Metallics DWS55B 6 x 2 in. Bugle Head Phillips Drywall Screws - Steel Black Phosphate - Fine Threads - Each

A 2 inch length covers the thicker and doubled up assemblies. Rule of thumb on drywall is that the screw needs about 5/8 inch of penetration past the board into the framing, so 2 inches handles 5/8 inch board over a layer of 1/2 inch board, 5/8 inch board over furring or a resilient channel, or single layer board where you want extra bite. For a single layer of 1/2 inch board on steel studs a 1 inch or 1-1/4 inch screw is the normal call, and a 2 inch screw there just leaves length rattling around inside the cavity.

Keep them dry. Black phosphate is a mild corrosion coating meant for interior work, not a weather finish, and steel under it will rust once it takes moisture or gets buried in wet mud or exterior sheathing. Interior partitions, ceilings and finished rooms are the job for these. For exterior board, soffits, or anywhere that sees standing damp, go to a screw with a coating rated for wet or exterior use.

They are flagged compliant for both ARRA and Buy American on the DWS55B record, with the country of origin listed as multiple. On a federally funded project, pull the origin documentation for the specific lot you receive, because a multi origin item ships from more than one plant.

A #2 Phillips is the driver, and three #2 drive power bits ship in the box with the screws. The recess is 0.106 inch deep with a 0.176 to 0.201 inch diameter, so a worn #2 bit will cam out and chew the recess before the head seats. That is why they include spares.

That is what the bugle head is for. The DWS55B head is 0.315 to 0.347 inch across and only 0.020 to 0.031 inch tall, and the curved underside compresses the paper face rather than cutting it, so the head dimples just below the surface and takes mud without a bump. Set your gun clutch so the head breaks the surface without tearing the paper, or the screw loses its grip and the joint telegraphs.

They come boxed at a 5,000 piece minimum, sold by the thousand. That is a bulk carton for crews running board by the unit, not a handful for a service call. Metallics does offer other sizes and quantities in the DWS line by request if 5,000 of the 2 inch is more than the job needs.

The DWS55B is case hardened to Rockwell C44 out of AISI 1018 steel, which is the hardness range that lets the point cut steel studs without rolling over. The trade off is real and worth knowing on the job: hardened drywall screws are brittle in shear and bending. They are fine holding board in place, but they are not a structural or hanging fastener, so do not use them to carry load, hang equipment, or fasten framing members.

About 26.15 pounds for the box, at 9 x 9 x 6.13 inches. Worth knowing if you are ordering several cartons to a jobsite with a stair carry or planning a shelf run in a stockroom, since a pallet of these gets heavy quickly for the footprint.