An Introduction To Self Drilling Screws (Video)

In the video below, we discuss the various types of screws in our self-drilling screws range; explaining how each is used and discussing specification details.

What are Self-Drilling Screws?

Self-Drilling Screws are a type of screw that have a drill point at the end. This eliminates the need for a hole to be pre-drilled before installation.

Why use Self-Drilling Screws?

Because you do not need to pre-drill a hole when installing Self-Drilling Screws, they can be fixed in a single insertion. This allows for speedy installation while still maintaining a high quality and long-lasting fastening.

As well as this, Self-Drilling Screws have the advantage of having specific variations depending on the type of job for which they’re being used. For use with thinner grades of steel, light section Self-Drilling Screws have coarse thread and a short drilling point. Heavy section Self-Drilling Screws, on the other hand, have fine thread and a long drilling point, and can be used with thicker grades of steel. The maximum steel thickness for a light section screw is 5mm – for heavy section screws, the maximum thickness is 12mm.

There are also different types of Self-Drilling Screw to use that vary based on whether you are fixing steel to timber or vice versa.

What are the different types of Self-Drilling Screws?

We offer a few different types of Self-Drilling Screws. Each screw type has a specific use, so make sure you choose the right one for the task you are undertaking!

Hexagon Head Sheet-to-Timber Self-Drilling Screws are used to fasten thin steel to timber. The maximum thickness of steel you should use these screws for is 0.8mm. These screws feature a “slash point” (a cut at the beginning of the thread) which allows easy pickup. Hexagon Head Sheet-to-Timber Self-Drilling Screws can also be used when fastening timber to timber – they just can’t be used to fasten timber to steel.

Instead, you should use Countersunk Wing-Tip Self-Drilling Screws for fastening timber to steel. The wings on the tip help to push the screw through the wood, and then break off when drilling into the metal. This enables the screw threads to self-tap into the steel.

We also supply Hexagon Head Stitching Self-Drilling Screws that can be used to attach thin sheet metal together. These feature a reduced diameter drilling point and come with a 16mm bonded washer already assembled on the screw.

For quick and simple installation, we recommend using a magnetic driver that attaches to your drill. This makes it easier to guide your screws into the correct position, as this can be difficult without a pre-drilled hole.

Which size Self-Drilling Screw should I use?

It’s very important to use the right size of Self-Drilling Screw. Our Self-Drilling Screws are numbered to help you choose the right size. The numbers represent the strength of the drill point – this means that higher numbered screws can drill into thicker, more sturdy materials.

Alternatively, the length of the drill tip on the screw gives an approximate guide to the maximum thickness of the material it can drill through. You should be careful when using this method, though; if the material is thicker than the length of the drill tip, the screw can jam, and the head can be torn off.

Our Self-Drilling Screws are made from Bright Zinc Plated Steel and are available in a variety of sizes.

If you have any questions that weren't answered in this article or need further guidance, please click here to contact our team.