Using Sheet Metal Screws In Wood

You need a socket hex head screwdriver to fasten wood to metal with this type of screw.

Using sheet metal screws in wood.

If you re attempting to attach sheet metal you should choose metal screws. When installing screws use a cordless drill on slow speed. They usually have pan heads and will probably work as a wood screw if you need a substitute. Sheet metal screws were originally designed for metal like for use in a b vent pipe but can be used for a number of other applications too.

It may help to install one screw in each leaf and check the alignment before installing the rest of the screws. The sharp tipped screws are designed for drilling their own hole into softer materials such as wood and plastic so they don t need a pilot hole. They can be used with plastics rubber or plywood. Regardless of the material the driving point needs to be larger than the depth of the material being driven into.

Usually sheet metal screws are tiny with a sharp point intended for piercing and driving into sheet metal. The advantage of the flat tipped screw is that it won t get stuck in the material and break off. In short wood screws are designed to be driven into wood materials while metal screws are designed to be driven into metal materials hence the names. Wood screws are unlikely to form a tight enough joint when used on sheet metal especially if they have a threadless shank.

A sheet metal screw is similar to a wood screw but has a pan head. While a sheet metal screw can be used to securely fasten wooden pieces a wood screw with a smooth shank portion won t create a tight joint in sheet metal and fully threaded wood screws may hold poorly. Both types of screws are readily available in lengths between 1 4 inch and 3 inches adequate for just about any household fastening job. Sheet metal screws are designed to fasten metal sheets to other items.

However the opposite is not the case. For a continuous pin hinge like a piano hinge i would set only a couple of screws on each leaf to check the fit of the hinge before punching and drilling all the holes. When you re drilling into harder material such as sheet metal you need to drill a pilot hole in advance. They are easier to drive into metal and will offer a greater level of strength and security.