Self-Drilling vs Self-Tapping Screws

Self-Drilling Screws

Self-drilling screws are commonly used for quick drilling into both metal and wood.

The tip acts as a drill, making the installation much quicker, instead of having to switch between a drill bit and a driver bit.

The notched area in the tip acts as a reservoir to receive wood chips or metal filings, this creates the space necessary to drill/screw the screw into place.

Self-drilling Screws are usually made out of hard steel or some metal that has been treated to increase its hardness, such as 410 stainless steel.

Self-Tapping Screws

Self-tapping screws eliminate the need for a tap by having sharp cutting threads that can tap the threading themselves while being fastened.

There are two benefits of using self-tapping screws:

1. They save time and money by eliminating the need for a tap.

2. The threading they create is much more precise and provides a tighter/stronger connection.

It is a common practice to use self-tapping screws in steel and masonry materials but they can also be used for plastic and wood.

Music: Lost – Alex-Productions