Dimensions of wood screws

Mounting

Installation consists of two stages: calculation and technology. At the first stage, you need to determine how many screws are required in the work, and at the second - how exactly to fix the structure. It is necessary to take into account a lot of features, including what kind of hole you need to make, how you need to fix what you have in mind, how to fix it - screw it in without a screwdriver, or, in this case, rationally tighten it with a screwdriver.

Payment

In order to calculate the number of screws, it is enough to find a special calculator on the network that will help you find the exact figure. To do this, enter the following data in the field:

• type of screw (or any other fastening material);
• the length and width of the materials and surfaces to be bonded.

Technology

Installation technology takes place in several stages.

1. Before screwing in the screw, make the markings, then make a small hole.
2. The screwdriver used must match the thread on the screw head.
3. Next, screw in the screw with or without pre-drilling.
4. If the parts have a small hole, then it is necessary to make a preliminary through hole with a drill, which will be slightly larger than the intended circle.
5. If the parts, on the contrary, have a large thickness, then you will need to make a blind hole slightly smaller than the diameter of the screw.
6. If you are working with plywood or other thin wood, then you need to make the hole yourself with your hands. However, if the tree is dense enough, then you will need to use a drill.

Thus, wood screws differ not only in classification, but also in the type of use.

For information on how to choose the right self-tapping screw for wood, see the next video.

What are they?

There are several types of possible self-tapping screws that are widely used in the market.

1. Wood.
2. On concrete.
3. For special steel sheets where drill work is to be done.
4. For speakers.
5. For fastening windows and doors.
6. Galvanized self-tapping screw for logs and rails.
7. Self-tapping screws for plumbing (most often, in narrow circles, they are called so - plumbing).
8. Self-tapping screws with a cylindrical head.
9. For roof fastening.
10. For working with drywall, taking into account coarse threads.

Fasteners for wood are mainly used in the production of cabinet furniture and any other wooden structure. This self-tapping screw has a double-shaped hex head. The thread in this case is very wide, so that it can be screwed in rather securely. Fittings, loot, wooden profiles on windows and much more are installed with such fasteners, their scope of application is quite wide. The end result will often depend directly on the task at hand.

Self-tapping screws for working with metal profiles, pipes or sheets are distinguished primarily by their unique design features. The head of such self-tapping screws can be in the form of a hemisphere, hexagon or pressed washer. The material for the manufacture of such self-tapping screws is carbon steel, specially treated for a longer service life. Such self-tapping screws are usually galvanized, they are marked with markings by which the user can easily recognize the diameter and length of the bolt.

Hexagon self-tapping screws, in principle, are often used for fastening wooden products. Its twisting is possible with a wrench with the required diameter. If the kit includes a dowel, it is twice the diameter of the screw itself. In concrete walls, a hole for such fasteners is drilled exactly according to the diameter of the dowel.With their help, steel corners and steel profile guides are fixed. The self-tapping screw is screwed into the dowel itself after a hole of the required diameter has been drilled. Self-tapping screws, unlike screws, have a wider scope and are considered a more reliable option for fasteners, with which you can work with stone, concrete or brick.

If you need to secure something really heavy, then an anchor bolt is used. They also have dowels, but they are most often metal. Due to the tighter connection, the product will firmly and reliably adhere to the wall, even if it is made of natural stone.

Selection Tips

Six-sided hardware is used in many areas, and the right choice depends on many different nuances. The correct choice is also important because if you tighten the wrong bolt, the thread can break off at the most inopportune moment, and all repairs will be completely down the drain.

The first thing you need to pay attention to is the material of manufacture and construction.

It is preferable to choose steel of a sufficiently high standard, which will have high characteristics. In addition, an external and internal hexagon screw will last much longer and more reliable than any other option.

When buying, pay attention that the head fits exactly the turnkey. The tightening should not go tight or, conversely, hang freely, in any of these options the fasteners will no longer be sufficiently reliable for work

The next criterion that cannot be ignored is strength. According to government standards, there are certain indicators that the screws must ideally match for the stated conditions of use.

But a lot will also depend on manufacturing technologies, which is why correctly selected raw materials are so important.

It is worth saying that this is far from wire steel. Screws, unlike nails, must be stronger and more reliable, and this material will not work for this in any way. As for the indicators, here the figure varies from a minimum of 3.8-4.0 to 13 in terms of strength. The most suitable option is considered when alloy steel of a combined nature serves as the material of manufacture. Such elements are often used as additives in such a material to enhance physical and technical properties.

1. Titanium.
2. Vanadium.
3. Chromium.
4. Nickel.
5. Nitrogen.
6. Copper alloys.

All these metals make up a share in the total weight of the product and provide high technical characteristics. For road repairs and any similar areas where a fairly high level of stress is required, the correct choice of material is very important. Another important nuance is design features.

For example, specifically for road repair or bridge fastening, large, reverse-threaded hexagons are commonly used. In such screws, the protrusions are almost invisible so as not to break the thread during work. A similar design is also used in the automotive industry and sometimes in plumbing repairs.

The next video talks about hex screws.

Dimensions (edit)

As for the dimensions, according to the requirements of GOST, the diameter of the hexagon cannot be less than 8 mm. If this indicator does not match, then we are definitely talking about some other type of fastener. The size chart also mentions the following basic parameters for a hexagon:

1. 6x50;
2. 6x60;
3. 6x100;
4. 8x80;
5. 8x100;
6. 10x60;
7. 10x100;
8. 12x70.

For each type of hex, a specific type of key is used, and each of them has its own field of application, where they will work most effectively. Choosing a hexagon in terms of size and performance, as well as design features, the risk of making a mistake becomes much less.

Peculiarities

If we consider a self-tapping screw for a hexagon, then outwardly it looks more like a bolt with several external signs.

1. Screw threads are infrequent.
2. The sharp end is not too sharpened and hardly stands out.

Its scope of application is quite wide due to how original its design is. If a hex head screw is used simultaneously with a dowel, then, for fastening large parts to a tree, you can use this self-tapping screw to fasten the necessary parts even to concrete. The only caveat is that the dowel in diameter should be exactly twice as large as the head for reliable fastening.

For work, you will need keys of 10, 13 or 17 mm, depending on the type of bolt that the master plans to use. Also, such fasteners are sometimes called "wood grouse", because it tightly secures almost any object to the surface with the right approach. When the socket head bolt is used to organize the roof, its design also has a number of features.

1. A hard and sharp tip, similar in shape to a drill.
2. Hex head bolt.
3. Rubber washer.

The latter serves as a kind of insulator that reliably protects the bolt from moisture ingress. Accordingly, in this case, there is less risk of rust and moisture. In addition, the washer makes the connection to the screw much tighter than under normal conditions. In terms of their diameter, such fasteners can be from 8 to 10 mm inclusive. And the length can be up to 100 mm, so you can pick up a screw for literally any roofing material, with any level of load, depending on the need and need.

Anti-vandal self-tapping screws that cannot be turned out without the use of special tools are also popular among hexagonal or multi-sided screws.

Their very design outwardly already attracts a lot of attention, and the rigid fastening eliminates the risk of any kind of structural damage, which is very useful in public facilities, especially if you pay attention to the name of the screws

Self-tapping screws with a press washer in the design can also have six faces, but in this case there is one important nuance. The area of ​​their cap is much larger, which is suitable for attaching metal sheets. Most often they do not have any characteristic color; outwardly, they resemble ordinary silver bolts.

Another option, when it comes to the design features of specialized screws, is self-tapping screws for the production of furniture. They are distinguished by a blunt tip and are tightened with a special hex wrench. Their diameter is generally the same for the entire length, but towards the head the bolt itself becomes a little thicker.

Safety precautions and tips

When working with screws, not only screwdrivers are often used, but also power tools such as drills and screwdrivers, and such tools should be handled with great care.

In no case should you work without safety glasses. Hardware can break and fly off into an unprotected area. If this happens, you should immediately seek help from a doctor.
Fasten your sleeves when working with power tools, as the fabric may be pulled into the appliance.
Move children out of the work area. All hardware is very sharp, and the child can be attracted by these small objects. As a result, he will injure himself or swallow them.
Always use the correct bit when working with a screwdriver. If this is not done, then the head of the hardware will deteriorate, and all the notches for engagement will simply be erased. In this case, the screw will have to be thrown out, but at first this is complicated by the fact that it will be difficult to get it out of the attached surface.

And also apply sufficient force when tightening, because if you press lightly on the screwdriver, then the same incident described above will occur.
Pay special attention to marking work. No one will be pleased if the inaccuracy of the markup becomes noticeable only after the main part of the work done.

Follow all the above rules and tips, and then the repair or any kind of construction activity will take place without complications.

If you carefully study all of the above characteristics, then you can easily find exactly that version of the self-tapping screw that is suitable for a specific situation. With the help of self-tapping screws, you can provide very good fastening, but if it is used only for a specific purpose.

As already found out above, a metal screw can be very easily distinguished from the option for a tree. The self-tapping screw for wood has a much larger pitch than for metal. This is due to the fact that the density of the wood is less, it is softer, and the structure of the fibers is porous. Screws for wood products are usually made with sharp and narrow tips, and therefore the holes that are made with them have smooth walls. And it is also worth noting that hardware for wood has a much lower price than those elements that are made for fastening metal products.

Thanks to the information about self-tapping screws for wood, dimensions, a table with a thread pitch, you can fully consider yourself prepared to buy the right tools for a successful construction.

The main types of screws were presented. On the Internet they are called more popularly, and therefore you can find the names "wood grouse", "seed" and the like. It is best to use official "names" in a store to avoid confusion.

Which one is suitable for different types?

The selection of the dowel is determined by several factors.

Its appearance depends on the material in which it will have to be fixed. Dowels for solid brick or concrete have serious differences from consumables used for porous or hollow materials. Correspondence of the design to the material for which it was developed significantly increases the reliability of the fasteners.

So, a simple spacer consumable with two petals can be driven into concrete, and it will be quite enough to hold the corresponding size of the self-tapping screw.

Such a dowel may also be suitable for fasteners in solid brick, but given that it is still a more fragile material, fasteners with 3 or 4 petals, and even with additional holding devices in the form of various kinds of thorns, may be more suitable for a brick.

For fasteners in a hollow or porous material, you will have to select a consumable with several active zones, with special complex spacers that allow you to cling to the harder parts of the drilled material. Very popular in the case of a hollow material is a fastener called a "butterfly", which, when tightening the self-tapping screw, forms a complex knot that expands it in the pores of the material.

Dimensions (length and diameter) are determined by the load that the fastener must withstand. To hang a picture or a photo frame on the wall, you can get by with a very small dowel of a simple device with a diameter of 5 mm. The length does not really matter in this case, so you do not need to drill a deep hole. The maximum size of such consumables is 5x50 mm. Dowels under 6 mm differ in a variety of lengths: 6x30, 6x40, 6x50 mm.

Securing heavy equipment or exercise equipment will require more powerful fasteners with a diameter of 8 mm or more. The most popular in terms of sales is the size group 8x50 mm. Often these dowels are marked as 8 x 51 mm. They can be successfully used for the installation of lightweight structures, and used for serious installation work.

The correct size of the dowel allows the use of a self-tapping screw corresponding to the load. The dimensions of modern plastic dowels are standardized in terms of the ratio of length and diameter.

The table clearly shows the existing variety of dowel sizes:

When choosing the length of the self-tapping screw, it is important to add the thickness of the material to be fastened, since it is important that the self-tapping screw reaches the bottom of the plastic sleeve when screwing in - only in this case the fastening properties will appear in full.The wrong diameter of the self-tapping screw can also cause poor-quality fasteners: either the petals will not open and wedging will not occur, or the sleeve will be torn, which is also unacceptable, since the adhesion to the material will be broken

The dimensions of the dowels and self-tapping screws determine the maximum loads allowed for the fasteners.

Small dowels with a diameter of 5 mm at any length cannot be used to fix bulky items. They are ideal for hanging a picture, photo frame and similar objects of light weight on the wall.

Fasteners with a diameter of 8 mm can withstand higher loads than 5 and 6 mm dowels. With such fasteners, you can install shelves, wall cabinets, fix furniture. Reinforced consumables with a diameter of 10 mm or more can successfully perform the functions of installing not only decorative materials, but also partitions, large items or household appliances, scaffolding and others.

Another criterion on the basis of which you can choose a fastener is the material of the dowel. Of course, a classic self-tapping screw is screwed into a plastic dowel, more precisely, in its variety: polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon (polyamide).

If you need to mount anything outdoors, it is best to use a nylon plug, as this material retains its properties at high temperature ranges. Any plastic dowels are suitable for interior work. But polyethylene has much higher plasticity.

In special cases, the use of self-tapping screws, in general, will have to be abandoned. For example, for fastening frame structures (windows, doors), gratings, awnings, heavy equipment and in some cases when reinforced fasteners are required, it is necessary to resort to using a steel dowel.

Selection Tips

There are several factors to take into account when choosing the right screw for your job.

1. If aesthetics are important to you, it is best to purchase a chromatic head screw, as it will not spoil the appearance of the fixed object, but will only add a little elegance.
2. If you need to do a little work, then you absolutely do not need expensive screws - it is better to choose black phosphated ones. However, here the aesthetic component is already receding into the background, nevertheless, this type of screw will help to fix the structure in such a way that it will serve you for a long time.
3. If you plan to fix a certain structure in a room with high humidity, then it is also worth choosing black phosphated ones, since they are more resistant to this factor.
4. In almost any room, you can use galvanized, both golden and silver shades, since they are universal.

The choice of the length of the screws

There are several rules for choosing the length of a self-tapping screw that apply in different situations. When joining / joining two not very massive parts, the following selection rules work:

• So that you do not connect, the sharp end of the self-tapping screw should not stick out from the other side of the parts to be connected. That is, in any case, it should be shorter than the parts to be joined. Moreover, it is believed that the maximum strength will be if at least 5-6 mm remains to the edge of the lower part. So count it.

  The length of the self-tapping screw is selected depending on the parts to be fastened

• On the other hand, the minimum self-tapping screw should fit into the lower part by at least 1/3 of the thickness of the part to be attached. That is, if you fasten, say, a beam of 100 * 100 mm, then the minimum length of the self-tapping screw should be 1/3 longer. For this timber, the minimum screw length is 100 + 100/3 = 133 mm. Take the nearest larger. If you fasten a board 28 mm thick, then the minimum length of the self-tapping screw is 28 + 28/3 = 37 mm (usually 42 mm is chosen).

If a thin piece is attached to a massive base, another rule works. Then the length of the fastener should be 2-2.5 times longer than the attached part.So it is necessary to select the length of the self-tapping screw if you attach something to a wall, say, or to a concrete floor. In this case, in order to fix the same 28 mm board to the wall, the length of the fastener is 56-70 mm. This is the difference.

Self-tapping screw sizes: the most applicable options

How to choose the length of the self-tapping screws, it seems, should be clear. Now about what they are in general. The situation here is confusing. Neither screws nor self-tapping screws have a common standard. There are several standards of "worn out" years of release, in which the sizes of some types of self-tapping screws are prescribed.

• GOST 1145-80. Countersunk self-tapping screws.
• GOST 1144-80. Pan head screws.
• GOST 1146-80. Half-countersunk head screws.

The situation today is that each manufacturer produces its own "line". They are oriented, of course, on demand. Well, the parameters of the heads are usually made in accordance with one or another GOST. This will somehow stabilize the situation. Sometimes the assortment - diameters and lengths are also made according to the standard. In this case, in the description of self-tapping screws, the diameters in which they are generally produced are indicated, and then there is a postscript: it corresponds to such and such a GOST. This means that the heads comply with the specified standard, as well as that the assortment corresponds.

How, then, are self-tapping screws chosen in terms of length and diameter? Calculate / determine the length that is needed, are determined with the type of head. Then they look at the diameters and make the final choice. Let's say right away that the principle “thicker is better” does not work for wood. This can be applied to metal. For wood, thinner ones are better, but with good carvings and made of good metal. This is ideal.

If the manufacturer has his own parameters of self-tapping screws, they are indicated in the description

But this is not enough. The store usually offers up to a dozen options of the same size, but from different manufacturers. And if it is more or less easy to decide on the metal and the type of processing, then it is difficult to choose which brand to take. There are, of course, proven ones, but they are expensive. Although, if we take the cheap ones, 30-50% can go to marriage. What kind of marriage? Now they bend, then the hats fly off. It is not always, but often. If you are "lucky" to run into such fasteners, it turns out that buying "expensive" ones would not be more expensive. Well, or not much more.

Now compare the two tables. They are compiled according to different GOSTs. As you can see, the diameters and lengths are the same. This makes life easier. If, in the production of fasteners, the standard was adhered to in terms of the diameter / length ratio, then everything is simple. If not, then the manufacturer in the description of the screws attaches a table with dimensions (as in the picture above).

What are they?

As with any fastener, the dimensions of a self-tapping screw are their diameter and length. In order to prevent the buyer from purchasing different products for the same marking when buying in different stores, all self-tapping screws must comply with certain dimensional standards. For European manufacturers, these are:

• DIN - German standard;
• ISO is an international standard;
• GOST is a domestic standard.

In many ways, these three standards coincide, although they have their own nuances. The manufacturer in the description of the goods is obliged to indicate the characteristics in accordance with one of them. And in order to make it easier to standardize self-tapping screws by standard size, they are divided into several types.

By wood

The main difference between such self-tapping screws is a rather large thread pitch. This is explained by the low density and hardness of wood, which makes it possible to produce thinner and longer hardware (from the words "metal products"). Their length ranges from 11 to 200 mm, and their diameter ranges from 2.5 to 6 mm. The harder the wood, the larger the size of the fastener has to be selected. Most often, self-tapping screws for woodwork are called universal. For home repairs, the cheapest self-tapping screws with plastic dowels are enough to fix baseboards, socket boxes or hang a shelf on the wall.

In cases where the material is too dense, a hole is drilled before fastening to the self-tapping screw. In order not to spoil the structure, you should carefully select the drill diameter. This can be done using a small table.

For metal

Self-tapping screws for working with metal are somewhat different from those intended for wooden structures. Their length ranges from only 9.5 to 75 mm, and the diameter starts from 3.5 mm and ends already at 4.2 mm.

With press washer

Such elements can be called universal, because they are used to fasten wood, metal, plastic, siding and many other materials. Their distinctive feature is a large cap, which is called a press washer. With its help, it turns out to press the fastened structure more tightly, without using additional washers. Their length is from 13 to 64 mm, and their diameter is always 4.2 mm.

Roofing

The self-tapping screws, which fasten the profiled sheet strips, metal tiles and other types of roofing, have a length of 19 to 100 mm, and the diameter of the rod - from 4.8 to 6.3 mm

Instead of a regular cap, they have a large washer with a rubber gasket, which does not allow water to pass through, which is very important when installing a roof. However, they are often used for fastening other structures, for example, a fence made of a corrugated sheet or a metal garage door frame.

Furniture

Such self-tapping screws are called "confirmations", they are used when assembling various furniture. Their length is from 40 to 70 mm, and their diameter is from 4.72 to 6.05 mm. Such self-tapping screws always require preliminary drilling of the marked holes with a special confirmation drill; screw them with a special hexagon, and not with an ordinary screwdriver.

"Capercaillie"

Such fasteners are used for the installation of heavy structures, where high strength and reliability are especially needed, for example, in the construction of interfloor floors. Their length is usually 40 mm, and the diameter starts at 6 and ends at 10 mm. The hexagonal head is tightened with an ordinary wrench or a special attachment for a screwdriver.

By wood

Wood screws are used to join wood products as well as plywood. It is best to use such fasteners in tandem with expansion dowels. It is necessary to have self-tapping screws for wood both in city apartments and in private houses.

The design features of wood screws can be found in the video.

The video shows the varieties of such hardware, as well as the fastening technology.

Wood screws are of various types and sizes. Their distinctive features:

• Cross-shaped connector.
• Countersunk or semicircular head.
• Sparse thread pitch.
• Sharp tip.

The adhesion of the materials to be joined will be more reliable if there is a large thread pitch.

The coating of the hardware is selected depending on the conditions of use. Self-tapping screws with a press washer (sharp) are also used, which tightly connect thin parts.

The coating is used:

• Black.
• Yellow or white.
• Silver.

For fastenings of 2 wooden elements, black ones are often used. For this, the holes need not be drilled. To attach other elements to the tree, yellow or white are used (in this case, you must first drill a hole in the parts to be joined). Silver are intended for a more durable connection of sheet material, particle boards or wood.

For the convenience of selection, table 1 of the sizes of wood screws is presented. It indicates the nominal diameter (diameter of the leg together with the thread), the length of the self-tapping screw with the head, the inner diameter (the diameter of the leg without the thread), and the width of the head.

Table 1. Dimensions of wood screws.

For metal.In order to select a self-tapping screw of the required length, measurements of the thickness of the parts to be joined are first made. When connecting two elements, the self-tapping screw must enter the wood by at least 1/4 of the thickness of the wood.

Self-tapping screws for metal are available with a drill end and frequent threads. Their diameter is proportional to the length of the product. Several types are used:

• Black coated.
• Bug.
• With a press washer (drill).
• White zinc coated.

For the installation of drywall to metal, hardware with a black coating is used, which will be described below. For mounting wood, thin sheet material to metal, self-tapping screws with a white zinc coating are needed, which protect against corrosion. Such hardware is strong enough due to cementation of the product surface.

A self-tapping screw with a press washer (drill) is needed to fasten steel sheets to metal. This will be discussed in the sections below. Self-tapping screws called bug are used to connect thin metal materials. They have a phosphate coating and a semi-cylindrical head.

To work with metal, self-tapping screws with a nominal diameter of 3.5 to 5 mm are used. Their technical characteristics are presented in table 2.

Table 2. Selection of self-tapping screws for metal.

For metal with a drill. When working with metal, only special hardware must be used. The right choice will ensure a high-quality connection of materials for a long period of time.

The end of a self-tapping screw for metal is often made not sharp, but with a drill. Due to this, the hardware is easily screwed into solid material. The main advantages of this design of products for metal:

• No additional perforation required.
• Installation work is carried out faster.
• The connection of parts is done better.

In order to choose the right self-tapping screw from Table 2, it is necessary to measure the thickness of the parts to be joined. For a firm attachment to the metal, the self-tapping screw must enter the base to a depth of 10 mm.

Calculation example: the thickness of the attached part is 30 mm + 10 mm (the minimum depth to which the hardware should enter the base) = 40 mm. In total, a self-tapping screw with a length of 40 mm is obtained.