Screw recommendations

[Bloozestringer]

I’m moving a hanger to use for my Echo gas trimmer now and am not sure whether to use the #12x2” pan head (sheet metal it looks like) screws the thing came with? I’ve mounted this bracket 3-4 times over the years with the same screws, but never had anything heavy, expensive, and full of fuel hanging from it. Drywall is 5/8”. I did drill some 5/32” pilot holes but I couldn’t get the screws driven in. Enlarged the pilots to 3/16” without thinking and even though it snugs up by hand I don’t think there’s probably enough thread biting to trust it. It’s going on the 24” short wall into a stud between garage door and corner so it will see some vibration as well from the door I assume.

I get a dozen answers for pilot hole sizes and different screw lengths. I just don’t want the thing falling and blowing gas everywhere nor hit an electrical line. My OCD fears are getting the best of me with a stupid thing like screws.

 

[gleman]

Did you find a stud or are you trying to anchor into an open bay(between the studs)?

If you're hitting a stud, those screws should work even without pilot holes.

Maybe grab some construction screws like GRK or Simpsons if they wont work.

 

[manwithtools]

5/32" is the recommended pilot hole in softwood. Move the hanger up or down an inch and redrill. Use an impact driver to run the screws in.

 

[manwithtools]

Did you find a stud or are you trying to anchor into an open bay(between the studs)?

It’s going on the 24” short wall into a stud between garage door and corner

 

[gleman]

Yep, I reread and updated.

 

[72Anthony]

Check out GRK cabinet screws, they have a larger washer head, much more area than a regular pan head screw.

They are self-drilling, no pilot hole needed.

They come in #8 and #10 sizes, so plenty strong for outdoor power equipment.

 

[Bloozestringer]

5/32" is the recommended pilot hole in softwood. Move the hanger up or down an inch and redrill. Use an impact driver to run the screws in.

Thanks for that.

Yep. I took a chance and moved the holes up and inch and redrilled. Blew the junk out of the holes, put a little beeswax on the threads, and was able to hand screw them in this time. Amazing how easy it was when I realized I needed a #3 PH bit instead of an #2 and it wasn’t slipping like before. They didn’t break either which was another worry.

My OCD will still run to the most catastrophic scenario as that’s what it does best, but at least I know I did the best I could. It makes anything that could possibly involve electricity or fire in any real or imagined scenario impossible for me most of the time.

Again, thanks for just saying redrill and reuse the screws.

 

[Bloozestringer]

Check out GRK cabinet screws, they have a larger washer head, much more area than a regular pan head screw.

They are self-drilling, no pilot hole needed.

They come in #8 and #10 sizes, so plenty strong for outdoor power equipment.

Those were my next option if I couldn’t get the originals back in without breaking. They’ve been drove in several places over the years.

 

[Superbowl]

Phillips head screws **** for long or thick screws so I don't use them those type screws.

For any screws long (over 2 inches) or thick (over #8) I use hex head or torex.

 

[tarmy]

GRK…I switched many years ago…they work great and are treated so ok to use in treated/PT wood.