Choosing Pilot Hole Size for Wood Screws

Picking the correct size pilot holes for screws is important to guarantee a solid hold, and prevent wood splitting. In this video I talk about three ways to do it, and test out a variety of pilot holes sizes.
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[@MrEricAdam]

A "hole" lot of knowledge to keep us from getting screwed! Thanks, Brian!

[@BrianHilson]

Nice Eric. Very nice.

[@Sawta]

I wish more videos were like this. Factual, to the point without rushing, and informative. It's exactly what it needed to be, and did it extremely well. Thanks for making this.

[@brockxxxxsamson]

Wow, thanks for the experiment at the end. I made some pilot holes today that were a size larger than they should have been for the screws used and was a little worried. Looks like it should be ok.

[@tangobayus]

Good demonstration technique. I have an adjustable countersink bit for #6 wood screws that works very well.

[@ARJUNPIANO]

Thanks for sharing the knowledge

[@StewartBrand85]

Such a good video - I really love that you conducted the experiment at the end to see how things work out in reality - thanks very much!

[@BrianHilson]

Thanks, I appreciate the positive feedback. Take care!

[@chrisl3977]

Great information thanks for posting.

[@MichaelAussie05]

Great advice thanks Brian.

[@rarelyaccurate6252]

Good video. I love how you tested using different pilot holes... I was actually planning something like that for my own knowledge. Before you know it you're going to have a lot more subscribers.

[@BrianHilson]

Thanks for taking the time to comment, and for the kind words. It helps motivate me to keep working on making stuff, including new videos.

[@BillR1951]

Brian, Very informative. I just found your videos. Thanks for sharing. Bill

[@BrianHilson]

Thanks Bill!

[@deniseleavitt6630]

Thank you Brian! I am trying to put up a peg board in my craft room. My brother said he would put out the right sized drill bits for me last night. Nope. Didn't happen. Iv'e NEVER done this before. So out in the garage I went.....looking.....looking....I found several sizes of drill bits. After watching your video, I know I need a much smaller bit. Now I have to go look again......Might just go buy my own kit and keep it hidden, so I can use them when I need them! Thanks again!

[@BrianHilson]

Not a problem! I'm glad you found it helpful, and thanks for watching. Take care!

[@rickramsdell6479]

Excellent video!!! Thank you!!

[@laynewilson865]

Fantastic

[@jc_compto]

Great presentation and info. Thanks!

[@BrianHilson]

Thanks for watching! The positive feedback is always nice. Take care!

[@sawdustandsurvival]

Thanks for that! Liked and subbed.

[@jacksonsoloist5929]

I always wanted to know this and everybody I asked gave me a different answer.Thank You !

[@BrianHilson]

You're welcome, glad it was helpful!

[@LemensProducts]

Thank You, good info!

[@patrickm.parisou8328]

Drill bit comparison is old school.👍🏻

[@NguyenNguyen-rv9yw]

Thank you for a good video.

[@tonyswietochowski2282]

Nice vid, thanks. For me it depends on the hardness of the timber. For soft woods like radiata pine, a very small pilot hole is good because the grains are like a sponge and they will compress around the screw. For hard woods like Oregon or teak, a larger pilot is needed otherwise the timber may split.

[@Bob71650]

Hi Brian, I just came across your video, but I could not find the link to the Pilot Hole Cart......Thanks, Bob

[@GaryMcKinnonUFO]

I always used the first way but not after watching this, thanks Brian :)

[@unadomandaperte]

Finally, here is what I needed to know for tomorrow's project. Thanks a lot!

[@quest900]

Concise, thoughtful info right when I needed it. That's a sub, thanks so much!

[@MarkProvan]

Thanks for the advice Brian, building a custom computer monitor stand and this will be useful.

[@MrStevem121]

Cheers dude really helpful

[@dwightstewart7181]

All you really want to do is relieve some of the pressure on the drill (easier) and wood (to avoid splitting). I usually just eyeball the drill bit against the screw shank and then choose the next bit size down from that match. If the wood is especially brittle or the screw is really close to an edge, I'll choose that match (or even one bit size larger) over the next bit size down.

[@jeradw7420]

Not all cuts of wood split the same, that's why pilot holes are generally a good practice. For example, thinner cuts are more prone to splitting and I would always use pilot holes. Nothing is worse than getting most of the way done and having the last screw split the wood. In all wood screws, the solid shaft under the threads needs to push the wood out of the way as the metal needs to replace the wood. That's why you found out that the pilot hole size doesn't need to be exact as wood does compress some. The longer the screw, the more torque you need to drive the screw as more threads are in contact with the wood. Also, the more wood being compressed increases the torque required to turn the screw. With a smaller pilot hole and a longer screw, you run the risk of stripping the head's drive features especially slotted and cross-recessed. You can tell if the pilot is too small by listening for the wood to squeak. Wood making noise is almost always bad.

[@johnsimmins9053]

It looks like the grain plays a part. If the grain is going in the same direction as the screw, it seems more likely to split. When the grain was perpendicular to the screw direction, it didn't split. Maybe use a bigger pilot hole under those conditions?

[@harryhocking4309]

Great video

[@BrianHilson]

Thanks! Take care.

[@vincentrobinette1507]

How close to the edge can you get without splitting if you HAD drilled a pilot hole?

[@bbkind2484]

Thank you this was exactly what I was looking for. I was doing it wrong 4eva

[@JustAddingMy2Cents]

Thank you very much from those who didn't have fathers or mothers who taught them this. Probably dumb question but will this rule of thumb also work for bolts (no sharp point). Thanks!

[@Huidos001]

im a beginner diy building shit around the house these type of videos for experts might be dumb but for beginners is very helpful.

[@BrianHilson]

Thanks, I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@BillR1951]

Brian, ] I'm in the process of repairing the bottom of a wood, swivel desk chair. Several screws sheared and I had to back or dig out the remenants. I made up a slurry of wood glue and saw dust. I then packed the holes and have let it sit for a week. My question, considering that the holes I will drill will go in to the patch , should I dial down the size of the drill bit? Also, I'm going to do a test hole with a very small drill bit first to assure that the patch has dried. Thanks.

[@BrianHilson]

I would try the normal size hole for the screws you're using. I'm guessing the glue/sawdust will be somewhat brittle and prone to cracking, which would be more likely with a smaller hole. If the patches don't work, if would try drilling out the holes with a larger diameter twist bit, like 1/2 inch, and then glue in a dowel of the same size. Cut that flush and drill into the dowel for your screws.

[@BillR1951]

Brian, thanks for your response. I've used dowels on other projects but hope this one does not come to that. Later!!

[@JoeEvansSound]

thanx very much - i have been doing this wrong for so many years :¬S

[@BrianHilson]

No problem, glad you found it helpful!

[@BrianHilson]

Let me know what you think, and thanks for watching! Take care.

[@rustyshackleford2185]

Great video..this is why youtube was created

[@stevegriffiths5364]

A handy man I'm not. But I've alway wondered about this...Thanks for sharing

[@BoogieBoogsForever]

So... just do the first, easiest, quickest way. Got it. Thanks!

[@jmpc0]

First method looked the most practical, quickest and perfectly accurate. Why complicate things..imagine reading the numbers incorrectly on the calipers!!

[@BrianHilson]

Very true! The first method is the one I use 99% of the time.

[@manuelhuerta4348]

you sound like hank hill sort of.

[@BrianHilson]

Thanks?

[@shavonegranville6004]

@@BrianHilson say I sell propane and propane accessories!

[@rustyshackleford2185]

He has a NaRRoW UrEthRa

[@kds5065]

Thanks! The contractor I hired didn't show up and I need the job done ASAP. I'll let you know how it goes.

[@kds5065]

No one died and I've installed the railing! Thanks again.

[@ingridasia5621]

thank you, learning as a female, this is the simplest format on youtube

[@BrianHilson]

Thanks, I'm glad you found it helpful.

[@toolovelyforyou10]

Put on playback speed 1.5

[@Yod12]

Charts have a number size for the screw when the screw is fractional; charts have fractional sizes when the screw is numbered. WTF?!?

[@coreymcniel3390]

I will try to do it with Woodglut plans.

[@markspencer171]

7/64th's ? Imperial blows !