Screw Gauge, Metric, Size, Clearance Holes, Pilot Holes & Wall Plugs
| Gauge | Metric equiv. | Pilot hole | Clearance hole | Masonry plug size |
| 3 | 2.5mm | 1.0mm | 3.0mm | Yellow (5mm hole) |
| 4 | 3.0mm | 1.5mm | 3.5mm | Yellow (5mm hole) |
| 6 | 3.5mm | 2.0mm | 4.0mm | Red (6mm hole) |
| 8 | 4.0mm | 2.5mm | 4.5mm | Red (6mm hole) or Brown (7mm hole) |
Full Answer
What size screws do I need for wall plugs?
Choose the correct size of plugs and drill bits for your screws. The yellow plugs shown in this example take 4mm gauge screws, the red ones take 5mm and the brown ones take 5.5mm - although wall plugs do come in lots of colours. Should screws be longer than wall plugs?
What size plug for a 70mm screwdriver?
You might find that a large plug like a 70mm one is designed for a really large diameter screw (5 or 6mm plus).
What size is an 8mm head screw?
Just that a ‘normal’ wood screw with an 8mm wide head is an 8 gauge screw. Unfortunately it’s the only one that is so convenient, but I could measure the heads of the different sizes of screws and that would give you somewhere to start. Also, there is only a few main ones.
How big is a 6 gauge screw head?
It is by coincidence that the gauge is approximately the size of the screw head in millimeters. A 6 gauge screw will have a head almost equal to 6 mm wide. Correlation between diameter (metric in mm), gauge (imperial) and head size is complicated.
What screws for 6mm Rawlplug?
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. Brown plugs fit into 7.0 mm holes and work best with screw sizes 8 through 12, but can be used for screw sizes 8 through 14.
What size screws fit 6mm plugs?
Plug Diameter: 6mm. Plug Length: 30mm. Screw Size: 4.5 x 40mm.
What size plugs for screws?
Screw Gauge, Metric, Size, Clearance Holes, Pilot Holes & Wall PlugsGaugeMetric equiv.Masonry plug size43.0mmYellow (5mm hole)63.5mmRed (6mm hole)84.0mmRed (6mm hole) or Brown (7mm hole)105.0mmBrown (7mm hole)3 more rows
Which screws to use for wall plugs?
Self-tapping screw A normal screw won't stay in masonry without a wall plug. The wall plug expands grip the sides of the hole when the screw is driven in, holding the screw securely in place. Ideal for use during a wide range of construction tasks, as well as for hanging shelves, pictures and mirrors around your home.
Should wall plug be bigger than screw?
A wallplug holds the screw securely into the wall. The screw, and hole, should be longer than the plug! The screw should go all the way through the wallplug and split it open to force the tightest possible fit with the wall. For most DIY jobs a bog standard plastic Wallplug will suffice.
What size plugs for screws UK?
Product DescriptionWall Plug TypePlug Diameter (mm)Screw DiameterYellow Plugs5mm3/3.5mm (No. 4/6)Red Plugs5.5mm3.5/4.5mm (No. 6/8)Blue Plugs10mm6/7mm (No. 12/14)
Which Rawlplug for 5mm screws?
Red Rawl Plugs for 3mm - 5mm screws (No. 6 - No. 10) - box of 100. These red rawl plugs are to be used with 3mm, 4mm and 5mm screws.
What size Rawlplug for a 4mm screw?
The yellow plugs shown in this example take 4mm gauge screws, the red ones take 5mm and the brown ones take 5.5mm - although wall plugs do come in lots of colours.
What size screw do I need?
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.
How do I choose a drill bit for a wall plug?
0:482:17Quick way to determine right size drill bit - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo it's just a quick tip. If for example if it was too large and as an example here if this was tooMoreSo it's just a quick tip. If for example if it was too large and as an example here if this was too large you would know if it was too large simply.
What is 8 gauge screw in MM?
4.2For gauge to MM conversionSelf Tapping Screw Gauge (g)Size (mm)63.584.2104.8125.53 more rows
How do you screw in Rawl plugs?
4:466:39How to use wall plugs. Wall plug tips and drilling tips. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd just give it a gentle tap. Into the wall until it's flush with the wall then. Take your screw.MoreAnd just give it a gentle tap. Into the wall until it's flush with the wall then. Take your screw. Put your screw in the wall. Then just get your Phillips screwdriver. And tighten that up by. Hand.
How do you determine screw size?
When looking into and determining screw size, there are two things you need to understand – the length and the thread count. The latter is also commonly referred to as threads per inch (TPI) or thread pitch. We use the TPI to determine the thread’s fineness. The number will also tell if a screw can thread through a bolt.
How do I identify screw size?
Identifying sizes can be tricky if you don’t know how to read them. They are represented in an alphanumeric code, which is difficult to understand if you are not familiar with it. Codes such as “1/8-10 x 4/6”, “M5-0.4 x 15”, and “4-30 x 0.10” may seem overwhelming and meaningless at the same time, but it is the most vital information.
What do the numbers mean on screw sizes?
If you often do DIY, one of the popular items you are using is screws. It comes in several sizes, which you can find in the packaging. Finding the correct size can be a daunting task if you don’t know the imperial or metric system. A conversion table would be handy if you often convert between these two systems.
Metric System
The metric system was based on the meter, a system of measurement whose origin was in France in the 1970s. When taking the length of a screw, we use meters.
Standard System
The standard system, otherwise known as the imperial system, was introduced in the British Weights and Measures Act 1824. It evolved through a series of amendments in the said act. For some time, the imperial system had been the standard measurement system. However, by the late 20th century, several countries have adopted the metric system.
Buying Guide
Now that we have discussed some of the basics, it is time to guide you through what you need to know. Finding the right type and specifications will hold materials together nicely.
Types
Depending on the application, they come in different forms and sizes. Here are some of the most common ones.
What is a wood screw?
Wood Screws. They are designed for connecting items to a wooden base (e.g. attaching metal coat hooks to a wooden rail). Wood expands and shrinks depending on the surrounding temperature. This means a specialized screw is required for wood applications. The best options are screws that bend before snapping.
Can a Phillips screwdriver be used on a cross head screw?
Phillips Head Screw. A traditional (“flat”) screwdriver cannot be used on sheet metal cross head screws. It is a cross-shaped head kind of screw (see image). Most sets of driver heads or screwdrivers have at least one of these types of screwdrivers.
Can sheet metal screws be used in other materials?
They can be used in other materials apart from metal as they will stay strictly in place once screwed on. Often they are self-tapping meaning that they may not always need a hole drilled into the source before they are inserted. Sheet metal screws come in several different sizes and styles.
Is it hard to size a screw?
Bottom Line. To size a screw is a very challenging thing but there are different types of screws you can use for a wide variety of different tasks. In many situations, you may find it challenging to know the head and the thread available and also the different parts that make up a screw.
Can you put metric and imperial screws on the same box?
Imperial and Metric Screw Sizes. Many companies put both imperial and metric size on the same box of screws which is very helpful. However, when buying online in the United States, most of the retailers do not. The main reason is the title of the product becomes too long and cumbersome meaning something has to go.
How many screws does a brown plug need?
A brown plug might take anything from 8 to 12 gauge screws (4mm, 5mm, 5.5mm) for example.
How to find nails holding lath to studs?
to find the nails holding the lath to the studs. Once you have the studs located you can go ahead and use normal wood screws . Use a thick gauge though and drill a pilot hole appx half the screws diameter of the big screw might get stuck half way in .
Can you use blue plugs in 8mm holes?
Definitely not a brown plug as they are 7mm and blue plugs are usually 10mm so neither are any use in an 8mm hole. However some stores will stock 8mm plugs. Fischer used to make an 8mm plug I believe (all their plugs are grey.) Or alternatively you could drill the hole one size up and use the blue plugs.
ben100 Member
I need to hang a curtain pole I’ve got some 5.5/6mm red rawl plugs which screw size do I put in?
Ind spark Active Member
I need to hang a curtain pole I’ve got some 5.5/6mm red rawl plugs which screw size do I put in?
pppmacca43 Super Member
Either of these will be okay, 2” probably be better. I would use a 5.5 bit to make it nice and tight.
Ind spark Active Member
Sorry to be an idiot but what size are those exactly just so I know what ones I’m looking for?
