Tapcon screws are self-tapping screws used to fasten materials such as metal, wood and foam to masonry or concrete. They are also known as confast screws, masonry screws, self-tapping screws, blue screws, and titens.
Then, concrete screws are often heavier in diameter and thread depth, so they'll grab the wood in your studs just fine. Even if they're lighter-duty 3/16" screws they'll be ok if you use enough for the load. You may want to pilot for them since they can be quite chunky.
Tapcons can be installed in concrete, brick, block and in the mortar joints between the brick and block. The harder the base material, the less embedment is required to attain sufficient holding values. The minimum embedment for a Tapcon® concrete screw is 1” and the maximum embedment is 1-3/4”.
Typically, a package of these screws comes with a masonry drill bit sized to the screw diameter. To install them, position the wood part in place. Drill a clearance hole through the wood and into the concrete using a masonry drill. This is usually a much easier job than driving nails by hand.
You can use metal screws any time you are connecting any material to a metal base, be it plastic, fiberglass, or wood, as these are the most versatile screws. They can also be used to attach hinges, hasps, brackets, and other types of hardware.
How To Use a Tapcon / Concrete anchor / Concrete screw | Everything You Need to Know
What screws to use on wood?
Among the many materials wood screws are made from — brass, bronze, aluminum, etc. — steel screws are the most useful for woodworking and interior DIY projects. They're strong, affordable and readily available in a vast range of sizes. But old-fashioned tapered steel wood screws can be a pain to use.
What's the difference between wood screws and metal screws?
Wood screws are typically available in shorter threading, usually up to an inch. In comparison, metal screws offer longer threading at two or more inches. The pattern of this threading is also different. Metal screws are threaded through the entire body, while wood screws are not.
For example, a 2x4 is 1-1/2” thick, so the minimum length of tap con to use would be 1-1/2” + 1” = 2-1/2”. The maximum embedment for all tap con screws is 1-3/4”. Using the 2x4 example mentioned earlier, the maximum length tap con is determined by adding the thickness of the 2x4 of 1-1/2” + 1-3/4” = 3-1/4”.
Anyplace where wood meets the ground or concrete, the lumber must be pressure treated. For additional moisture protection, a gasket or strip of closed-cell foam can be installed between the concrete foundation and the sill plate.
Tapcon+ unmatched performance in concrete, block and brick applications make them an excellent alternative to expansion anchors, plugs, lag shields and have a blue corrosion resistant coating that enables them to withstand the harshest conditions.
The base material may be too abrasive or too hard for the threads of the tapcon to tap. The base material may be too soft or sandy and not allow for the tapcon threads to hold properly.
Although similar in appearance, construction screws are usually larger compared to deck screws. Construction screws are ideal for large scale applications due to their large sizes. What is this? While deck screws are mostly made from stainless steel or zinc, construction screws are usually made from coated materials.
Before a Tapcon masonry screw can be installed, a hole must be drilled into the masonry. Use a hammer drill to ensure that the hole has the proper tolerance. The switch on the hammer drill must be in the hammer and rotation mode before starting to drill.
Stainless Steel Tapcons are reliable, strong, and have outstanding corrosion resistance. These screws are ideal for using to attach fixtures and lumbers to all types of masonry bases, including concrete, brick, and block.
Original Blue Tapcon® Concrete Screw. The Tapcon® concrete screw with the Climaseal® coating gives excellent rust resistance when used for indoor applications and outdoor applications.
The Tapcon drill bit that is used depends on the diameter of the Tapcon screw being installed. The 3/16” Tapcon requires the use of 5/32” diameter bit, and the 1/4” Tapcon requires a 3/16” diameter bit.
High quality Concrete Anchor External Screws that cuts its own thread directly into pre-drilled 6mm pilot hole, no anchor or plug is needed. Masonry screws are an excellent way to fasten any material to masonry.
A lag screw is the strongest in the family of wood screws. It is a sturdy and durable fastener often designed with an externally driven hex drive or square head. Lag screws feature a tapered point and coarse threads and are typically tougher and much heavier than conventional wood screws.
Use coarse-thread drywall screws for most wood studs. Coarse-thread drywall screws work best for most applications involving drywall and wood studs. The wide threads are good at gripping into the wood and pulling the drywall against the studs.
Can I use sheet metal screws in place of wood screws?
Not True Substitutes. The two types of screws are not fully interchangeable. While a sheet metal screw can be used to securely fasten wooden pieces, a wood screw with a smooth shank portion won't create a tight joint in sheet metal, and fully threaded wood screws may hold poorly.
