When conducting construction works you can not do without tightening the screws. Without a doubt, many types of work have been greatly simplified since the introduction of this fastener. And, it would seem, there are no "dark spots" in this matter, the self-tapping screw is simply screwed into the surface of the material with some tool. However, everything is somewhat more complicated than it might seem at first glance, having learned how to screw in a self-tapping screw, you will understand that this process requires a separate and detailed consideration.
First you need to decide what a self-tapping screw is. This is what people call a self-tapping screw. The bottom line is that when it is screwed into any surface, it cuts the thread itself, which ensures its reliable retention in the material. Depending on the design features, as well as the materials of manufacture, self-tapping screws can be conditionally divided into several types.
Anchors are not self-tapping screws, so to work with them, a hole is pre-drilled in the concrete into which it is inserted. Actuation of the screw mechanism causes the anchor to expand.
In addition, self-tapping screws differ in the shape and design of the cap. Depending on this, the bit should also be selected, with the help of which the screwing will take place. The point is that if this is not done, then if the screw encounters an obstacle when screwing in, then the bit, instead of sliding out of the screw head, will turn it and break it. Or, if this does not happen, then the edges will be lost on the bit. In any case, there is little pleasant about it. That is why, before tightening the self-tapping screw, you need to pay attention to the correspondence of the cap and the bit.
As for the screwing process itself, it must be said here that technological features will differ depending on the material into which the screw is screwed.
We will consider each option of fastening with self-tapping screws of a particular material separately.
When it is necessary to fix drywall sheets, it is important to know some of the features that accompany this process.
Drywall is not a strong material to which you can attach something with self-tapping screws. Therefore, only the fastening of the drywall itself is considered.
When you need to screw the self-tapping screw into the metal, then it is necessary to carry out a number of preparatory measures.
If the self-tapping screw is screwed into thick metal, then the hole is made slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the self-tapping screw.
If you need to screw a self-tapping screw into a wooden surface, then there will be a little less work than in previous cases. This is due to the properties of the material. However, in general, the stages of work are the same as in the case of, for example, metal.
In principle, there is nothing complicated, since it is much easier to screw a self-tapping screw into a tree than, for example, into metal.
As for how to screw a self-tapping screw into concrete, then for these purposes there are self-tapping screws for concrete. If you drill a hole under them with a drill, with a diameter of 6.5 mm, then they are screwed in and perfectly hold everything that they have fixed.
An ordinary self-tapping screw for wood or metal simply will not hold there by itself, not to mention the fact that it is simply impossible to screw it in.
Also, fastening to concrete is possible with the help of additional fasteners - dowels.
The procedure is quite simple, but it requires some skill and experience. Self-tapping screws and dowels should be selected in close relationship with each other.
To obtain a more durable fastening, anchors are used.
Concerning general rules how to screw in a self-tapping screw correctly, regardless of the material, it should be said that, first of all, you need to ensure that the fasteners are screwed in at an angle of 90 degrees. No distortions should be allowed. This will cause both additional difficulties in twisting and less firm hold in the surface. And in the case of metal, and completely lead to breakage of the self-tapping screw, which in turn will cause the entire fastening to be unusable. The rotational speed of the drill or screwdriver should also be controlled.
However, knowing and observing the above rules for carrying out work and some technological aspects of their implementation, you can avoid most of the probable problems and carry out all the work yourself, quickly and efficiently, as befits a real master.
Can a self-tapping screw be tightened without tools? Get the answer by watching the video.
If you have to pull one structural element to another with a screw, the first of them should be threaded with the screw. The second will contain the smooth part of the screw, which is located immediately under the head. The smooth part must necessarily enter the body of the attracted fragment. Otherwise, you will not get a rigid adhesion of the planes due to the gap formed between them.
Countersink is done so that the countersunk head does not protrude on the surface of the part or fragment. Sometimes craftsmen neglect countersinks, believing that they can screw a screw into soft material so that its cap sinks into the surface and does not protrude. Of course, sometimes this succeeds, and if you wish, you can tighten any screw without making a countersink in advance. However, it is worth remembering that when exposed to this effect, the caps will damage the wood fibers, since they will have to find a "way out" under pressure, and, consequently, the presentation will be lost.
The slots of the screws can be:
Some screw models even have special plugs. They are put on a twisted head, visually hiding it. Models are presented, on the head of which there is no slot at all. They have to be tightened with a head or wrench.
Manufacturers of screws do not always approach their products responsibly. There are screws on sale, in the caps of which the screwdriver is not inserted at all, for the reason that the slot is shallow, or there are burrs in it. It is better to throw them away. When purchasing good screws, adhere to some rules to tighten them securely and efficiently:
If the foreman has a special drill that helps to combine the two steps (drilling and countersink), the process is simplified and accelerated. Please note that any special drill can only fit specific screw models.
The screw will only screw into the second part if you approach the process scientifically, i.e. use special drills or do your work in stages. It will pass freely through the first part, and its cap will tightly pull one part to the second. In the case of using a small screw diameter, drilling is not required. You just need to apply force and make a hole with an awl.
Working with screws is associated with a number of subtleties. Sometimes you have to come up with a whole variety of tricks to tighten or unscrew the screw. For non-standard cases, these tricks have already been invented. For example, if you need to unscrew a screw that desperately "abuts", use an adjustable wrench. With this tool, the handle is clamped if it has edges, as well as the upper part of the slot. Press down on the screwdriver with one hand and turn the adjustable wrench with the other.
The hammer is also used successfully. The screwdriver is inserted into the slot, then on its handle you need to lightly tap with a hammer while rotating the screwdriver, just tap, and not knock hard. Screws "with character" are turned out with the help of a heated soldering iron, which is pressed against the head. This "torture" usually helps.
For no apparent reason, difficulties also occur with twisting / unscrewing. It seems that the slot is not defective, and the screw is put in place, and the screwdriver is normal, but the process does not go on. Check if the working part of the screwdriver matches the slot of the screw. If the size does not match, the screwdriver will behave incorrectly, like a foot in the wrong shoe size.
There are times when the length of the screw is not enough to connect two fragments. In this case, a hole is drilled in the first of them, at first - equal to the diameter of the screw without thread, and then a second, blind hole is drilled in it, equal in diameter to the screw head. The screw and head will partially go deep into the first fragment. The hole can be putty so that it is not visible.
When tightening the screw with a screwdriver, choose a long model. The further the hand with the screwdriver is from the cap, the less the axis tilt will be. If you need to screw a screw into hard wood, be sure to drill a hole, and before screwing in, rub it with soap or vegetable oil... To strengthen the fasteners, many craftsmen use glue: they dip the screw into it, and only then screw it in. It enters the wood more easily, and then fixes it "tightly".
Before carrying out work with self-tapping screws, it is necessary to accurately determine their number. In addition, you need to choose a tool that will carry out work on screwing in self-tapping screws.
It is not difficult to calculate the exact number of self-tapping screws for work. After that, you need to go to any hardware store and purchase the required amount of hardware. In any hardware store there is a wide range of similar products, but self-tapping screws are most often sold by weight. Our calculation of self-tapping screws will help to find the correspondence between weight and quantity, as well as to calculate the acquisition costs. In addition, do not forget that you need to purchase the correct type of self-tapping screws. They are for wood and universal. Although universal self-tapping screws can also be easily screwed into a tree, it is still recommended not to do this, since the small grooves of such self-tapping screws, given the viscosity of the wood, will not guarantee that the fastening will hold for a long time.
Now you need to choose a tool for installing screws. It is worth noting that the caps of the self-tapping screws can have not only different sizes, but also different cavities for screwdrivers. These indentations can be not only for a flat or Phillips screwdriver, but also for special view screwdrivers and keys. If you dig even deeper, it turns out that the cross-shaped depressions may have different shape and sizes.
So, in order not to have problems with the installation of such a hardware as a self-tapping screw, you must have in stock either a suitable screwdriver or a screwdriver with an impressive set of interchangeable nozzles. It must be remembered that during the operation of the screwdriver, its attachments will wear out, so you need to take care of their regular replacement. Moreover, it is better not to wait until the nozzle breaks, but to replace it in advance, since a breakdown can be taken by surprise at the most inopportune moment for this. You also need to choose the right nozzles. The longest will serve nozzles made of tool steel with various hardening additives. The attachments must be carefully selected and must be tried on to the head of the hardware. Do not take the first nozzle that comes across. It is better to try on everything, and then make a choice.
The choice between a screwdriver and a screwdriver is obvious if you need to work with a large number of self-tapping screws. If the work is simple, which consists in mounting several hardware, then you can use a screwdriver. The main thing is that it is comfortable and has a thick wooden or rubberized handle. In other cases, it is better to take a screwdriver. It is very easy and quick to tighten the self-tapping screw. When choosing a screwdriver, it must be borne in mind that there are two types of these devices. There are mains-powered screwdrivers and cordless screwdrivers. It is better to refrain from purchasing a cheap cordless screwdriver, because it is completely unsuitable for prolonged work. Such devices do not like long downtime, and they also often lack control over battery charging. Therefore, if you choose a screwdriver, then it is worth: either look towards expensive professional battery solutions, or just buy a device powered from the mains.
Among the self-tapping screws, there are two main types, which are determined by the thread pitch:
The former are characterized by a larger thread pitch. Thread turns during its manufacture are applied less often. Some people mistakenly believe that universal screws are suitable for working with wood, plywood, chipboard, fiberboard. This is only partially permissible. Screw a universal self-tapping screw or screw into a wooden surface, which is essentially the same thing, of course, you can, but it will stick there worse than a specialized one, i.e. designed for wood. The material into which the self-tapping screw is screwed must fit securely into the thread groove. The toughness of the wood will not reliably lie in the groove of the universal self-tapping screw, since this groove is very narrow. In this regard, it is still recommended to use specialized types of wood screws for all wooden surfaces.
Self-tapping screws are available in a wide variety of cap sizes. In addition, the geometry of the screwdriver pocket is also different. Self-tapping screws with a recess for:
Cruciform grooves also vary in size and shape. In connection with such a rich assortment, you have to have not just a screwdriver, but a screwdriver or screwdriver with special replaceable nozzles, which allows you to screw in screws of any kind and type without any problems. It is desirable to have the maximum number of such nozzles.
During operation, the nozzles wear out, and they need to be periodically updated, otherwise it will be painfully difficult to carry out the screw tightening process. When choosing attachments, be sure to pay attention to what material they are made of. It is better to purchase models made of special tool steels, which are added with hardening additives during production.
There are a lot of manufacturers of attachments, so only with experience will you understand which one is most suitable for you. Most attachments only have a one working day reserve if you need to use them thoroughly and continuously. Once you have found a suitable option, purchase several sets from the same batch in advance. Having bought the kit for the first time, be sure to check all the attachments for their compliance with the head of your self-tapping screw. One of them will seem to you the most suitable, so do not dwell on the first one you try on.
Screwing in self-tapping screws is allowed with a screwdriver with an electric drive or battery, or with a screwdriver. With one-time work, it is quite possible to do with a screwdriver with nozzles, but if you need to constantly screw in the screws, a screwdriver is unlikely to suit you. Even a few screws are easier to tighten with a screwdriver. Screwing in with a screwdriver is a complicated operation. It will take skill and effort. Having a good screwdriver, you can not be afraid of any screws and screw them easily, simply and quickly, and exactly where you planned.
After choosing a screwdriver, and not a screwdriver, be sure to check whether it is comfortable to hold it in your hand. All screwdrivers have handles of different shapes and sizes. It is best to choose a handle made of wood or rubber, and a fairly thick one. Never use varnished wood. Plastic is a bad option for a screwdriver handle because it slips in your hand. Currently began to appear on sale soft plastics, similar in properties to rubber. In any case, be sure to hold it in your hand, because it should be convenient for you to work with it.
In the event that you decide to choose a screwdriver, decide whether it will be a battery model or not. Cheap and standard are hardly suitable for intensive work cordless screwdrivers... They are not designed for long periods of inactivity and will require constant manual control from you to charge the battery to avoid overcharging. Since it is rarely possible to keep track of the charging of the battery, it is usually sufficient to carry out from 30 to 50 cycles.
If you intend to work with a cordless screwdriver all the time, buy a professional cordless model, or choose a non-cordless tool that is powered from the mains. In fact, the latter is an ordinary drill, but equipped with a number of additional functions. Such a tool can be found on sale under the name "drill" and under the name "screwdriver".
Most importantly, make sure that the model you choose has a gearbox. It is designed to adjust the speed of rotation that is required during operation and depends on how much the trigger is pulled. Minimum speed indicator - from 0.5 rev / sec. Also, in the selected model, there should be a reverse, since sometimes it is necessary to unscrew the screws during dismantling.
It is impossible to do without fasteners in construction today. They allow you to connect different Construction Materials, hang objects, reinforce certain structures, etc. One of the most common fasteners is the self-tapping screw. This product has an external thread and a head. The thread is comparatively sharp so that in some materials it can cut internal threads by itself. This article will discuss how to screw a self-tapping screw into the most different materials... But first, let's figure out the classification of these products.
This fastener is available in a variety of materials such as brass, stainless steel and carbon steel. Also, self-tapping screws have different coatings, such as:
Differ in head type:
The use of this or that self-tapping screw depends on the density of the material that you plan to fasten. Therefore, before buying this product, you need to decide on the following:
Starting from this, you make the appropriate choice, whether it will be a self-tapping screw for metal, wood or for concrete.
The main difference between self-tapping screws for wood is a rare thread, unlike their counterparts designed for metal. These fasteners are available in black, gold and white. So, if it is necessary to fasten a golden hinge on the door, then a golden self-tapping screw is selected accordingly. In most cases, the choice falls on a black self-tapping screw.
As already mentioned, the thread on such a self-tapping screw has a frequent pitch. This is due to the fact that the metal is a fairly hard material, so the adhesion must be made strong. Moreover, some metals should not be pre-drilled, such as sheet metal. For thicker metals, you need to make a hole.
Such self-tapping screws are used to fasten the roofing sheet material. It must be equipped with a sealing rubber. As a result, the connection, in addition to strength, becomes tight.
This type of self-tapping screw requires pre-drilling a hole in the piece of furniture. A hex wrench is used to tighten it.
These are perhaps the most common types of self-tapping screws that are used in various fields of construction. Let's take a look at the details of how to screw this or that self-tapping screw into different surfaces.
When decorating the ceiling and walls, plasterboard is often used. And given that this material is relatively fragile, it is important to be careful when screwing the self-tapping screw into it. So, to screw the self-tapping screw into drywall, you need a screwdriver with a nozzle or a Phillips screwdriver.
Much depends on the purpose for which the self-tapping screw will be screwed into drywall. For example, if you need to hang a small object, then you must first insert a special dowel, which, when screwing in the screws, forms a reliable fastening. If it is necessary to screw the self-tapping screw directly into the drywall, for example, fixing it to the profile, then the technology is as follows:
The diagram shows correct and incorrect twisting:
After screwing in, the head of the fastener must be 1 mm below the general surface level. This will ensure sufficient tension.
What if you failed to successfully tighten the self-tapping screw and it broke through the cardboard? In this case, unscrew it back, putty the hole, and screw in a new self-tapping screw at a distance of 50–80 mm.
As for the type of self-tapping screw, its choice depends on the material used for the lathing, whether it is wood or metal. As for the length, it is enough that it fits into the profile up to 10 mm.
As for screwing the self-tapping screw into the metal, only fasteners for metal are used here. The screwing method depends on the thickness of the workpiece. If this is a thin sheet, then it is often possible to tighten it without much effort using a screwdriver or screwdriver. Moreover, there are different types self-tapping screws. Some have a small drill on the tip with sharpened teeth, as shown in the picture.
But as practice shows, not all such self-tapping screws can be screwed into metal, this is due to the weak sharpening of the drill. So, a screwdriver is used to tighten them. You should not gain high speed, otherwise the self-tapping screw may overheat and quickly become dull. These fasteners can be used for metal up to 7 mm thick.
If the metal is too thick, then the best option there will be a preliminary drilling of the hole with a drill / drill, and then screwing the fasteners into it. This method is not associated with any problems.
When making a hole, remember that it should be smaller in diameter than a self-tapping screw. When the hole is ready, it can be lubricated with machine oil. This will allow you to tighten the self-tapping screw without much difficulty.
The self-tapping screw used for metal must be made of solid steel, which is harder than the product.
As for the tree, everything is very simple here. The only restrictions may be imposed by the type of wood used. If it is soft, you do not need to pre-drill the hole. If the workpiece is made of chipboard or fiberboard, then it is better to drill a hole. Moreover, it is recommended to drill a hole in cases where it is necessary to tighten a long self-tapping screw on wood. This even applies to soft woods.
When making a hole, its diameter should be smaller than that of a self-tapping screw. This will ensure that the workpieces are securely fastened.
In addition, the hole should be made even in cases where the wood workpiece is relatively thin and there is a risk of splitting. When screwing the self-tapping screw into such parts, you need to be careful.
When screwing in, the cap should sink into the wood. If this is a finished floor, then all holes must be covered with wood putty.
If we talk about concrete, then this is, of course, a solid material and for screwing a self-tapping screw into it, you cannot do without an impact drill or perforator. It is worth noting that in this case, for tightening, the self-tapping screw can be combined with a plastic plug from the dowel. The work of screwing a self-tapping screw into concrete looks like this:
If the walls are plastered, then you can try to tighten the self-tapping screw without making a hole. You will definitely be able to do this if the plaster is not too hard, especially if it is made on the basis of clay. In this case, you will need a self-tapping screw for wood with a rare pitch of turns.
So, we examined with you the technology of how to properly screw a self-tapping screw into different materials. If you know about other techniques, then be sure to write to us about this in the comments to this article.
You can visually familiarize yourself with the method of screwing a self-tapping screw into metal from our video:
This video shows the original method on how to tighten a self-tapping screw without a tool:
