Pilot Drill Size For Sheet Metal Screws

For shank clearance holes.

Pilot drill size for sheet metal screws.

Material thickness inch nominal screw size diameter tpi. There is nothing more aggravating when you just don t know what size drill bit to use for a pilot. To counterbore for striking head. Self drilling screws also called teks have a tip that resembles a drill and often have spaced threads like sheet metal screws.

Size 8 1 8 inches. However there are times when sheet metal screws are required. Size 6 7 64 inches. Twist bit nearest size in fractions of an inch.

Lo driv tri round recommended pilot holes sizes inch screws. Twist bit nearest size in fractions of an inch. Self tapping screws sheet metal. In a single time saving operation these screws drill tap and fasten.

Size 14 1 4 inches 3 16 inches. This should help whenever you run into a situation you need to drill a pilot hole and are not sure the size bit. Life while installing shelving in my home i had to drill pilot holes for 8 and 12 metal screws into studs. Size 12 5 32 inches.

The problem was i didn t know how big to drill the holes and when the holes were too small it was quite difficult to. For instance a non tapered brass screw that s size 6 would use 3 32 drill bit for softwood 7 64 drill bit for hardwood. To help my readers out i thought i would add this quick reference chart. Do not use self drilling screws in blind holes holes that do not pass through the material.

Pilot hole sizes for metal screws and wood screws posted 30 january 2010 at 9 43pm by michael chu filed under. Drill gauge no to be used for. It is important that the correct hole size is used and the recommendation below should be followed but if very hard material is being used a hole size slightly larger may have to be used and in very soft material a smaller hole. Inch approx us gauge material.

And 5 16 inches 1 4 inches. That allows for us to accommodate both the softer material and the non tapered screw tip. Bit or drill sizes. No of auger bit.

Types ab b self tapping screws in mild steel brass aluminium alloy stainless steel and monel sheet metal. Sizes of 4 40 to 3 8 16 are common. Drill gauge no or letter to be used for maximum holding power. Size 10 9 64 inches.

Your pilot hole drill bit size will depend on the size of your sheet metal screw.