pan vs bevel screws

Pan Head VS Bevel Head Screws 

In Sheet Stock

Pan Head Screws

The underside of the screw head is machined flat. Flat screw-to-surface contact helps compress components together.

They are not meant to be countersunk but instead are meant sit atop the surface. They can be used as aesthetic elements on sheet stock. When these screws bottom out in the pilot hole they will quickly tear into the component instead of boring deeper, rendering the hole useless. They are used as a fastener in a similar fashion to a nut and bolt and the whole head should be in contact with the surface.

Bevel Head Screws

Screw head is angled in order to facilitate a flush profile and must be counter-sunk to allow the head to seat below the surface. These screws easily split materials if not counter-sunk properly.

Drilling pilot holes


Trial and error is required to see what size of pilot hole you should drill as it is varies for different materials.

The bevel head screw was not fully counter-sunk and you see the MDF splitting. This could also happen if the pilot hole is too small.
Example of a job well done with a bevel head screw.

Installing in the pan head screw.

The bottom of the pan head screw head sits flush with the material whilst the bevel head screw is nearly hidden due to the countersink.
Drilling into the face of the MDF.
Installing screws into the face of the MDF.

Strength test of pan head screw and bevel head screw

in face of MDF

Strength test of pan head screw and bevel head screw in end grain