They can also be used to efficiently fasten metal to other materials such as wood or plastic by creating a much stronger bond than a regular nail.
Attaching something to sheet of aluminum.
Wrap a piece of masking tape around the drill bit as a guide.
Self clinching hardware typically is made from steel stainless steel or aluminum and many types can install permanently in metal sheets as thin as 0 020 in.
Lift the sheet to the wall and press it against the drywall aligning at least.
With thin lightweight aluminum you can glue the metal using hot glue provided that the metal has a few holes drilled in it through which the melted glue can flow then harden.
Folding and adding bending tabs is one of the easiest and most economical way of making moderately strong joints in sheet metal parts that will permanently or semi permanently attach to one.
So whether installing screws into solid laminate or through a fiberglass skin into a core plug of cured epoxy use stainless steel sheet metal screws.
On its own the hot glue will not provide a very strong hold but used with holes in this manner it creates a mechanical bond strong enough to support the weight of the metal.
Select the proper drill bit.
But sheet metal screws should never be used to fasten hardware to extruded aluminum spars masts booms spinnaker poles and so on because sheet metal screws are designed to be held in place by a single thread and are not meant to cut threads they distort the walls of the hole into a helix.
All other metals will react with the aluminum causing damage to the siding over time.
Apply a coat of contact cement to the back of the first aluminum sheet while the adhesive on the wall is still wet.
Measure and mark the length on the drill bit with masking tape.
Self tapping screws also called sheet metal screws are very versatile.
They can be used to securely fasten metals together including aluminum.