The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled.
Active CMS Builder
Construction
|
Trades
|
Civil
|
Energy & Resources
|
Petrochemical
2HR PREMIUM+ DELIVERY - METRO*
CLICK & COLLECT
Help
|
Contact Us
1800 255 349
Australia Go to USA site. Allfasteners USA
Search
Advanced Search
Login
Forgot?
Forgot Password?
Sign Up
Wishlist
  1. Add to Cart
    Remove This Item
All Wish List
You have no items in your wish list.
Cart 0
Cart
1800 255 349   Mon-Fri 7AM-5PM
All categories
All categories
  • Anchors
      • Heavy Duty Anchors
        • Expansion Anchors
        • Screw-Anchors
        • Seismic Anchors
        • Wedge Anchors
        • Undercut Anchors
      • Medium Duty Anchors
        • Concrete Screws
        • Drop In Anchors
        • Sleeve Anchors
        • Through Bolts
      • Light Duty Anchors
        • Hammer In Anchors
        • Hollow Wall Anchors
        • Nylon Anchors
        • Wall Plugs
      • Forced Entry
        • Pins & Charges
        • TrakPRO Pin & Gas System
      • Cast-In Anchor Channel
        • AC-G Series
  • Chemical Anchors
      • Chemical Injection Systems Chemical Injection Systems
      • Capsule Adhesive System Capsule Adhesive System
      • Chem Studs & Filling Washers Chem Studs & Filling Washers
      • Hole Drilling & Cleaning Hole Drilling & Cleaning
      • Applicators & Accessories Applicators & Accessories

       

       

       

      CHEMICAL INJECTION

  • Screws
      • By Type
        • Chipboard Screws
        • Needle Point Screws
        • Particle Board Screws
        • Self Drilling Screws
          • SD500® Screws Self Drilling
          • Bimetal Self Drilling Screws
          • Spiral Point Self Drilling Screws
        • Self Tapping Screws
        • Type 17 Screws
        • Stainless Steel Screws
      • By Application
        • Batten Screws
        • Mass Timber Screws
        • Collated Screws
        • Deck Screws
        • Facade Screws
        • Hinge Screws
        • Roofing & Cladding Screws
        • Treated Pine Screws
        • Plasterboard & Cement Sheet Screws
        • Wood Screws

  • Threaded & Manufactured
      • Bolts, Nuts & Washers
        • Mild Steel
        • Hi-Tensile
        • Stainless Steel
        • Machine Screws
        • Nuts
        • Washers
      • Threaded Rod
        • 4.6 Mild-Steel Rod
        • 8.8 Hi-Tensile Rod
        • Stainless Steel Rod
      • Structural Assemblies
        • AS1252 Bolts
        • Purlin & Fascia Bolts
        • NexGen2 Blind Bolts
        • Hollo-Bolt
      • Cast-In Bolts
        • Anchor Bolts
        • Anchor Channel
        • Hold Down Bolt Cages
        • Reinforcing Bars
        • Concrete Ferrules
      • Petrochemical
        • B7 Stud Bolt Kits
        • L7 Stud Bolt Kits
        • B8 Stud Bolt Kits
        • B8M Stud Bolt Kits
        • B16 Stud Bolt Kits
        • Heavy Hex Nut
      • Manufactured Products
        • U-Bolts
        • Anchor Plates
  • Security Fasteners

    • We stock a large range of industry standard tamper-proof fasteners for immediate delivery.

      For ultimate security browse from the permanent one-way fixings and fasteners.

      Retro fit fixings with security nuts, caps or enclosures.

      • Anchors
        • 1-Way Anchors
        • Tamper Proof Anchors
      • Security Screws
        • 1-Way Screws
        • Tamper Proof Screws
      • Machine Screws
        • 1-Way Bolts
        • Tamper Proof Bolts
      • Security Nuts
        • 1-Way Nuts
        • Tamper Proof Nuts
      • Caps & Enclosures
      • Tooling
  • Rivets
      • Aluminium Steel Rivets
      • Colorbond Coloured Rivets
      • Stainless Steel Rivets
      • Steel Steel Rivets
  • Nails, Brads & Staples
      • Nails
        • Loose
        • Collated
      • Brads
        • C Series Brads
        • DA Series Brads
      • Staples
        • Light Wire Staples
        • Heavy Wire Staples
  • Drilling & Cutting
      • Drilling
        • Countersink Bits
        • Diamond Core Bits
        • Jobbers Drills
        • Hole Saw Bits
        • SDS Hammer Drills
        • xDust Dustless SDS Drills
      • Cutting
        • Circular Saw Blades
        • Diamond Blades
        • Jigsaw Blades
        • Multi-Tool Blades
        • Reciprocating Saw Blades
        • Router BIts
        • Utility Knives & Blades
      • Threading
        • HSS Taps
        • Lubricants & Cutting Compounds
  • Abrasives
      • Cutting Discs
      • Flap Discs
      • Grinding Discs
      • Multi-Tool Abrasives
      • Sandpaper
  • Sealants & Adhesives
      • Construction Adhesive
      • Contact Adhesive
      • Epoxy Resin
      • Foam Fillers & Grout
      • Polyurethane Sealant
      • Silicone Sealants
      • Threadlocker
      • Woodworking Glues

  • Hardware
      • Backing Rod
      • Framing & Truss
      • Furniture Bolts
      • Horseshoe Packers
      • Joinery Hardware
      • Panel Shims
  • Tools
      • By Product
        • Applicators
        • Anchor Setting
        • Drivers & Sockets
        • Handtools
        • Measuring, Pencils & Markers
        • Nailers
        • Replacement Parts
        • Vacs & Dust Extractors
        By Product
      • By Brand
        • Allfasteners
        • Makita
        • Quik Drive
        • OX Tools
        By Brand

  • Hydraulic Testers

    • Hydrajaws® portable tension kits are the leading brand in Australia for bolt & anchor testing.

      Create reports effortlessly with the Hydrajaws® App & the Bluetooth enabled gauges – test anchors from 25kN to 145kN. Made in Britain. Serviced by Allfasteners.

      • Hydrajaws Kits
      • Hydraulic Cylinder Kits
      • Bluetooth Gauges
      • Gauges
      • Calibration
      • Adaptors & Parts

  • Site Supplies
      • Cleaning Supplies
        • Cleaning Equipment
        • Janitorial Supplies
        • Solvents & Tool Cleaners
      • Equipment
        • Bins, Buckets & Wheelbarrows
        • Ladders & Height Access
        • Tool Boxes & Cabinets
      • General Supplies
        • Paints
        • Site Shed Supplies
        • Surface Protection
        • Tapes & Packaging Supplies
      • Safety Gear
        • Fire Equipment
        • PPE & Safety
      • Setup
        • Bollards & Barriers
        • Lighting & Electrical
      • Workplace Signs
        • Danger Signage
        • Fire Signage
        • Mandatory Signage
        • Notice Signage
        • Prohibition Signage
        • Warning Signage
  • Login
  • Menu
  • Accounts
      • Trade Accounts
      • Credit Application
      • COD Application
      • About Trade Portal
      • Accounts FAQs
  • Company
      • History
      • Commitment
      • Testimonials
      • Locations
        • Melbourne
        • Sydney
        • Adelaide
        • Brisbane
        • AFI Manufacturing
      • Industry
        • Commercial Construction
        • Domestic Trades
        • Civil Infrastructure
        • Energy & Resources
          • Mining
          • Oil & Gas
          • Renewables
        • Petrochemical
      • News
  • Services
      • Shipping
        • Delivery
        • Click & Collect
        • Deliver+ Site Zones
        • Premium+ Site Zones
      • Hydrajaws Servicing
      • Tool Hire
      • Technical Support
      • Anchor Bolt Testing
  • Engineering
      • AFOS Anchor Design Software
      • Anchor Selection Guide
      • Engineered Fastener Products
        • All Engineered Fasteners
        • Concrete Anchors (AS 5216, NCC)
        • Seismic Anchors (AS 5216, NCC)
        • Dynamic Anchors
        • Other Specialised Anchors & Fasteners
        • Screws
      • Engineering Support
      • Engineering Articles
      • Documents
        • Anchor Selection Guide
        • Technical Data Sheets
        • Certifications
        • Material Safety Data
      • CAD Library
  • Resources
      • Anchor Selection Guide
      • Catalogues
      • Certifications
      • Material Safety Data
      • Software & Apps
        • AFOS® Anchor Design Software
        • Chemical Anchor Volume Calculator
        • Hydrajaws® Bluetooth App
      • Technical Data Sheets
      • Tools
        • Chemical Anchor Volume Calculator
        • Heavy Hex Nuts A194 Table
        • Rivet Size Guide
        • Screw Gauge Table
        • Thread Pitch Table
      • Worksite Essentials
  • Trade Portal
    • Access your account at any time day or night. Manage your orders wherever you are on the road or in the office with Trade Portal.

      GET ACCESS TO:
      • Project Management
      • Team Setup
      • Account Summary
      • Order Monitoring
      • Quotes
      • Saved Products
      • Purchase Reports

      DON'T HOLD AN ACCOUNT?
      • How to apply for a credit account, here.
      • Apply for a COD account, here.
      You must hold an ABN and have an active trade account to request access to your trade account online.
       
Contact
1800 255 349
[email protected]
Mon-Fri: 7am to 5pm
Sun-Sun: Closed
Melbourne:
78-84 Logistics St, Keilor Park VIC 3042
Sydney:
65 Atkins Rd, Ermington NSW 2115
Adelaide:
116 Churchill Road North, Dry Creek SA 5094
Brisbane:
2/1937 Ipswich Rd, Rocklea QLD 4106

Self-Tapping vs Self-Drilling Screws: The Unknown Differences

By Allfasteners
27 Jul. 2023

Self-Tapping vs Self-Drilling Screws: The Unknown Differences

The Eternal Question...

For such commonly-used fasteners, the confusion in features and application of both self-tapping and self-drilling screws is equally common. And between the two screws, the vernacular is often confused, with the name for one being used for the other.  

So, let’s set the record straight. Here are the differences between both fasteners. To summarise:

Self-Tapping – a screw for securing thinner sheet metals and other substrates that cuts its own thread, but usually requires a predrilled or pre-punched hole.

Self-Drilling – a screw that can, well, self-drill through various gauges of metal materials without predrilling.

Both – perfect for securing two materials—steel to steel or steel to timber—for when a better hold compared, to nuts and bolts, is required.

To elaborate, here are the finer facts:

Self-Tapping

  • Creates its own thread while turning, therefore it does not need matching female threads, like those in a nut from a nut/bolt set or machine screws.
  • Can also be used in wood and softer substrates like some plastics.
  • This screw features a Type AB point.
  • To remember it when you see it, this screw has a point “like a pencil”.


Most common uses –

  • 1 and 2-layer thin gauge sheet metal securing
  • Fastening of aluminium sections to each other and into screw flutes.
  • Screwing into plastic housings.
  • Fixing metal brackets into ply and timber.


Self-Drilling

  • With a point “like a drill bit”, these screws create their own hole, and their own thread in one action. This is probably where the confusion with self-tappers comes in – both kinds of screws are technically self-tapping as far as the function of their threads are concerned, but the massive difference is in the function of their points.
  • Self-drillers can be characterised as a fine thread or a coarse thread, self-tappers can’t.
  • In short, self-tappers can’t drill, self-drillers can as well as tap a thread.
  • Self-drillers are also commonly called ‘Tek’ screws, a proprietary brand name associated with their unique shape and function.
  • Drill point sizes dictate drilling capacity. Common Tek point sizes are #2, #3, #4 and #5 (Series 500) – 2 and 3 most common, 4 and 5 for going through thicker metal.

Most common uses –

  • Cladding and metal roofing
  • HVAC – duct, clips and brackets
  • Carports/sheds/garages
  • General construction
  • Steel framing


Do you have any questions about the application of these screws for what your are doing? Get in touch with the leaders in All Things Fixings now.

Tags:
  • chemical anchor
  • chemset
Share
All Moving Fast at Allfasteners
The Unlikely Origins of the Oscillating Multi Tool
About Trade News

Here, you’ll find the latest news and insights on fasteners, innovative products, and building methods in Australia’s civil, commercial, and domestic construction sectors. Join us as we explore trends, share expert advice, and keep you informed about the evolving landscape of construction.

Categories
  • testing
  • chemical anchor
  • communications
  • maintenance
  • construction
  • wind energy
  • petrochemical
  • civil infrastructure
  • oil & gas
  • engineering
  • anchoring
  • installation
  • tools
  • australian standards
  • software
  • steel
  • wood
  • concrete
  • fixing
  • fastening
Recent Posts
  • post
    Allfasteners’ Strategic Solution at Sydney Metro West
  • post
    A Case Study in Engineering Support
  • post
    Beyond the Default

Subscribe for updates, news, and special offers

Newsletter
30th Anniversary BadgeAllfasteners Logo

We are a family run business celebrating 30 years of operation in 2024 proudly supplying the Australian trade industries with the largest range of anchors, fasteners, and construction consumables.

Call us!

1800 255 349

Find Us Here

Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane

 

Allfasteners LinkedIn Account  Allfasteners YouTube Channel  Allfasteners Facebook Account  Allfasteners Instagram Account
Popular Categories
  • NCC Compliant Anchors
  • Chemical Anchors
  • Self-drilling Screws
  • Mild & Hi-Tensile Bolts
  • Cast-In Bolts

Customer Support

  • Contact Us
  • Help & FAQs
  • Trade Portal Help
  • Engineering Support
  • Delivery Information
  • Click & Collect

ISO9001 Logo

ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System. Supply and Manufacture of Fasteners to Oil, Gas, Mining, Renewable Energy and Construction Industries

Resources

  • Anchor Design Software
  • Product Documentation
  • Chemical Anchor Volume Calculator

Customer Support

  • Contact Us
  • Help & FAQs
  • Trade Portal Help
  • Engineering Support
  • Delivery Information
  • Click & Collect

Popular Categories

  • NCC Compliant Anchors
  • Chemical Anchors
  • Self-drilling Screws
  • Mild & Hi-Tensile Bolts
  • Cast-In Bolts

Copyright © 2025, Allfasteners Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

For All Things Fixings.   |   Terms of Use   |   Privacy Policy   |   Contact Us   |   Sitemap