Metallics WDS45B 8 x 1-1/4 in. Wafer Head Phillips Drywall Screws - Steel Zinc - Each

Yes. The WDS45B is a Type BSD self-drilling and tapping screw with a drill point, so it cuts its own hole in light gauge steel. The drill point is rated for panel thickness in the 0.350 to 0.100 in. range, which covers typical light gauge framing. No pre-drilling needed.

No. The WDS45B is zinc plated steel, which is an interior corrosion finish only. Use it for interior partitions, ceilings, and furring. For exterior sheathing, soffits, or damp locations, specify a stainless or coated exterior rated self-drilling screw instead.

A wafer head has a wide, thin flat bearing surface, which is what you want when fastening something over the stud rather than finishing drywall. On the WDS45B the head measures 0.359 to 0.38 in. across with a wafer thickness of 0.025 to 0.035 in., so it spreads load over sheet material without pulling through, and sits nearly flush. A bugle head is the one that self-countersinks into gypsum paper for taping and finishing. Pick bugle for board, wafer for sheet goods, track, and furring held to light gauge steel.

A #2 Phillips. The recess is a Phillips drive sized for a #2 tip, with a recess diameter of 0.176 to 0.189 in. and a recess depth of 0.255 in. Three power bits ship with the screws, so a crew can start without sourcing bits separately.

The WDS45B ships as a box with a 5,000 piece minimum. It is a bulk pack intended for production drywall and framing work, not a small contractor pack. Other sizes and quantities can be requested.

The WDS45B carries a 42 lb-in minimum torsional strength and is case hardened to Rockwell C32-40, made from AISI 1016-1024 steel. That is the normal duty range for self-drilling drywall screws driven with a depth-sensitive screw gun. As a reference point on drill performance, drill time runs about 2.5 seconds through a 1 mm plate.

Wafer heads are not designed to countersink into gypsum paper the way a bugle head does, so they are not the right choice under tape and joint compound. Head width of 0.359 to 0.38 in. and a 0.025 to 0.035 in. wafer thickness keep the profile low, which is fine where the fastener stays exposed or is covered by trim or another layer. Note that there is no single standard for wafer head dimensions, so those figures are a guide.

Country of origin on the WDS45B is listed as multiple, and both the ARRA and Buy American compliance flags are undetermined. If you are buying for a federally funded project with domestic content requirements, treat this part as not substantiated for that purpose and confirm sourcing before you commit it to the submittal.

The carton runs 35 lbs and measures 9 x 9 x 6.13 in. One box is a single person lift, which matters if you are staging material on upper floors without a lift.