I called BS on self-tapping screws for metal studs, now I'm a convert

Swore by predrilling every hole for 10 years until a foreman on a 50-unit condo job in Austin dared me to try them on a full wall. Ran 300 screws in under 20 minutes without a single stripped head, and I haven't touched a drill bit since. Anyone else stubborn about switching up their fastener game?

3 comments

3 Comments

stellanelson3d ago

Those self tappers are game changers for sure, but just a heads up they don't work great on heavy gauge steel like 16 gauge or thicker. You'll get a stripped head or a snapped bit every time on that stuff. Stick with them for the 25-20 gauge studs and you'll fly through the job.

the_max3d ago

16 gauge you've actually tried this on?

blair_webb3d ago

Whoa wait, 16 gauge? Are you serious? How do you even get those self tappers to bite into that without them just snapping off?