How big should a pre drilled hole be?

For most hardwoods, the pilot hole should be at least as large as the screw’s minor diameter. If the screw has deep threads, or the wood is very hard, the pilot hole should be another 1/64-in. larger than the minor diameter. For softer woods, the pilot hole can be 1/64-in.

How do I choose the right bit for a screw?

For the layman that just wants to screw, look at your screw head. Find the shape that matches your pattern, work your way down from the largest size until the bit just fits. Do not make the mistake of choosing a bit that just fits, it may be too small and will slip causing damage to the screw head.

When should you pre drill wood?

Pilot holes are necessary if you’re drilling into hardwood, laminate, or need a precisely located fastener. They’re also recommended if the wood is likely to crack, or if appearance is important. You can skip the pilot holes when doing a rough build with softwood where appearance isn’t important.

How deep should I pre drill?

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.

How do you mark screw holes?

Use a thumbtack to poke a hole through the center of the mounting hole or a pen to mark the area. Let the tape be your guide. Remove the tape and place it on the wall where you want to mount your power strip. Now you can drill the screws directly into the marked area on the tape.

Do you need to drill a hole before screwing into wood?

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.

What happens when you pre drill?

When to Drill A Pilot Hole So, as you probably knew, pilot holes remove material from wood to make room for your screw or nail. This makes it easier to drive the screw into the wood. Additionally, since wood is removed to make room for the screw, the wood is less likely to crack when the screw is inserted.