Buy Self Drilling Screws Online in Australia
Self-Drilling Screw (Tek Screw) Selection — Quick Reference
Self-drilling screws (Tek screws / self-drillers) combine drilling + threading + fastening in a single fastener — drill their own hole as driven + thread into substrate without pilot. Standard for AU roofing + cladding + sheet metal + steel framing.
| Tek Screw Type | Best For | Substrate Thickness |
|---|---|---|
| Tek #1 (Standard Point) | Light steel sheet — 1.0-2.5mm | Up to 2.5mm steel |
| Tek #2 (Medium Point) | Medium steel — 2.5-3.5mm | 2.5-3.5mm steel |
| Tek #3 (Heavy Point) | Thicker steel — 3.0-5.0mm | 3.0-5.0mm steel |
| Tek #4 (Heavier Point) | Thick steel — 4.0-6.5mm | 4.0-6.5mm structural |
| Tek #5 (Heavy-Duty Drill Point) | Thickest steel — up to 12mm | Up to 12mm |
| Hex Head with Bonded Washer (Roofing) | Roofing + cladding — EPDM washer seal | Roof sheet to purlin |
| Pan Head + Wafer Head | Internal cladding + ceiling + light sheet | Concealed install |
| Countersunk (Tek with Wings) | Timber-to-steel through-fix — wings clear hole in timber first | Timber overlay + steel framing |
| Class 3 Galvanised Coating | Outdoor + cladding exposure | Australian Class 3 outdoor rating |
| Class 4 (Premium Coating) | Coastal + corrosive exposure | Australian Class 4 marine |
| 304 Stainless Tek | Marine + high-corrosion + clad systems | Saltwater + chloride |
Critical: Match drill point (Tek number) to steel thickness — too-small point = burn out + galled threads; too-large point = chewed hole + poor pull-out. Class 3 minimum for AU outdoor roofing exposure; Class 4 or SS for coastal. Driving: hex-driver socket impact driver typical — match driver size to head. Speed must be sufficient to drill (not too slow). Companion: fasteners, sealing washers, cordless power tools.
Self Drilling Screws (Tek Screws) for Australian Roofing, Cladding and Sheet Metal Work
Self drilling screws (also called Tek screws or self-drillers) combine the drilling and threading operations into a single fastener — the screw drills its own hole as it's driven, then threads itself into the substrate without a separate pilot hole. For Australian roofing, cladding, sheet metal, and steel-frame construction work, self drilling screws are the everyday fastener for fixing sheet to substrate at production speed. AIMS Industrial supplies self drilling screws across the head styles, point types, and sizes Australian trade and industrial customers need.
The point types we stock
- Type 17 point — sharp gimlet point for soft substrates (timber, plastic, and very thin metal)
- Drill point #1, #2, #3 — short drill point for thin metal sheet (up to 2.5mm)
- Drill point #4, #5 — longer drill point for medium-thickness steel (up to 6mm and 12mm respectively)
- Wing-tek point — extended wings on the drill point that snap off after drilling through metal sheet, allowing the threads to engage timber substrate behind
The head styles we stock
- Hex washer head — the most common roofing and cladding head; driven by nutsetter
- Hex head with bonded sealing washer — integrated EPDM washer for weatherproof roof and wall fastening
- Countersunk (flat) head — for flush installations where the head must sit below the surface
- Pan head — low-profile dome head for general sheet metal fastening
- Wafer head — large flat head for fastening thin sheet to thicker substrates
- Bugle head — for decking and timber-on-steel applications
Materials and finishes
- Class 2 zinc plated — indoor and protected outdoor use
- Class 3 galvanised — outdoor use with good corrosion protection (typical roofing screw spec)
- Class 4 — stainless cap (CL4) — premium corrosion protection with stainless cap over carbon steel body
- 304 and 316 stainless steel — full stainless construction for marine, food-grade, and aggressive corrosive environments
- Coloured-head finishes — Colorbond-matched powder coat finishes for visible roof and cladding installations
Where self drilling screws earn their place
- Steel roofing and cladding — fastening sheet to purlin and frame
- Steel-frame construction — sheet metal to steel stud, batten, and joist
- HVAC ductwork — joining sheet metal sections and fittings
- Garage and shed construction — fastening cladding to frame
- Solar PV mounting — solar rail fastenings to roof structure
- Steel deck flooring — fastening corrugated steel decking to structural steel
Sizing — match drill point to substrate thickness
Self drilling screw sizing has two dimensions: the thread diameter (the screw thread, e.g. 12g, 14g) and the drill point capacity (the maximum substrate thickness the drill point can penetrate). Common combinations:
- 10g × Type 17 — for sheet to timber
- 12g × Drill #2 — for sheet to thin steel (up to 2.5mm)
- 12g × Drill #4 — for sheet to medium steel (up to 6mm)
- 14g × Drill #5 — for sheet to heavy steel (up to 12mm)
Get the drill point capacity wrong and the screw either won't drill through (point too short) or wallows out the hole (point too long for the substrate).
Brands stocked at AIMS
Hobson and Bremick cover the self drilling screw range across the standard sizes, point types, and finishes. Bulk packs are available for high-volume installation and fitout work.
Tools you'll need
Self drilling screws require an impact driver or cordless drill with a matching nutsetter (for hex head) or screwdriver bit (for cross-head and Torx). Match the nutsetter or bit size to the screw head; running mismatched tooling damages the head and causes installation failures.
Companion ranges at AIMS
Self drilling screws sit alongside our broader fastener range — see nutsetters, pan head screws, socket countersunk screws, and security screws for the related products.
Need help speccing self drilling screws for a roofing, cladding, or fitout job? contact our team — we'll match by substrate, thickness, and bulk pricing.
Sheet Metal Screws — Self-Drilling and Self-Tapping
Sheet metal screws is the broader trade term that covers both the self-drilling screws (Tek screws) on this page and the self-tapping screws stocked separately. For thin steel sheet under 1.0mm, a self-tapping pan head or wafer head in zinc or stainless typically suits — pre-drill or hammer-pierce the pilot, then drive the thread. For sheet 1.0-12mm thickness, the self-drilling Tek screws here drill their own hole + form thread in one driving operation. Choose by sheet thickness: Tek #1 to #2 for 1.0-2.5mm sheet, #3 to #4 for 2.5-5mm sheet, #5 for heavy steel up to 12mm. For pre-drilled or pre-tapped sheet metal applications, see the dedicated self-tapping screws range. Companion: nutsetters for hex-head Tek drivers, sealing washers for weatherproof joints.
People Also Ask — Self-Drilling Screws (Tek Screws)
Q: What are self-drilling screws?
Self-drilling screws (also called Tek screws, drilling screws, or self-drillers) have an integrated drill point that creates the pilot hole as the screw drives. Eliminates the separate drilling step — faster installation than traditional thread-tapping screws. Used in metal-to-metal fastening (steel sheet to steel framework), roofing and cladding installation, automotive applications, and any sheet metal joint where speed matters. Sized by gauge (#8, #10, #12, #14) and length.
Q: What metal thickness can a Tek screw handle?
Drill point capacity varies by screw size: #8 Tek screws drill through 1-3mm steel. #10 through 1-6mm. #12 and #14 through 6-12mm steel. Choose screw size to match the steel thickness being penetrated. Wrong-sized drill point: too small drill — screw can't penetrate; too large drill — hole oversized and screw threads don't engage. Refer to manufacturer specs for specific drill capacity per screw size.
Q: Hex head, pancake, or wafer head?
Hex head: workshop standard for cladding and roofing (driven with socket and impact driver). Pancake head (low-profile flat): used where flush surface is required, often for sheet metal joining. Wafer head: similar to pancake but slightly larger — better load distribution. Bugle head: similar to drywall screw style but for steel — penetrates without leaving a raised bump. Match head style to the assembly requirement.
Q: Galvanised or stainless Tek screws?
Galvanised steel (workshop standard): suitable for outdoor structural and cladding applications, 25-50 year corrosion life. Stainless 304 or 316: marine and coastal environments where galvanised would corrode faster. For roofing and structural cladding in coastal areas, stainless preferred. For inland and protected applications, galvanised is cost-effective. Don't mix galvanised and stainless on same assembly — galvanic corrosion.
Q: Class 3 or Class 4 corrosion rating?
Class 3: standard galvanised, suitable for protected indoor and outdoor under-cover use. Class 4: heavier galvanising or stainless, suitable for exposed outdoor and coastal use. Class 5: stainless 316, suitable for marine and severe corrosion environments. For Australian outdoor commercial construction, Class 4 typical. For coastal mining and marine, Class 5. AS 3566 specifies corrosion class requirements for self-drilling screws. Confirm corrosion class matches the environment + warranty requirements.