Where does one buy a simple 2" #8 self-drilling screw?

[belfert]

I'm trying to find pan head self drilling screws #8 2" long with the drilling point.  Where can I find these?  The hardware store only goes up to 1 1/2".  Fastenal's web site shows they aren't stocked in their stores.

I ordered some screws from McMaster-Carr on Monday, but what I got were sheet metal screws.  I didn't pay attention to the picture I guess.  McMaster-Carr only goes up to 1 1/2".  I might be able to get by with 1 1/2", but it would be close.  I swear I spend half my time trying to find stupid stuff like screws.  There is a nuts and bolts place not far, but they only sell wholesale.

[Ace]

My suggestion is if you need to hold something that's 2 inches or more thick you might be better off using a bolt


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[belfert]

My suggestion is if you need to hold something that's 2 inches or more thick you might be better off using a bolt

I am attaching 3/8 plywood to the tube steel in the roof of my bus.  The trick is there is a 1" air gap in between to run wires.  I can't really get a bolt into the tube steel.  Basically I am putting a 1" thick strip of wood along the edge of the plywood and screwing through that.

[luvrbus]

I buy the 2 in or 2-1/2 in number 8 self tapping from Lowes they sell the Hillman brand in S/S or steel you do know you need to pre drill the wood first or they will not tighten

[belfert]

Does Lowes carry the screws in large packages?  If I can't find them elsewhere I'll have to make a trip up to Lowes.  I thought I looked at Lowes when I was there last weekend, but I'll look again.  Hillman is sold at most of the hardware stores around here, but even the big hardware store with three aisles of nuts and bolts didn't have anything in #8 or #10 over 1 1/2".

I'm thinking I might want to upgrade to #10, but I still can't find #10 anywhere in 2" either.  I've used self drilling pan head screws to attach other plywood in my bus and it seem to tighten down without pre-drilling.  I'll probably pre-drill anyhow as I am going through vinyl or carpet first.

[belfert]

If I go with #10 screws I can get them from Amazon by Friday.  There is a $4 charge for overnight shipping, but I can easily burn $4 in gas driving around town.  Amazon's price for #8 2" screws is out of sight, but the #10 2" screws are somewhat reasonable.

[luvrbus]

Brian, all I found at Lowes comes in a 12 pack if you need a bunch @ 4 bucks a box for 12 will run into some bucks

[Ace]

Brian your doing the same thing I did! I used 1x2's from front to rear. I screwed those to the bus ceiling ribs or frame and then screwed the 3x8 plywood to the 1x2's. You dont need the long screws to pass thru the air gap! Use 1 or 1 1/4 wood screws!


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[belfert]

I am putting a 32" piece of 3/8 plywood down each side of the ceiling.  The 32" piece of plywood will sit on 3/8" plywood attached to each steel tube in the ceiling so there is a 3/8" gap for low voltage wires and some Reflectix insulation.  There will be a 22" gap in the center.  I will span the gap with a 24" piece of plywood that sits over the other plywood to create a tunnel about 1" deep.

I wouldn't be running screws through the air.  They would go through layers of wood all the way to the metal.  I guess I could just use wood screws into the wood and forget about going into the metal.

[TomC]

Can't drill a pilot hole first?  Course if you can't find the pilot hole all the way through it won't work.  I found that using standard screws (I use sheet metal screws with hex heads-they hold great for structural out of sight stuff) with pilot holes hold great.  On my bus I built nearly all cabinetry with 1" brackets.  In 14 years of driving still is tight.  Good Luck, TomC

[belfert]

I am using some screw covers that only work with pan head screws.  I would prefer hex head screws if I could.  Self drilling screws just make life a lot easier.

[TomC]

I found that self drilling screws work well with metal-not with wood.  That's why my suggestion of using a pilot drill first. Good Luck, TomC

[belfert]

I am going through wood into metal.  I don't have a problem with drilling the wood.  The steel is a pain to predrill.

[Ace]

Brian if you just use sheet metal screws, self tapping or not, to hold your 1 inch strips of wood to the steel beams  and then use wood screws to hold your 3/8 plywood to the wood strips it will work. And to add, if you dont want the screw heads to show, use Christmas tree fasteners. That way you can easily remove a panel if needed. No screwing around with it!


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[belfert]

Yes, I've decided to use wood screws to screw the final layer on.  I don't think the Christmas tree fasteners would work in this case, although I have used them before.