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🔩Self-tapping screws save time by cutting their own thread as they go. Choose the wrong type, though, and you get stripped holes and loose fixings. Here is how they work and when to reach for one.
Self-tapping screws are a workshop staple because they form their own thread as they drive, which saves tapping a hole first. The catch is that there are different types for different materials, and picking the wrong one leads to stripped holes and fixings that will not hold.
This guide explains how self-tapping screws work, how they differ from self-drilling screws, and how to match the screw to the job.
📌Quick summary
Thread-forming screws push material aside to create a thread, which suits softer materials like plastic and thin metal and gives a tight, vibration-resistant hold. Thread-cutting screws actually cut a thread and remove material, which suits harder materials like thicker metal where forming would crack or bind. Your material decides which of the two you need.
Because the screw forms a thread that matches its own profile exactly, the fit is snug with no slop. That is why self-tapping and sheet metal screws hold so well in thin materials where a bolt and nut would be awkward.
A plain self-tapping screw taps a thread but does not drill the initial hole, so in most metals you still need a correctly sized pilot hole. Too small and the screw strips or snaps. Too large and the thread will not grip.
Self-drilling screws, often called tek screws, have a drill-bit style point that bores its own hole and taps the thread in one action. They save a step in sheet and structural metal, which is why they are a favourite for roofing and cladding.
💬Not sure which screw suits your material? The team at Select Fasteners in Heatherbrae can point you the right way. Give them a call on (02) 4020 7951.
For thin sheet metal, a thread-forming self-tapper or a self-drilling screw is ideal. For plastic, a thread-forming screw avoids cracking. Timber usually calls for a dedicated wood screw rather than a self-tapper. Matching the screw to the material is what keeps the fixing tight.
Screws come with different points for different materials, and the coating matters too. Outdoors, or near the coast around here, choose a coated or stainless option so the fixing does not rust and stain.
Select Fasteners carries a wide range of self-tapping, sheet metal and self-drilling screws, from trusted brands including Bremick and Hobson. The trade specialist team at the Heatherbrae store has decades of experience matching screws to the material and the job.
You will find the rest of the fasteners you need in the same shop, from anchors to bolts, so you can sort the whole job in one trip.
A self-tapping screw forms or cuts its own thread as it drives into a pre-drilled or soft material, so you do not have to tap the hole first. It gives a snug, secure fit in materials like sheet metal and plastic.
A self-tapping screw taps its own thread but usually needs a pilot hole. A self-drilling screw, or tek screw, has a drill-point that bores the hole and taps the thread in one action, so no pilot hole is needed in suitable metal.
Usually yes, in metal. A correctly sized pilot hole stops the screw stripping or snapping and lets the thread grip. Self-drilling screws are the exception, as they create their own hole.
Thread-forming screws push material aside rather than cutting it, which suits softer materials like plastic and thin metal. They give a tight, vibration-resistant hold without producing swarf.
You can in some cases, but timber is usually better served by a dedicated wood screw designed to grip the grain. Ask our team if you are unsure.
An unsuitable screw will. Outdoors, and especially near the coast, choose a coated or stainless self-tapper so it resists rust and does not stain the surface.
The right screw makes the fixing quick and keeps it tight. The team at Select Fasteners in Heatherbrae will match the right self-tapping or self-drilling screw to your material and conditions.
Give the team a call on (02) 4020 7951, drop by the store at 1 Archibald Place, Heatherbrae, or send us an online enquiry!
We supply fasteners, fixings and trade supplies across Port Stephens, Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and Dungog, with the largest range north of the Hunter River.
Select Fasteners is a specialist fastener and industrial supplies business based at 1 Archibald Place, Heatherbrae NSW, serving Port Stephens, Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and Dungog. This article is general information only and does not account for the specific conditions of your project. For advice specific to your job, get in touch with the team.
02 4020 7951
