What Size Pilot Hole For #8 Wood Screw

drilling pilot holes in wood and metal

How Practice Yous Know What Size Airplane pilot Pigsty to Drill?

Nosotros get asked this question a lot and for many people, especially first time or beginners to drilling, pilot holes can be just a bit confusing. By the time you finish this commodity, then you will know all y'all demand to know well-nigh drilling pilot holes.

The only reason you drill a pilot hole is to ready the fabric for a larger drill bit or screw. The simplest method is to take the spiral that you plan on using, and measure out the width of it across the threads. Then accept off a couple of millimetres to allow for the thread.

You want the pilot hole to be big plenty to allow the screw to easily become in. At the aforementioned time it needs to be small enough to permit the threads of the screw to really grab the wood. Finding that perfect size is usually what causes people the concern.

Worry not though, this is actually a pretty easy thing to do as you will see beneath.

Pilot holes can be used for 1 of two reasons:

To drill through material as a guide for making a bigger hole with a bigger drill bit
To make a prepared hole for a screw or nail

how to drill pilot holes in materials

Why Exercise You Make a Pilot Pigsty in Wood or Timber?

The main reason that airplane pilot holes are drilled into timber is then that a screw or nail can then be easily screwed or hammered in without the forest splitting or being damaged. This is actually of import when doing neat wood piece of work and where the woods or lumber volition be seen.

If for example yous are laying deck boards, and then many people will but utilize their drill/driver to spiral the boards directly on to the deck. In the middle of a deck board that is the best mode to do that.

However if y'all are at the cease of a board, and you try forcing a screw through the last inch or so, then by and large the board will crack. Even if it doesn't scissure, the board is weakened and may crevice later.

Also, in rough work such every bit making a stud wall it really doesn't matter a nifty deal every bit no-one gets to see the finished job. Yet when drilling into the end of a board, it is always a very skilful idea to drill a airplane pilot hole, to avert whatsoever gamble of damaging the forest.

When you drill a pilot pigsty, then drive in the screw information technology is highly unlikely to split or damage the wood.

Why Exercise You Brand a Pilot Pigsty in Metallic?

Sometimes yous may also need to drill a pivot hole into metallic. When used for metal, the pivot hole actually acts as a guide for the larger drill bit. The pivot hole and so becomes the guide for the tip of the larger drill chip. Having this smaller hole does brand drilling the larger hole a great deal easier.

The smaller hole is much easier to command when drilling, and is a more accurate way of lining up a bigger drill bit. The drilled airplane pilot hole acts equally a guide for the tip of the larger drill fleck.

How Do Y'all Know Which Drill Scrap Size to Use?

This is often the hardest thing to figure out. We have provided all the data simply below, and hopefully that will make this chore a great deal easier.

Pilot Hole Drill Bit Size Chart (Metric)

Some people similar to stick with the older Great britain method of screw sizes. These are ofttimes known every bit imperial measurements and are expressed in the fractions of an inch measurement.

Almost people though have now adopted what is called the metric sizes. There will go on to be this difference in how people ask for and buy screws. Some people volition talk almost a 2" screw whereas others will talk about a fifty mm screw.

The chart beneath shows the metric measurements as that is what the bulk of people now utilise.

Agreement UK Screw Sizes

As yous will know screws come in different thicknesses and in different lengths. At that place are also different types of screws, simply for the purpose of pivot holes, nosotros will stick to your normal woods spiral.

All metric screw sizes are measured by diameter and length in mm

Sounds disruptive already? Worry not it is a lot easier than y'all may think.

Screw Size Metric	Pilot Pigsty Size	Bachelor Spiral Lengths
2.v mm diameter	1 mm	12 mm, 16 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm,30 mm and forty mm
iii.0 mm diameter	one.5 mm	12 mm, 16 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm,xxx mm and forty mm
3.v mm diameter	2.0 mm	12 mm, sixteen mm, 20 mm, 25 mm,thirty mm and 40 mm
4.0 mm diameter	two.5 mm	12 mm, 16 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm,thirty mm, 35 mm, forty mm, 45 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm and 70 mm
5 mm diameter	three mm	12 mm, 16 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm,30 mm, 35 mm, xl mm, 45 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm, lxx mm, 75 mm, fourscore mm, ninety mm and 100 mm
5.5 mm diameter	3.5 mm	12 mm, 16 mm, xx mm, 25 mm,30 mm, 35 mm, 40 mm, 45 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm, 70 mm, 75 mm, 80 mm, ninety mm, 100 mm, 110 mm, 130 mm and 150 mm
half dozen.0 mm diameter	4.0 mm	12 mm, sixteen mm, 20 mm, 25 mm,30 mm, 35 mm, 40 mm, 45 mm, 50 mm, lx mm, 70 mm, 75 mm, 80 mm, ninety mm, 100 mm, 110 mm, 130 mm and 150 mm

So when drilling a pilot hole the all-time communication is to use a drill fleck ii mm smaller than the screw size. The depth of the whole should then be the length of the screw. If you just stick to that rule, and then yous will never become wrong.

pilot hole drilling facts

How to Drill a Pilot Hole

Ideally yous should always examination any pilot holes you may desire to drill on an old piece of material. That way if you make a mistake information technology really does not affair a bang-up deal.

Most times I cutting off a short piece of wood, clamp information technology to a vice or a workbench, and so make a couple of airplane pilot holes using my drill, and so drive in a couple of screws.

One time I am completely satisfied with the results, and so I do experience actually confident when it comes to working on the main project. Each time I accept to drill a different size pigsty, I then starting time test that size on an former slice of wood.

I am a retired construction worker and I likewise happen to love power tools. I take used hundreds over the years and offering my opinions on them hither.