Metallics DWS4BD 6 x 15/8 in. Bugle Head Phillips Drywall Screws - Steel Black Phosphate - Fine Threads - Each

Fine thread, 18 threads per inch, which is the configuration used for fastening drywall to light gauge metal studs. The sharp point lets it pierce the stud without pre-drilling. For wood framing you want a coarse thread drywall screw instead, since fine threads strip out and spin in wood rather than pulling the board tight.

At 1-5/8 inches long, the DWS4BD is sized for a single layer of 5/8 inch board, and it also works on 1/2 inch board where you want extra embedment into the stud. For double layer 5/8 work you need a longer screw, typically 2 inches or more.

No. Black phosphate is a dry-interior coating only, and these are steel with a black phosphate finish. On exterior soffits, wet baths, or anywhere the board can take moisture, the coating rusts and bleeds through the finish. Use a corrosion resistant coated screw for those areas.

No. Although the screws are manufactured in the United States, they are not flagged as Buy American compliant and not ARRA compliant. If your project has those procurement clauses written in, you will need a fastener carrying the compliance designation.

A #2 Phillips bit. The recess is 0.106 inch deep with a 0.176 to 0.201 inch diameter, so a #2 seats fully and resists cam-out when you are running a screw gun at depth.

That is what the bugle head is for. The head measures 0.315 to 0.347 inch across with a height of only 0.020 to 0.031 inch, and the curved underside self-countersinks into paper-faced board so the head dimples below the surface without tearing the face. Set your gun depth so the head is just below flush and the joint compound covers it in two coats.

They ship in a box, sold by the each with a minimum of 2,551 pieces, which is the standard bulk box count for this size. It is a production quantity rather than a handful, so plan it against the square footage you are boarding.

The DWS4BD is heat treated to Rockwell C44 and made from AISI 1018 steel, which is the standard hardness range for a case hardened drywall screw driving into light gauge steel framing. Keep the gun square to the work; most head shear on metal studs comes from driving at an angle, not from the screw.

Not exactly. There is no single industry standard for bugle head or drywall screw dimensions, so the stated head width of 0.315 to 0.347 inch and head height of 0.020 to 0.031 inch are published as a guide and slight deviations are acceptable. For practical purposes any #6 bugle head screw dimples and finishes the same way, so mixing brands across a job is not a problem for the taper.