Machine Screws Vs Sheet Metal Screws

A machine screw with a matching nut.

Machine screws vs sheet metal screws.

They are easier to drive into metal and will offer a greater level of strength and security. Most bolts can be used as screws if used with threaded components. To sum up it is very difficult to differentiate between bolt and screw. A self tapping screw can be referred to as simply a tapping screw.

However the opposite is not the case. These have a coarser pitch few threads per inch than sheet metal or machine screws and often have an unthreaded shank. Wood screws over an inch long have a threadless shank that s about one quarter to one third the total length of the screw. The threadless shank allows the top piece of wood to be pulled flush against the under piece without getting caught on the threads.

Sheet metal screws on the other hand always have a tighter sharper thread that cover their entire length. A sheet metal screw listed as 4 32 x 1 has a diameter size of 4 32 threads per inch and a length of 1. The metal rivets feature number of pitches than the wooden ones which indicates that they feature a coarser pitch. Whichever name is used these names are for screws that form mating threads tapping the threads in a pre drilled hole in the substrate into which they are driven.

The sheet metal screws flaunt a straight shank along with a finer threading pattern other than the wooden rivets which are threaded only two thirds of the way up. Self tapping screws have a sharp tip that is designed to cut through metal but the metal must be pre drilled before these screws can. Wood sheet metal and drywall screws differences uses and head types wood screws. Sheet metal screws have deeper closer sharper threads that always extend over the entire length of the screw.

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. Self tapping screws wooden screws sheet metal screws machine screws security head screw unidirection screws etc. 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.

Usually sheet metal screws are tiny with a sharp point intended for piercing and driving into sheet metal. Also commonly called sheet metal screws you can find screws of this type on our self tapping category page. However it is also often called a sheet metal screw because they are primarily used in sheet metal. Pitch refers to the number of threads per inch.

These screws are not really interchangeable. Type ab self tapping screws have finer thread spacing than type a screws and are often preferred especially when going into thin or brittle material. There are two basic types of sheet metal screws self tapping screws and self drilling screws.