I am looking to hang some blinds over the window on my front door. Is ok to screw the mounting hardware directly into the door?
4 Answers
It's definitely not a problem. As @ChrisF mentioned, the best way is to drill a small pilot hole (1/8" would probably be about right) and use a self-tapping screw.
"Self tapping screws" suggest that you don't need a pilot hole, but they're really meant for sheet metal. They'll never get started in the steel skin of your door. A small hole will let them engage.
Drilling steel is not like drilling wood. Please forgive me if this is too basic, but someone else might find it useful.
To drill the hole, first locate where you want it with a pencil. Then use a center punch with a hammer to tap a small indent right where you want the hole. If you don't have a center punch use a nail. If you don't tap a center mark, your drill will skate right across the surface of the door and scratch the paint.
Then drill at the full speed applying some pressure directly behind the drill motor, in line with the twist drill.(1) If you're used to drilling wood you might be surprised how much pressure it takes.
(1) A bit (ha ha) of anal-retentive vocabulary: the thing that you plug in is the "drill motor". The thing that actually drills, which most people call the "bit", is not a bit, it's a drill, usually a "twist drill". I only bring this up because the the anonymity of the interwebs makes me bold.
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4drill1 [dril] Show IPA –noun 1. Machinery, Building Trades . a. a shaftlike tool with two or more cutting edges for making holes in firm materials, esp. by rotation. b. a tool, esp. a hand tool, for holding and operating such a tool. Looks like the "Drill motor" can also be called a drill. So you would put the drill in the drill and drill a hole. Jul 30, 2010 at 14:48
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1@Tester101 re: lubrication - Apologies for a stunted humor gland if you're poking fun at me - but IMO lubrication isn't important for a job like this but the lack of a center punch will ruin the job by scratching the door paint. Jul 30, 2010 at 15:03
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Not poking fun just wanted to know if you would use lubrication while drilling the door. Jul 30, 2010 at 16:29
Should be fine, just be careful not to poke a dent in the exterior skin when you pre-drill.
Another approach is to avoid drilling at all and use a magnetic curtain rod. These are reasonably priced and stick well to the steel door without damaging it.
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and Neodymium magnets aren't technically that expensive - at least ones that would hold up well enough for this. Aug 2, 2010 at 2:49