--- title: "What Are Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal) Used For?" description: "Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal) (Trade series (double-end wood screw)) are used for fixing into sheet, timber or plastic by forming their own thread as they are…" url: https://engineeringhardware.com/applications/dowel-screws/ source: Engineering Hardware & Fasteners --- # What Are Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal) Used For? Screws · Trade series (double-end wood screw) · Application guide Typical applications, the industries that specify dowel screws (wood-to-metal), and how to choose the right size, material and finish for the joint. Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal) are used for fixing into sheet, timber or plastic by forming their own thread as they are driven, without a tapped hole. They are manufactured to Trade series (double-end wood screw), and selection is driven by the thread size, the fit and tolerance the assembly requires, and the service environment. - **Primary duty:** Fixing into sheet, timber or plastic by forming their own thread as they are driven, without a tapped hole - **Governing standard:** Trade series (double-end wood screw) - **Thread size range:** M5 to M10 - **Category:** Screws Application notes are general engineering guidance. Verify the property class and any approval requirement against your own design calculation. ![What Are Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal) Used For? application image](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Dowel-Screws.webp) The primary duty of Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal) is fixing into sheet, timber or plastic by forming their own thread as they are driven, without a tapped hole. Below: the sectors that specify them in volume, the checklist used to select the right size and material for the application, installation notes, and the known limits of the type. Stocked across roughly M5 to M10, they cover general to heavy-duty work. ## Typical Applications for Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal) The most common settings where these are specified: - **Appliances & consumer goods:** high-volume assembly with power tools and consistent seating. - **Machine guarding & panels:** removable access covers that are opened for service. - **General machine building:** fastening covers, brackets, motors and sub-assemblies on production equipment. - **Maintenance & repair (MRO):** a stocked size for servicing existing plant where the original fastener spec must be matched. - **Fabrication & metalwork:** bench and on-site assembly of steel frames, enclosures and weldments. 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This product spans M5–M10; check the full table below for the exact dimensions of each size. - **Drive & head:** Pick the drive (socket, cross, slot) and head style for the tool access and seating surface; a recessed drive resists cam-out under power tools. - **Environment:** For damp, coastal or chemical exposure prefer A4/316 stainless or a suitable coating; indoors, plated steel or A2 is usually sufficient. - **Standard:** This product is supplied to Trade series (double-end wood screw). Quoting the standard on your order guarantees interchangeable dimensions between suppliers. ## Installation & Assembly Practice - Match the driver exactly to the recess (PH ≠ PZ; hex key sizes per ISO 2936) and keep the tool axial — side load is the main cause of stripped drives. - In tapped holes, engage a thread length of at least 1× the nominal diameter in steel, 2× in aluminum. - Set power tools to a torque that seats the head without embedding it into the mating surface. ## Common Selection Mistakes with Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal) - Under-sizing the drive for the installation torque — a small recess at high torque strips before the screw is seated. - Using a countersunk head in thin sheet where the countersink removes most of the load-bearing material. - Specifying stainless in high-strength duty: A2-70 is roughly class 7 steel, not a 10.9 substitute. ## Where Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal) Are Not the Right Choice Not for high-preload structural joints (use a property-class bolt and nut), and not in thin sheet where a self-drilling or self-tapping type suits better. Custom manufacturing · Made to drawing ## Need a dowel screws (wood-to-metal) outside the standard range? Dimensions, material, finish and form are specified from the drawing — a screw outside the standard range is a variation on existing tooling rather than a new design. Made by cold heading or warm forging. Minimum order from 2,000 pieces; samples within 7 days of drawing approval. [Custom screw manufacturing](https://engineeringhardware.com/custom/screws/)[Send a drawing](https://engineeringhardware.com/custom/screws/#rfq) ## Technical Drawing Dimensioned line drawing of M5 Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal) to Trade series (double-end wood screw). Side view and top view, drawn to the dimensions in the table below and redrawn for any size selected. - **Wood end nominal (mm):** 5.0 - **Overall length (mm):** 40 - **Wood end length (mm):** 20 - **Machine end length (mm):** 16 - **Pilot hole in hardwood (mm):** 3.2 - **Material:** Steel zinc plated ## Dimensions & Specifications (Trade series (double-end wood screw)) | Machine thread | Wood end nominal (mm) | Overall length (mm) | Wood end length (mm) | Machine end length (mm) | Pilot hole in hardwood (mm) | Material | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | M5 | 5.0 | 40 | 20 | 16 | 3.2 | Steel zinc plated | | M6 | 6.0 | 50 | 25 | 20 | 4.0 | Steel zinc plated | | M6 | 6.0 | 60 | 30 | 25 | 4.0 | Steel zinc plated | | M8 | 8.0 | 70 | 35 | 30 | 5.5 | Steel zinc plated | | M8 | 8.0 | 80 | 40 | 35 | 5.5 | Steel zinc plated | | M10 | 10.0 | 100 | 50 | 45 | 7.0 | Steel zinc plated | Inside the plant ## Manufactured in our own plant This part is cold-formed, threaded, heat-treated and finished in-house. The stages below are where its class and finish are actually decided. 1. ![Wire rod feeding into a cold heading machine](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/09-wire-rod-feed-cold-heading-machine.webp) 01 **Cold heading** Wire rod is drawn to size and cold-formed into blanks. Forming rather than cutting keeps the grain flow continuous around the head, which is where a bolt is most likely to fail. Head dimensions and under-head radius checked at set-up and per shift. 2. ![Thread rolling machine producing bolt threads](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/03-thread-rolling-machine-bolt-production.webp) 02 **Thread rolling** Threads are rolled between hardened dies rather than cut. Rolled threads are stronger in fatigue than cut threads and hold pitch and flank angle far more consistently across a batch. Go / no-go ring gauges to ISO 965 tolerance class 6g. 3. ![Baskets of bolts staged for heat treatment](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/05-heat-treatment-baskets-black-bolts.webp) 03 **Heat treatment** Quench-and-temper brings carbon and alloy steel to the property class ordered — 8.8, 10.9 or 12.9 — with the furnace charge tracked so a finished lot can be traced back to it. Core hardness and tensile tested per lot to ISO 898-1. 4. ![Zinc plated bolts in a treatment basket](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/23-zinc-plated-bolts-treatment-basket.webp) 04 **Surface treatment** Zinc, zinc-nickel, hot-dip galvanizing, black oxide, phosphate and Dacromet, selected against the service environment rather than against the price list. Coating thickness and neutral salt spray hours to ISO 9227. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What material should Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal) be for outdoor use? For damp, coastal or chemical environments specify A4 (316) stainless or a suitably coated steel. For indoor or dry use, A2 (304) stainless or zinc-plated steel is normally adequate. ### Are Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal) made to a recognized standard? Yes — they are manufactured to Trade series (double-end wood screw), so dimensions are interchangeable between suppliers when you quote the standard on your order. ### What are Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal) used for? Fixing into sheet, timber or plastic by forming their own thread as they are driven, without a tapped hole. They are supplied to Trade series (double-end wood screw). ### Which industries use Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal)? They are commonly specified in appliances & consumer goods, machine guarding & panels and general machine building, among other sectors. ### Can I get a quote for Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal) in the size and material I need? Yes. Use the technical drawing and quote form on this page to set the size and options, then send the exact configuration to our team for pricing and lead time. ## Related Pages Product page: [Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal) — specifications & sizes](https://engineeringhardware.com/fastener/dowel-screws/) ### Dowel Screws (Wood-to-Metal) Specification Guides ### Related Fastener Applications