Pro tip: Tag “Screw” as a favorite crafting component in your Pip-Boy. That way, anything containing screws will be highlighted when you’re looting.
Kill-for-Screws: Enemy Types That Drop Them
Some enemies also drop scrap that includes screws. Most notably:
- Protectrons
- Mr. Handy bots
- Assaultrons and Robobrains
- Turrets
- Liberty Prime bots (endgame events)
Events like A Colossal Problem or Eviction Notice are excellent because they spawn waves of robotic enemies, which means tons of potential screw scrap after the battle.
Just make sure to loot everything once the dust settles.
Vendor Trick (If You’re Desperate)
You can also buy junk that contains screws from vendors if you’re short and don’t want to run a full area.
Look for:
- Typewriters
- Fans
- Clipboards
- Junk bundles
Some vendors even sell screws directly (check Watoga Station or Foundation). It’s not cost-efficient, but it works in a pinch.
Fast-Farming Route: The Screw Circuit
Here’s a reliable loop if you’re trying to farm a solid stash in one run:
- Start at Sugar Grove – Loot everything, then scrap.
- Fast travel to Charleston Capitol – Clear the DMV offices.
- Hit Whitespring Resort & Tunnels – Kill bots, grab desk junk.
- Swing by Arktos Pharma – Check all rooms and offices.
- Wrap at Vault-Tec Ag Center – Quick clear, especially if underleveled.
You’ll usually walk away with 60-100 screws depending on what respawned, more if you’re using perks like Scrapper or have high INT.
Screws Are Rare, But Farmable
Screws are like the duct tape of the wasteland, everyone needs them, and you never have enough. But once you know the hotspots and what junk to grab, they go from rare commodity to easy farm loop.
Make it part of your gameplay rhythm:
Hit a few screw-rich areas every time you log in, tag screw items, and break down junk regularly at a bench. Within a few sessions, you’ll have a stash that keeps your builds going and your weapons modded.
Because let’s be honest, running out of screws mid-build? That’s a level of post-apocalyptic stress no one needs.