Pick the screw in three steps. Size: it has to pass through the bracket’s holes, so for BINKIN’s 3/16-inch holes and slot that means #8 screws or smaller. Head: use a pan, washer or truss head that is wider than the slot, so it clamps the bracket instead of sinking into it. Type and length: wood screws into studs and wood, wall anchors where there is no stud, sheet-metal screws into metal, long enough to bite well into what is behind the wall.
1. Size: match the screw to the hole
Screw sizes like #6, #8 and #10 describe the thread’s diameter. A #8 screw is about 0.164 inch across, which passes through a 3/16-inch (0.1875) hole with room to spare. A #10 is about 0.190 inch, a hair too big. So for BINKIN brackets:
| Screw | Thread diameter | Fits BINKIN’s 3/16″ holes? |
|---|---|---|
| #6 | about 0.138″ | Yes |
| #8 | about 0.164″ | Yes, the best fit |
| #10 | about 0.190″ | No, too big |
| 1/4″ lag | 0.250″ | No |
2. Head: wider than the slot
The screw in the slot does two jobs: it lets the bracket slide, then it clamps it in place. That needs a flat-bottomed head that bridges the slot.
- Pan, washer or truss head: the right choice. The flat underside clamps the bracket evenly.
- Flat (countersunk) head: avoid in the slot. Its cone wants to sink into a matching hole, so in a slot it sits unevenly and can let the bracket slip.
- Small head? Add a washer under it.
3. Type and length: what are you fastening into?
| Into | Use | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Wood stud behind drywall | #8 wood or construction screw | Through the drywall and well into the stud: about 1-1/2 to 2 inches for 1/2-inch drywall |
| Drywall, no stud | A wall anchor sized for a #8 screw, rated for your load | The length the anchor’s maker specifies |
| Solid wood, posts, furniture | #8 wood screw | Long enough to bite, short enough not to poke through |
| Brick, block, concrete | A plug anchor sized for a #8 screw (most masonry screws are 3/16″ or bigger and will not pass through the hole) | Per the anchor |
| Sheet metal, metal studs | #8 self-drilling or sheet-metal screw | Enough to fully engage the metal |
| Two brackets, or a panel you can reach behind | #8-32 machine screw, washer and nut | Through both, plus the nut |
| Outdoors | Exterior-rated (coated or stainless) screws | As above |
How much any small bracket holds depends far more on the screws and what they go into than on the steel: a screw pulling out of drywall gives long before the bracket does. BINKIN does not publish a load rating. For heavy or structural loads, use load-rated structural connectors and the fasteners their maker specifies.
Questions people ask
What size screw fits a 3/16-inch hole?
A #8 screw (about 0.164 inch) is the largest common size that passes through a 3/16-inch hole. #6 fits too. A #10 (about 0.190 inch) does not.
Are screws included with BINKIN brackets?
No. Hardware is not included, so you can choose the right screw for your wall, wood or metal. BINKIN brackets take #8 screws and smaller.
Can I use drywall screws?
Drywall screws are made for hanging drywall and are brittle. For brackets, wood or construction screws into studs, or proper wall anchors, are the better choice.
What screw goes in the slot?
A pan, washer or truss head that is wider than the slot, so it clamps the bracket when tightened. Avoid flat (countersunk) heads in the slot.
How do I join two BINKIN brackets?
Put a #8-32 machine screw through both slots with a washer and nut, slide them to the length you want, and tighten.