Metallics DWS6B 6 x 21/4 in. Bugle Head Phillips Drywall Screws - Steel Black Phosphate - Fine Threads - Each

Keep it inside and dry. Black phosphate on AISI 1018 steel is a mild corrosion and friction coating meant for interior board work, not a weather coating. For wet areas, exterior sheathing, or anywhere the fastener sees moisture before it is covered, use a coated or stainless exterior screw instead.

No. The DWS6B is not Buy American compliant and is not ARRA compliant, with country of origin listed as multiple. On federally funded or state work carrying domestic sourcing language, these will not satisfy the fastener requirement and you will need a documented domestic screw.

No pilot needed. The DWS6B has a sharp point that pierces light gauge steel and aluminum on its own, and the shank is heat treated to Rockwell C44 so it holds the point and resists snapping off in the recess. Heavier gauge structural steel is a different job and wants a self-drilling point instead.

A #2 Phillips. The recess is 0.106 in. deep and 0.176 to 0.201 in. across, which is standard #2 geometry, and three #2 drive power bits ship with the box. Run them on a screw gun with a depth-sensing nose so the bugle head seats flush without tearing the paper face.

The bugle head has a curved underside that compresses the paper face and self-countersinks without cutting through it, so the head sits just below the surface ready for mud. On the DWS6B the head measures 0.315 to 0.347 in. across with a head height of 0.020 to 0.031 in., so it leaves a shallow dimple that a single coat of compound covers. A flat or pan head would stand proud or tear the facing.

These ship as a box with an order minimum of 3,000 each, weighing 24 lbs. Metallics notes other sizes and quantities are available by request, so if you need a different length or a smaller count in the DWS series, ask for it rather than assuming the 3,000 count is the only configuration.

Treat them as a guide. Metallics states plainly that there is no single industry standard for drywall screw or bugle head dimensions, so the 0.315 to 0.347 in. head width and 0.020 to 0.031 in. head height are ranges and slight deviation is acceptable. If a submittal calls out a hard dimensional tolerance, that is worth flagging before you spec these.