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What are self tapping screws
A self tapping screw is a screw that creates threads in the material that it is being fastened, unlike its machine screw counterpart. Self tapping is not a reference the tip of the screw but how the threads are designed to mate with the materials being joined.
Diffrence between pointed self tapping & self drilling screws
- Pointed self tapping screws
- Featuring a pointed tip that can penetrate and fasten a wide range of materials including, sheet metal, wood, plastic, and drywall. For thick guage materials, a pilot hole is generally required
- Self drilling screws
- Some self tapping screws are also self drilling, providing a drill-like fluted tip that looks much like the tip of a center drill. Self Drilling Screws save on installation time and effort by drilling, tapping, and fastening materials in a single operation.
Sheet Metal Screw Size Conversion Chart
| Screw Size | Closest Fraction | Decimal |
|---|---|---|
| #0 | 1/16" | 0.060" |
| #1 | 5/64" | 0.73" |
| #2 | 3/32" | 0.086" |
| #3 | 7/64" | 0.099" |
| #4 | 7/64" | 0.112" |
| #5 | 1/8" | 0.182" |
| #6 | 9/64" | 0.138" |
| #7 | 5/32" | 0.151" |
| #8 | 5/32" | 0.164" |
| #9 | 11/64" | 0.177" |
| #10 | 3/16" | 0.190" |
| #12 | 7/32" | 0.216" |
| #14 | 1/4" | 0.242" |
Sheet Metal Screw Pilot Hole Sizes
| Screw Size | Drill Size | Hole Diameter |
|---|---|---|
| #2 | No. 49 Drill Bit | 0.720" |
| #4 | No. 41 Drill Bit | 0.960" |
| #6 | No. 32 Drill Bit | 0.116" |
| #8 | No. 29 Drill Bit | 0.138" |
| #10 | No. 21 Drill Bit | 0.159" |
| #12 | No. 14 Drill Bit | 0.182" |
| #14 | No. 4 Drill Bit | 0.211" |