Metallics JTSP87 12 x 2 in. Pan Head Phillips Sharp Point Tapping Screws - Steel Zinc - Each

A #3 Phillips bit. The recess on the JTSP87 is cut for it: 0.246 to 0.259 inch recess diameter, 0.141 inch deep. A #2 bit will spin out and chew the recess, which matters at 83 lb-in minimum torsional strength because you can twist the head before the screw seats if the driver is not fully engaged.

Type A tapping screws like the JTSP87 have a gimlet (sharp) point and 11 threads per inch, so they form their own thread in thin sheet metal, drywall-over-stud, and wood but need a pilot hole in thicker gauge steel. They do not drill their own hole. For heavier structural steel or anything over light gauge, use a self-drilling (Type TEK) screw instead.

No. The JTSP87 is flagged as not Buy American compliant and not ARRA compliant, with country of origin listed as multiple. On a job with domestic sourcing requirements you will need a fastener with a documented US origin.

The pan head measures 0.407 to 0.425 inch across and sits 0.139 to 0.151 inch above the surface. That is a rounded, non-countersinking head, so it bears on top of the material rather than pulling flush. If you are fastening through a slotted bracket or a knockout, check the head width against the opening, and if you need a flush surface you want a flat head rather than this pan head.

The JTSP87 ships in a jar with a 100-count minimum. The series covers other diameters and lengths by request, so if 2 inch is too long or short for your substrate, the same pan head Phillips sharp point configuration can be sourced in another size.

The JTSP87 is carbon steel with a zinc plated finish, which is a general indoor and dry-location coating. Zinc plating gives light corrosion protection, not the protection you get from hot dip galvanized or stainless. For exterior, wet, or treated lumber work, go with a stainless or galvanized fastener instead.