Drilling hole wood screw?

[ss1]

Have plugged TANG stock holes, now need to redrill holes. #8 or #10 tapered wood screw. All I have is straight bitts. How do I do this??? thanks in advance

 

[rebel727]

What I would do is get a bit about half the size of the fat part of the screw. Wood screws are self tapping. You just don't want to make the hole so small it splits the wood but it has to be small enough for the screw to get a good bite.

 

To drill pilot holes for wood screws, I hold the shank of a bit against the threaded portion of the screw and look at it against a good background. If you can see the shank between the threads it's too big. I like the pilot hole the same diameter as the center shaft of the screw so only the threads bite into the wood. To locate the center of the hole in the tang, use a brad point drill bit the exact size of the hole in the tang, put it in the tang hole and tap with a hammer. This will give you a centered punch mark to drill your pilot hole.
'

Cody

BTW, always lubricate wood screws when putting them in for the first time. I use bear grease but something like linseed oil would work as well. If you don't you may twist of the screw in the wood.

 

[LSU TIGER]

I've used soap and beeswax for putting in screws for the first time.

 

[George F.]

They sell tapered drill bits for those size scews. But if you can't get them you can chuck a straight bit in a corded or cordless drill and taper it on a bench grinder as the drill is spinning the drill bit.........George F.

 

[Harddog]

Listen to Cody about drill bit size, he's got it right. I use hard paste floor wax or carnuba paste wax for automobiles for lubricating wood screws.

Randy Hedden

 

[Zonie]

I haven't tried floor wax but an old almost gone bar of Ivory soap lives in my toolbox just for the purpose of lubricating the screw threads before driving it in.
Makes a world of difference over trying to drive the screw without any lube at all.

 

[Vaino]

Comparing the screw vs the drill as done by Cody is the way I do it, except I use a drill smaller than the screw root dia. Have a hard hand and stripped threads are unnecessary and irritating work. Beeswax works well for the initial insertion......Fred

 

[ronrryan]

Wooden boat builders commonly used soap, in years past, and were often driving Everdur bronze screws into white oak with a brace. Good smoke, ron in FL

 

[poloman]

I measure the same way Cody does. On a tapered screw, I measure at the middle of the length of the screw. If the wood is very brittle the a bit larger hole, if the wood it very soft then a bit smaller hole. If the screw is really hard to drive then the hole is too small. If you do twist one off, you will regret it. I have always used beeswax too lubricate screws.

 

[ss1]

thanks to all, I got it done.