That said, I'm a big fan of Spax for construction projects with use by an impact driver-no pilot hole required, it just cuts like a hot knife through butter, but I like the look of a traditional brass or nickle plated phillips screw. Here is a chart, but honestly, I just use a piece of scrap from the dumpster to test my pilot hole, countersink hole and shank size holes. I use a 9/64' pilot hole for soft pine, and a countersink size of 5/16 as well 6, I use I 1/8' pilot hole drill bit, but it honestly depends on the hardness of the wood, for soft pine or fir, 1/8' works OK and the countersink size is 5/16.įor No. Brass is even more dainty and usually has to be lubricated with wax or spit.įor a No. Usually Zinc plated, but I use brass for appearance in some cases. I drill two sizes on the boards, the top board where the screw head is, I drill bigger, because I don't need the threads to engage or hold that board, the bottom board is a little smaller so the threads cut and engage.

6's are a bit dainty, might look nicer (smaller head), but you'll have to be be careful to drill a proper size pilot hole. 8's will have a bigger head, be easier to drive with a screw driver or driver drill and won't bung up as much. This is something I've been putting off for years asking. I'd rather just lay in a supply of something & the price isn't something that concerns me that much - depending on the answer to my question about #6 or #8 - I might just get both sizes. Notice - all of the above are for a quantity of 1000. ĭ.) Nothing fancy - plain square drive uncoated Interesting & the price is right - but - only if they work better than the good old zinc plated borg screws. (Question number one and one half - related to that - what size drill bit do I use for each for a pilot hole?)ī.) Promaster - sort of an interior 'Spax-wannabe-all things to all people - wannabe' - deep sharp saw tooth threads (like Spax) combo square/Phillips drive and it has nibs. Question number one - do I want or need #6 or #8?

I go to McFeely's and try to figure out exactly what I need to buy and - I'm not too proud to admit - I get the crap confused out of me. I want some 1 1/4' screws to use in the shop for putting together 3/4' projects.

8 wood screw pilot hole