ST- Self-tapping: They don’t require a hole to be drilled and are time savers.

This information will help you further understand the screws and their sizes: The next step is to understand popular screw acronyms. These are given to show the added value of the item you purchase. In addition to length of the screw, screw diameters / major diameter, and gauge size, the packaging of many screws contains acronyms. Most sets of driver heads or screwdrivers have at least one of these types of screwdrivers. It is a cross-shaped head kind of screw (see image). Phillips Head ScrewĪ traditional (“flat”) screwdriver cannot be used on sheet metal cross head screws. Sheet metal screws come in several different sizes and styles. Often they are self-tapping meaning that they may not always need a hole drilled into the source before they are inserted. They can be used in other materials apart from metal as they will stay strictly in place once screwed on. They are typically sturdier and stronger than their wooden counterparts. The wood screw comes in a variety of sizes which are provided in the tables found later in this guide. Wood screws have this capability and that is why they are not used on sheet metal.

The best options are screws that bend before snapping. This means a specialized screw is required for wood applications. Wood expands and shrinks depending on the surrounding temperature. attaching metal coat hooks to a wooden rail). They are designed for connecting items to a wooden base (e.g. The following is a breakdown of three major types of US screws you can find: Wood Screws Different Types of US Screwsīefore you look at the different US screw sizes, you need to understand the type of screw available. The following screw size chart will ensure you understand the difference. Another is understanding the difference between metric screw sizes and imperial screw sizes. There are sheet metal screws and wood screws. When it comes to screws, there are two primary areas where people get confused.

One of the popular items in the tool shed of any DIY enthusiast is screws.

Spanner screwdriver size chart