Gimlet Point Machine Screw?

Hex head self-tapping screw?

Thread cutting machine screw?

I don't know if your term is standard, but it makes perfect sense and is understandable. I think I've heard of it before, but am not sure.

The screw you reference is designed to penetrate sheet metal.

No thread cutting provision is needed. They join two very thin profiles together. Their wide pitch accommodates two thin sheet metal plates.

"Self tapping machine screws" are designed to tap, thread and fasten metal with profiles thicker than "sheet" metal.

Thanks for the input, folks.

Here's a pic I dug out of the Grade 2 variety:

As you can see, it's not a typical sheet metal screw; nor is it a self-tapping machine screw (at least in the conventional sense). It's a conceptual hybrid of a true machine screw and a type AB sheet-metal product (the first of SolarEagle's posted images).

Can indeed still call it a "gimlet point machine screw" in casual prattle, but it'd be a welcome relief to finally get the thing out of my craw (too many years in the back of the head)!

Itch, itch, itch...

Thanks again --

Selfie!

Type CA.

Ahhhh... Great scratch

Cheers!

type CA point
"Type CA point: A thread forming screw with either coarse or fine pitch machine screw thread. Same as Type C except with a Gimlet point. Thelocating point works better than Type C where holes between two adjoining pieces of sheet metal may be somewhat misaligned."

http://elginfasteners.com/resources/screw-point-types/

http://www.taptite.net/pdfs/documents/TAPTITEII-CONTI-reminc.pdf

"Gimlet point machine screw/bolt" is the engineer's nomenclature; the guys who regularly bust their knuckles call them "fender bolts" because they are used to hold auto body panels together. Much quicker to use on an assembly line for things which might not be lined up well enough to start a "regular" bolt without risking cross-threading.

Might want to look up SEMS type screws. Check them out on spaenaur sight for the many different styles.