Speaker Mounting Screw

[dbishopbliss]

I have some of the Fender style speaker mounting screws with the wood and machine thread. Do I simply drill a pilot hole large enough for the machine thread to go through and then the wood thread will bite into the baffle? Or, should the pilot hole be slightly smaller than the machine thread? Anyone know what size drill bit to use off hand?


I know I could use T-nuts, but I already have these and I am trying to replicate the Silvertone 1482 construction - just using quality materials.

[jjasilli]

There's charts for this online - for wood I just eyeball it.  For wood I make the pilot hole the diameter of the inside shank of the screw (excluding the threads).  Typically I make the pilot hole too small; then have to enlarge it. 

[sluckey]

I have some of the Fender style speaker mounting screws with the wood and machine thread. Do I simply drill a pilot hole large enough for the machine thread to go through and then the wood thread will bite into the baffle?

Yes. The screw is typically 8-32 machine threads and reverse #10 wood threads. Drill for a snug fit for the 8-32. The #10 wood screw will bite. Don't forget they are left handed threads!

[dbishopbliss]

Don't forget they are left handed threads!

Not sure where I got my screws from (I thought it was Hoffman) but they are NOT left-handed. I was trying to screw them in last night and they were not biting at all. Then I turned the drill to regular and they screwed right it. 

[dude]

Those Fender style speakers screws are OK, but I find they're usually too long, takes forever to change speakers  .
Also, you have to be careful to get them straight, or when you put the speakers in you scrape the sides of the threads, I learned the hard way. I glue them in sometimes if I use a half inch baffle too.