Will Sheet Metal Screws Work For Wood

And there s a basic look at the various types of screws.

Will sheet metal screws work for wood.

While there are a lot of choices available there are only a few different types of screws a woodworker will ever need. 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. They usually have pan heads and will probably work as a wood screw if you need a substitute. If you re attempting to attach sheet metal you should choose metal screws.

They are easier to drive into metal and will offer a greater level of strength and security. You can also drill this screw into the metal and wood using a socket bit on your drill. It also gives the screw a cool down point. Both types of screws are readily available in lengths between 1 4 inch and 3 inches adequate for just about any household fastening job.

You need a socket hex head screwdriver to fasten wood to metal with this type of screw. However the opposite is not the case. Wood screws have a shank designed to pull the top board against the bottom as it is tightened. Sheet metal screws are designed to fasten metal sheets to other items.

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. In a bind if you re short of the right available screws you can use a sheet metal screw on wood.