hi, I've got attach thick metal brackets to metal fence posts. The post holes have pilot holes already , but I have to use self tapping screws. Is there is a special type of self tapping screw I should use for metal ?
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Self tapping screws through metal
- Thread starter mikeF00
- Start date
self tapping screws are intended for metal.
The thicker and harder it is, the narrower the screws have to be. They can easily cut a big hole through thin sheet aluminium, which is soft, so they can carve through it, but with difficulty through steel, especially if it is thick, so you use a smaller screw size.
For what you are describing, I think you would have more luck with small nuts and bolts. Galvanised will do, but stainless if you hope ever to undo them again.
The thicker and harder it is, the narrower the screws have to be. They can easily cut a big hole through thin sheet aluminium, which is soft, so they can carve through it, but with difficulty through steel, especially if it is thick, so you use a smaller screw size.
For what you are describing, I think you would have more luck with small nuts and bolts. Galvanised will do, but stainless if you hope ever to undo them again.
N
Newboy
Sounds like some confusion between self-cutting and self tapping.
Self tappers need a hole fractionally smaller than the screw so that they can cut the threads
Self cutters will drill the hole and tap the threads in one go
Self tappers need a hole fractionally smaller than the screw so that they can cut the threads
Self cutters will drill the hole and tap the threads in one go
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