Metallics WDS15B 8 x 1/2 in. Wafer Head Phillips Drywall Screws - Steel Zinc - Each

No pre-drilling. The WDS15B is a Type BSD self-drilling and tapping screw with a drill point, so it cuts through light gauge steel on its own. The rated panel thickness range is 0.350 to 0.100 in., which covers typical light gauge framing and track. Drive it with a #2 Phillips bit.

No. At 1/2 in. of length the WDS15B is a framing-to-framing fastener, not a board screw. It is sized to attach steel to steel (stud to track, furring, clip and strap work) where the wafer head sits flush under the board. For hanging 1/2 in. gypsum you need a longer screw that penetrates the board plus the stud flange.

Both flags are marked compliant on the WDS15B: ARRA compliant and Buy American compliant, with country of origin listed as multiple. Government, school and healthcare buyers submitting for approval should pull the manufacturer spec sheet for the documentation package.

The wafer head is wide and thin, so it spreads bearing load and sits close to flush. Head width runs 0.359 to 0.38 in. with a head thickness of only 0.025 to 0.035 in., which is why it is the usual choice under drywall or sheathing where a taller pan head would telegraph through the board. A bugle head, by contrast, is for driving into gypsum itself.

A #2 Phillips bit drives it, and three power bits ship in the box, so a crew can start without a separate bit order. The recess measures 0.176 to 0.189 in. in diameter at 0.255 depth, standard #2 Phillips geometry.

The WDS15B is boxed at 5,000 pieces, which is the order minimum, and the box weighs 17.1 lbs. Plan purchasing in full-box multiples for jobs that run through screws by the thousand.

The WDS15B carries a 42 lb-in minimum torsional strength and a case hardness of Rockwell C32-40, made from AISI 1016-1024 steel. That is enough to drill and tap light gauge steel without shearing, but set your gun to a clutch or depth stop rather than hammering it in; snapped heads on wafer screws are almost always over-torque, not material.

Zinc plated steel is a dry interior finish. The WDS15B is steel with a zinc coating, fine for interior framing, drop ceilings, electrical strap and clip work, but it will corrode in exterior, damp or chemically aggressive locations. For those, specify a stainless self-drilling screw instead.

18 threads per inch, built to SAE J78-2013, the standard for self-drilling tapping screws. That coarser pitch is what lets the screw tap and hold in the 0.100 to 0.350 in. panel range rather than spinning out of very thin material.

Metallics rates drill time at 2.5 seconds through a 1 mm thick plate, and notes minimum torque values are the same for its stainless and steel self-drill screws. Useful if you are estimating labor on a high screw-count ceiling or stud layout.

There is no single industry standard for wafer head dimensions, so Metallics publishes the 0.359 to 0.38 in. head width and 0.025 to 0.035 in. head thickness as a guide and notes deviations can occur. If a submittal calls out an exact head diameter, verify against the manufacturer spec sheet before committing.

Yes. The WDS series runs in other diameters, lengths and pack quantities beyond the 8 x 1/2 in. WDS15B, available by request. If 5,000 pieces is more than the job needs, or you need a longer screw to reach through board, ask for the alternate size.