I'm looking for a guideline on what size drill bit I should use for making pilot holes in wood. Specifically, how does the drill diameter relate to the size of the screw I'm using? Any tips on how to choose the right size would be great!
3 Answers
For pilot holes, it really depends on the type of wood and the setup. Generally, the drill bit should be slightly smaller than the screw shaft (not including the threads). You can go a bit smaller for soft wood, but for harder woods, make sure the hole is slightly bigger. Otherwise, you risk cracking the wood when you're driving in the screw.
Yeah, there's a general rule: Just don't drill your hole too big or too deep!
There's a helpful chart that breaks down the sizes for different wood types and screw head dimensions. It's halfway into this article, which you might find useful: [Pilot Hole Size Guide](https://performermag.com/best-instruments/best-electric-guitars/how-to-build-your-own-partscaster/). Just a heads up, the site is geared more towards musicians!
Definitely not the source I was expecting for this, since I'm not into music either, haha!
I usually just hold the screw up to a light and find a drill bit that fits right behind it. The biggest bit that I can't see between the threads usually does the trick!