How To Tap Sheet Metal

Self drilling or self tapping metal screws increase productivity by reducing the number of steps required to screw together pieces of metal.

How to tap sheet metal. Very soon you will feel the teeth of the tap start to cut into the metal. A self drilling screw has a chisel tip similar to a drill bit. For a short while the turning will be wobbly but as the tap progresses downward into the hole it will stabilize. Keeping the tap as perpendicular to the face of the metal as possible and exerting some downward pressure start turning the tap slowly clockwise.

To use self tapping screws place the screw directly on the aluminum sheet. The fastener size is generally displayed on the left hand side of the chart place the piece of metal on a stable work surface. Keep in mind that a properly secured work piece is a safe work piece. Then tap your metal along the bend line with a rubber or plastic mallet until the sheet bends to the angle you want.

Identify the thread size and pitch on the drill and tap chart. This allows you to skip pre drilling a hole into thinner gauges of sheet metal. Locate the size of the fastener you need to install in the metal.