Fence Install Tips: Self-Tapping Screws Used with Aluminum and Iron Fence

If you aren’t familiar with using the self-tapping type of screws used on iron and aluminum fence and gates, there are some guidelines you want to be aware of. So today, I wanted to go over some helpful tips when using these self-tapping screws during your fence installation.
While our iron and aluminum fences use different sized self-tapping screws in different ways, these tips will apply to both. The tips we review today will really apply to any type of self-tapping screw being used with any type of metal.
Tip #1 when using self-tapping screws: SPEED KILLS - Slow down your drilling
Most folks experience with drilling is in soft materials like wood or drywall where fast speed is ok. However, when drilling metal you want more of a slow to medium speed.
Tip #2 when using self-tapping screws: use a punch or pilot hole before drilling in the self-tapping screw
What these two things will do is give your self-tapping screw a clean place to start and prevent the screw from walking around on the post
To use the punch method, you will need a metal punch from the hardware store and a hammer.
For the pilot hole method, you will need a power drill and quality metal drill bit that is a few sizes smaller than the self-tapping screw.
Tip #3 when using self-tapping screws: Oil lubrication saves cutting heads and drill bits
It’s not necessary to lubricate each self-tapping screw or your pilot hole drill bit, but you will find that it can help preserve them and cut faster. The oil will lubricate the cutting surface and help cool the metal so it’s not over-heating to the point you are burning out the cutting head of the screw or drill bit.
Tip #4 when using self-tapping screws: Do not overtighten them. They only need snugged up.
Self-tapping screws are phenomenally strong for holding things together, but keep in mind they have a very small bite into the post metal. If you overtighten the self-tapping screw, it can tear out the threads you just cut in and render that hole unusable.
A little bonus tip for my iron fence folks is to concrete your steel posts with the seam pointing away from the brackets.
Our aluminum posts are extruded. That means they are pushed or extruded out the same on all 4 sides. With our steel posts used on the iron fences, steel is rolled square and then welded. So, there is a seam on one face of the post.

[@ronaldboutilier5925]

I usually go through a dozen DIY videos when I need some advice before I find a good one. This was perfect. I wish I had more fence work to do!

[@Ironfenceshop]

Glad it helped out! Sometimes its tough to find those very specific DIY helper videos!

[@stephenmahlstedt7276]

Great tips. I’m new to self-drilling screws and was struggling trying to mount brackets to the framing of my new metal garage. Turns out that I was running the drill far too fast. Thanks to your video I’m having better luck.

[@Ironfenceshop]

Glad it helped out! I did the very same thing when I started using them. It seems counter-intuitive to slow down, but it works!

[@Tuolite]

Great video