Using Sheet Metal Screws In Wood

Usually sheet metal screws are tiny with a sharp point intended for piercing and driving into sheet metal.

Using sheet metal screws in wood. They usually have pan heads and will probably work as a wood screw if you need a substitute. 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. When installing screws use a cordless drill on slow speed. Sheet metal screws are designed to fasten metal sheets to other items.

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. Wood screws are unlikely to form a tight enough joint when used on sheet metal especially if they have a threadless shank. You can also drill this screw into the metal and wood using a socket bit on your drill.

They are easier to drive into metal and will offer a greater level of strength and security. The advantage of the flat tipped screw is that it won t get stuck in the material and break off. 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. However the opposite is not the case.

In a bind if you re short of the right available screws you can use a sheet metal screw on wood. If you re attempting to attach sheet metal you should choose metal screws. Both types of screws are readily available in lengths between 1 4 inch and 3 inches adequate for just about any household fastening job. Think of heating ducts for instance.

When you re drilling into harder material such as sheet metal you need to drill a pilot hole in advance. 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. Regardless of the material the driving point needs to be larger than the depth of the material being driven into. A sheet metal screw is similar to a wood screw but has a pan head.