Metallics JSTS13 8 x 1/2 in. Pan Head Slotted Tapping Screws - 18-8 Stainless - Each

The Metallics JSTS13 is a Type A tapping screw with a gimlet point, so it starts in a punched or drilled hole in thin sheet and cuts its own thread as it drives. The gimlet point helps it find and start the hole, but it is not a self-drilling screw, so you still need a hole in the material. Thread count is 15 threads per inch, matching the ASME B18.6.4 thread standard for tapping screws.

You can, but be aware of the dissimilar metal issue. Metallics flags that fastening stainless steel parts to aluminum or steel can set up a galvanic couple and cause corrosion in some environments. Indoor dry electrical work is generally fine; outdoors, in wash-down areas, or on coastal sites, isolate the joint or pick a fastener that matches the base metal.

No. The JSTS13 is not Buy American compliant and is not ARRA compliant, and country of origin is listed as multiple. If your contract carries a domestic sourcing clause, this screw will not satisfy it.

Minimum torsional strength on the JSTS13 is 39 lb-in. Stainless screws in a slotted drive are easy to over-torque and cam out, so drive them with a hand screwdriver or a clutch-set driver at low speed rather than an impact gun. Slot width runs 0.045 to 0.054 in. and slot depth 0.045 to 0.058 in., so a properly sized flat tip matters if you want full engagement.

Head width on the JSTS13 measures 0.306 to 0.322 in. and head height 0.085 to 0.096 in., built to the ASME B18.6.3-2013 dimensional standard for the head. That low pan profile sits close to the surface, which is why it is used for device plates, straps, and enclosure hardware where a raised head would foul a cover.

They ship in a jar, with a 100-piece minimum per jar. The packed jar weighs 0.34 lbs and measures 3 x 2.15 x 3 in., so it drops into a van bin or a service cart tray without taking up a shelf.

Metallics lists these for the electrical, plumbing, and heating and air conditioning trades. Typical use is mounting straps, clips, plates, and light sheet metal parts where the 18-8 stainless material is wanted for corrosion resistance rather than plated steel.

The JSTS13 is a slotted drive. Slotted is still preferred by a lot of electricians because the same flat blade on a combination screwdriver handles device screws and terminals, and it lets you feel the torque going in. The tradeoff is that a slotted tip walks out of the slot more readily than a Phillips under a power driver, so for high volume driving a Phillips version of the same pan head self-tapper is the easier choice.