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Self-Tapping Screw FAQs
What screw type (thread) should I use in hardwoods, softwoods?
It is recommended to use a fine thread screw in hardwoods such as oak, maple,
walnut, cherry, hickory, etc. Use a coarse thread screw in softer materials such
as pine, plywood, melamine, MDF and particle board.
What screw length should I be using?
Our general recommendations for joining like material thicknesses are posted on the
previous pages. We always recommend that you test the amount of screw penetration
into your second workpiece with a scrap piece of material that is the same thickness as
the stock you will be actually joining. Drill a pocket hole, run a screw into the scrap piece
in air, then hold the scrap piece up to the second workpiece to visually verify screw
penetration depth. Adjust for deeper or shallower penetration by changing the setting
of the jig, moving the depth collar or using a different screw length.
My wood is splitting when driving the self-tapping screws.
The first thing to check is the hardness of the material you’re working with and
the thread pitch of the screw. We always recommend using a fine thread screw
in hardwoods such as oak, maple, hickory, cherry, walnut and a coarse thread
screw in plywood, particle board, MDF, melamine, pine, etc. If you are already
using a fine thread screw in hardwoods and are still having trouble, you may want
to try our SPS-F125 or SPS-F150 screw. These screws have a slightly smaller
shank size than the washer head screws (SML-F###). Lastly, whenever you
encounter problems with materials splitting it is advised to slow down the speed
of the driver.
Heads are breaking o
ff
when driving the screws.
Not all self-tapping pocket hole screws are created equal. Our screws are
designed with a larger head than most common self-tapping screws making
them much more likely to strip-out before the head of the screw breaks off. If
you are having problems with the head breaking off in a box of KREG Pocket
Hole Screws please let us know so we may make it right with you.
What screw should I use in 1/2” plywood?
This is normally a drawer box assembly question. We recommend using the
SPS-C1 screw. This is a pan head coarse thread screw. The pan head is smaller
than the washer head screw and more easily seats below the surface of the 1/2”
material. The coarse thread provides maximum holding power in plywood.
