Everything you need to know about self-tapping screws with a drill

Construction work always requires a large number of different fasteners. The simplest and most convenient option is self-tapping screws. However, some models can only be fixed in the material after drilling. To make such work faster and more comfortable, you can use special self-tapping screws with a drill. Today we will talk about the features of such products and what sizes and types they can be.

Self-tapping screws with drills are usually used to fix metal structures. They are most often produced with a sharp tip with a fine pitch thread. The requirements for the quality of such clamps can be found in GOST 11650-80.

These fasteners allow you to make the metal structure as strong and durable as possible. They tightly fasten metal sheets together. In addition, these self-tapping screws must be covered with a special protective coating, which prevents the formation of corrosion on the surface of the retainers. The most common options are substances that create galvanized coating. But there are also models processed in phosphated compositions.

The design of a self-tapping screw with a drill or a drill consists of three main elements:

• pointed tip;
• thread (its turns go along the entire length of the metal rod to the head);
• a hat (it serves as a support so that the element does not enter the material too deeply).

Self-tapping screws with a pointed tip can be classified according to different featured... So, depending on the type of head, they are divided into the following model.

Such devices are outwardly similar to ordinary bolts. But they characterized by a rare screw thread and a slightly sharpened tip... These samples, as a rule, are taken for fastening large massive wooden structures.

These fasteners differ in the increased area of ​​the contact area of ​​the head area... The press washer allows you to press wooden or metal boards as tightly as possible (but their thickness should not exceed 10 millimeters).

Most often they are used for fastening wooden sheets, but they can be used for metal as well. These types are considered universal options, they have an average thread pitch, their heads are distinguished by a special reinforced stop, but when fixing them in the material, you should not apply a lot of physical effort.

Similar options for fasteners also can be attributed to the universal group... They have a very pointed tip. Models are considered the most suitable option for attaching a metal frame to a wooden crate. They can also be taken to attach profiles to each other.

Similar types of fasteners can be used for joining metal profiles, mainly those made of aluminum or soft alloys with aluminum... There is a small cross-shaped slot on the head, such an element makes it possible to use self-tapping screws for powerful screwdrivers. The central rod of the product has a tight single-start thread.

Also self-tapping screws with a sharp tip can categorize according to what material they can be used for.

Fasteners for wood, lining have a rare thread in the form of thin screws... Wooden products are considered softer and more pliable to processing, so they do not require too sharp self-tapping screws. Fasteners can be inserted into surfaces without preliminary drilling, but self-tapping screws with a drill can significantly speed up this process and make it simpler.

Similar options allow you to fasten chipboard and MDF boards, from which furniture structures are mainly made. The fixing elements have a traditional length of 50 millimeters. Their hat is hexagonal.

Such self-tapping screws with a drill have a hexagon head and a special rubber washer-gasket. The last element plays an important role, since it is thanks to it that sufficient insulation from a large amount of moisture is ensured, and it also acts as a shock-absorbing seal for the joints.

These special self-tapping screws with a tip have a head with special grooves... They can have a star-shaped, multifaceted shape.

Self-tapping screws with drills also differ from each other in the type of thread.

• Coarse thread... As a rule, it runs along the entire length of the metal rod and has a rare pitch. The model will be suitable for working with soft materials, including different types of wood, plaster and plastic.
• Average... This thread is found in universal types of self-tapping screws. Almost all materials can be recorded with such models.
• Frequent double-start threads. This type is suitable for working with thin metal sheets. There is a thin, sharp tip at the end of the rod.
• Asymmetric thread... It is often used in production, in domestic conditions it can be taken for the assembly of furniture structures.
• Variable serrated thread... This type is used in cases when you need to attach products to a brick or concrete surface without using dowels.

Before buying self-tapping screws with a tip, you should pay special attention to them. size, because the quality of future work largely depends on these characteristics. In addition, when choosing, you need to correctly correlate these parameters with the dimensions of the material being processed, with the type of surfaces (wood, metal, drywall).

On the Internet, you can see tables that indicate the standard sizes of various screws. So, their length most often varies from 13 to 51 mm. The head diameter can be approximately 7 mm. The diameter of the press washer reaches 10-13 mm. ButBut in essence, models with non-standard sizes. So, the length of models intended for roofing work can reach 150-170 millimeters.

Before purchasing suitable self-tapping screws with a drill, special attention should be paid to some selection rules. First, consider what material you will need fasteners for. So, for the processing of wooden products, you can select samples with a rare thread, for metal objects it is better to select models with a frequent pointed thread.

Also, before purchasing, carefully look at dimensions self-tapping screws. For thin materials, you should not select too long models with a large diameter. The latter options can be suitable for fastening wooden or metal sheets of small thickness. Larger varieties are more often used for massive solid structures.

For roof mounting, it is worth buying only roofing varieties. It is they who ensure the maximum sealing of the recesses made.

Roofing screws with a drill are available with hats treated with special polymers, which create a special protective coating. Most often they have a press-fit cushion made of synthetic rubber. This processing allows these fasteners to be used for outdoor installation. Roofing models also vary in size and must be selected depending on the thickness of the roof.

Look carefully at the screws... Their surface should be absolutely flat, without curvature. Even small irregularities cannot be present on the thread, such products can spoil the processed material or simply lead to the formation of a large amount of debris during operation.

Check that the screws are covered with special protective coatings. Such compositions help prevent the formation of corrosion on products. The most optimal options are substances that create a galvanized or phosphated coating. The type of tip also plays a big role. Models can be equipped with pointed black elements that have been phosphated or light galvanized ends.

Sometimes tips are subdivided into two more types: just a pointed model or a drill.

• The first option is used to fasten the profiles to each other. It is relatively small in size.
• The second option is taken when pre-drilling is required, or when the installation of dowels is required.

It is better to purchase self-tapping screws made of durable processed metal... Most often they are created from different types of quality steel. They will be able to easily enter the material without bending. Low-quality samples made of soft metal alloys cannot last long, they are often deformed already during the installation process.

In order for self-tapping screws with a drill to be able to firmly adhere to the material and provide a strong fixation, you should follow some rules for their installation... If you attach metal profiles, then it is better to gradually screw in the screws, and not hammer them into the surface. Screw in a self-tapping screw with a certain pitch.

The thicker the metal, the greater the load on the structure. Parts for metal are produced with the sharpest tip, so there is no need to prepare the material and drill an additional hole separately. High-quality models will be able to fit tightly into the object without bending.

If you are installing the roof with self-tapping screws, then you can hit them a little with a hammer. This must be done carefully so that they do not bend.

You can find out about what kind of metal can be drilled with a simple self-tapping screw with a drill from the video below.