OTTER® / ScrewFix Selection Guide

Timber Screw Type	ID Colour	Description
Bugle Phillips Head	Light Blue	A self-drilling screw designed to spin into plasterboard without tearing. Needle point to pierce thin steel up to 1.00mm thick. For walls, ceilings and for most timbers.
Chipboard Phillips Head	Dark Blue	A self-drilling screw with a coarse thread and nibs under the head to self-countersink itself. Thin sheet metal up to 1.00mm thick. For cabinets, decking, flooring, fresh cement sheet. Also available in Galvacoat for treated pine.
Type 17 Timber Hex Head	Red	A self-drilling screw with or without neoprene sealing washer. Zinc Gold Plate or to A.S. 3566 for roofing (carports, pergolas, etc.), furniture, gates and fences. Type 17 hardened point designed to drill through thin metal, e.g. When fixing roofing profiles to timber purlins.
Particleboard Countersunk Phillips Head	Yellow	Long thread screw for hinges, cabinets, kitchens, and piano hinge. Comes in three finishes, Zinc Plate, Florentine Bronze and Brass Plate. For soft timbers.
Woodscrew Phillips Head	Light Green	A Phillips head woodscrew, tapered thread, for hinges, locks, brackets and angles in Zinc Plate and Brass Plate.
Button Head Needle Point Phillips Head	Light Blue	Self-drilling screw for timber. Needle point to pierce thin steel up to 1.00mm. For jobs needing a low profile head. For fixing fascia bracket clips to rafters, signs, or any job requiring broad coverage. Also available with white painted head.
Bugle Batten Type 17	Red	Self-drilling screw for fixing timber battens to timber rafters. In Hex Drive.
Countersunk Type 17 Phillips Head	Red	Self-drilling screw for fixing metal brackets to any timbers, e.g. Timber deck, furniture, hinges, etc. T.17 point.
Pan Head Needle Point	Lemon	Self-drilling screw for fixing soft boards, chipboard, plaster sheet. Needle point to pierce thin steel up to 1.00mm.
Steel Screw Type	ID Colour	Description
Self Tapping Screw	Orange Zinc Plate	Taps its own thread as it drills its own way through thin sheet metal to thin sheet metal for screwing sheds together, etc. Available in Pan head or Countersunk head.
	Pink Stainless Steel
Self Drilling Steel Hex Head	Purple	A self-drilling screw with or without neoprene sealing washer. Zinc Gold Plate or to A.S 3566. Hardened point to drill through metal up to 6.00mm. For roofing, fences, gates, sheds, trailers and signs.
Self Drilling Countersunk Phillips Head	Purple	A self-drilling screw with hardened point. Nibs under the head to self-countersink into predrilled timber. Also available in Galvacoat for use in treated pine.
Countersunk Wing Tip Phillips Head	Purple	Designed to drill into timber to steel up to approx. 4.00mm without pre-drilling timber. For flooring, trailers, fences, gates and decking.
Wafer Head Phillips Head	Purple	A low profile head for jobs requiring a broad coverage. For signs, electrical fittings, light angle. Also available in Galvacoat for use in treated pine.
Bugle Phillips Head	Purple	A self-drilling screw for fixing plasterboard or plywood to steel studs up to 2.5mm approx.

Screw Components

Unlike nails where you typically need a longer nail for holding power, screws can generally use shorter lengths due to the thread which has superior holding power - please check in-store with your local hardware retailer or follow your project instructions for specific screw length for your job as they can varies dependant on application; structural or cosmetic uses.

Choosing the right screw length

Finishes / Coatings

Screw Thread Types

Types		Application
Twin Fast / Fine		A fine double thread with a point designed to pierce thin steel up to 1.00mm thick and hold to medium to high density timber.
Coarse Thread		An open thread designed for use in soft timbers.
Split Thread		A thread that runs from the screw point three quarters the way up the shank stops and resumes 10 to 15mm below the screw head. Used in roofing screws to secure the roofing material to the screw head.
Metal Thread		A fine thread that taps or cuts its own thread into the metal being fixed.

Point Types

Type		Application
Needle point		A fine needle-like point designed to pierce thin steel up to 1.0mm thick.
Type 17		A special long sharp point fluted to clear debris chips.
Drill Point		A hardened point that self drills into metal up to 6.00mm (no pre drilling required).
Wing Tip		Small metal wings positioned above the drill point that clear a passage to prevent the thread from binding in the timber.
Self Tapping		Taps or cuts its own thread as it drills its way through thin sheet metal.

Head Types

Type		Application
Ribbed Countersunk		Fine ribs on the tapered inner face clear away timber to allow the screw head to seat properly into timber. Not suitable for hinges or brackets.
Plain Countersunk		Conical, with flat outer face and tapering inner face allowing it to sink into the material.
Pan Head		Disc shaped with chamfered outer edge and flat underside.
Hex Head with Dome Seal		Hexagonal shaped head with a flanged base and dome shaped neoprene seal fitted to the shank of the screw.
Hex Head		Hexagonal shaped head with a flanged base.
Hex Head with Neoprene Seal		Hexagonal shaped head with a flanged base and washer shaped neoprene seal fitted to the shank of the screw.
Button Head		A button or dome head has flat inner face and hemispherical outer face.
Bugle Head		A smooth tapered underside designed to spin into plasterboard without tearing the paper.
Wafer Head		Has flat inner face and bevelled outer face.

Drive Types

Type		Application
Hex Drive		A hexagonal socket drive that sits over the top of the screw head.
Inhex Drive		A hexagonal shaped drive bit that slots into the hexagonal hole in the screw head.
Phillips Drive		A + shaped slot and is driven by a cross-head screwdriver, designed originally in the 1930's for use with mechanical screwing machines, intentionally made so the driver will ride out, or cam out, under strain to prevent over-tightening.
Square Drive		Has a square hole and is driven by a special square power-tool bit or screwdriver.