Use a bit 1/64” smaller than the target hole size for softwoods. Use a bit exactly the same size as the hole when working on other materials. If you’re not sure which to select, choose a drill bit 1/64” larger than the hole you wish to create. This will account for variables such a wood density and screw type.
“You want a drill bit that’s big enough to drill a hole in the wall, and easy to push the anchor in with your thumb,” Donahue explains. “You don’t want to have to force it in there. The drill bit should be the same size as the body of the anchor you’re using.”
Choose wall plugs, screws and a drill bit of the same size – although you might like to use a smaller drill bit first to produce a pilot hole.
Hole Location
If you’re inserting a screw in a small piece of wood, or near the edge of a piece of wood, drill a pilot hole first. Because your screw is closer to the edge, the addition of the screw to the piece creates force that could crack the wood. … This makes the wood less likely to crack.
Drill until your pilot hole is the same depth as the length of your screw or nail. Many experienced do-it-yourselfers can eyeball the depth, but if you aren’t yet that experienced, you can use a drill stop to mark the appropriate depth.
Drill Bit Size
There are drill bit sets or packs that usually contain bit sizes that range from 1/16 of an inch to 1/4 of an inch, which are common sizes for home and shop projects. Other sizes of use would include 1/2 of an inch, 7/16 of an inch, 5/16 of an inch and 3/8 of an inch.
Universal drill bits, which are available at local home improvement and hardware stores, can be used to drill holes in a variety of materials, from wood to concrete. … Although universal drill bits can be pricey, it usually pays to invest in high-quality bits since they’ll get a lot of use.
When attaching molding—such as chair rail, crown, or baseboard—with nails, it’s a good idea to predrill the nail hole first to prevent the molding from splitting. However, the very small (1/16” to 1/8” diameter) drill bits needed to drill nail holes can break easily.
Even if you drill a pilot hole, the head of the screw may force the wood apart when you drive it into the surface. Sink the head of the screw no more than 1/16 inch past the surface of the wood. … The wax will lubricate the screw as it goes through the wood and prevent splitting.
Drilling into wood can be done with specially designed wood bits, or with regular multipurpose twist bits. … Flat wood bits are good for cutting larger holes, and spur point bits are good for making holes with smooth sides. Auger bits are specially designed to bore holes in both hard and soft woods.
Begin by understanding this: the hole drilled through the top piece of wood isn’t a pilot hole at all — it’s a clearance hole. This hole completely clears the material, allowing the screw to pass through, without cutting into the wood. … Then, drill a pilot hole in the bottom piece to accept the screw’s threads.
You’ll see a list of numbers from 1 to 10 or 20. These are used to set the clutch to deliver a torque range. The higher the number on the collar, the higher the torque and the larger the fastener that can be driven. To adjust your clutch, align the arrow to a lower setting and start driving a screw.
To Tap This Size Screw Or Bolt: | Use This Drill Bit: | (Closest Fractional:) |
---|---|---|
8-32 NC | #29 | – |
8-36 NF | #29 | 9/64″ |
8-40 NS | #28 | – |
3/16-24 NS | #26 | – |
Size | Decimal Equivalent | Size |
---|---|---|
74 | 0.0225 | 21 |
.60 mm | 0.0236 | 20 |
73 | 0.024 | 4.10 mm |
72 | 0.025 | 4.20 mm |
To get the right-size hole, measure the shank of the drill bit against the front of the anchor — its diameter should be the same size or 1/16 inch more than that to make the opening for the screw. If the diameter of the anchor is displayed on the packaging, drill the hole with a bit of the same diameter.
The general rule of thumb is that the screw should enter at least half the thickness of the bottom material, e.g. 3/4″ into a 2 x 4. The other factor is the screw’s diameter, or gauge. Screws come in gauges 2 through 16. Most of the time you’ll want to go with a #8 screw.
This hole, known as a screw-shank clearance hole, permits the screw to pass cleanly through the top board. That’s important, because without any friction in the top board, the screw can pull the two boards tightly together.
Once a hole has been drilled, you just need to insert the whole fixing into the hole (anchor and screw) and crimp the anchor. Crimping causes the wings to spread and pull back against the plasterboard in an umbrella-like shape.
Plug Diameter (mm) | 7mm |
---|---|
Plug Length (mm) | 35mm |
Screw Diameter (mm) | 5mm (No.10) / 6mm (No.12) / 8mm (No.14) |
Drill Diameter | 7mm / 8mm |
Applications |
Drill bits that can drill through concrete are called masonry bits. They are also good for drilling through brick and stone. … Masonry bits cut holes through concrete in two steps. The tip of the drill bit is larger in diameter than the shaft below so that when the shaft reaches the hole, it fits right in.
Match the wall plug to the screw.
As a general rule: Yellow plugs fit into 5.0 mm holes and work best with screw sizes 3 and 4, but can be used for screw sizes 3 through 8. Red plugs fit into 6.0 mm holes and work best with screw sizes 6 and 8, but can be used for screw sizes 6 through 10.
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