WoodTools

Choisir ses vis et percer les avant-trous

Numéros de vis, règle de longueur et avant-trous qui empêchent le bois de fendre.

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Screw gauge to diameter

Screw sizes are sold by gauge. Approximate diameters:

Gauge Diameter
6 3.5 mm
8 4.2 mm
10 4.8 mm
12 5.5 mm
14 6.3 mm

The length rule

A screw should penetrate the substrate about two thirds of its length. A simple rule:

Recommended length ≈ 2 × thickness of the top board

For an 18 mm top board, use ~35–40 mm screws.

Pilot hole sizes

The pilot hole lets the threads cut instead of the wood splitting:

Thread pilot ≈ 60% of diameter (softwood)
Thread pilot ≈ 85% of diameter (hardwood)
Shank pilot ≈ 95% of diameter
Screw Softwood pilot Hardwood pilot
3.5 mm (g6) 2.1 mm 3.0 mm
4.2 mm (g8) 2.5 mm 3.6 mm
4.8 mm (g10) 2.9 mm 4.1 mm

Practical tips

  • Always pilot near edges and ends, and in hardwood.
  • Countersink so heads sit flush.
  • Wax or soap the screw to ease driving in dense woods.

Get exact sizes for your screw with the screw & pilot hole calculator.

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