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I want to install blinds into windows that have a metal lintel. The lintel appears to be a steel beam of unknown thickness. Can I just screw self-tapping screws in there? Should I drill a pilot hole first?

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    You're going to have a very difficult time driving a tap into a flat plate of metal without having first drilled a pilot hole. Here's an alternate thought: Mount the blinds to the side of the window frame instead of the top. I've installed a fair number of blinds, and to my recollection, every single one has had mounts that could be installed either way.
    – FreeMan
    Dec 1, 2021 at 12:26
  • Yeah, self-tapping (self-drilling) screws are generally intended for sheet metal, or fairly light steel structures such as roof trusses. The pilot tip needs to be able to pop through before the threads are involved, and they simply won't go in if there's too much thickness. The threads will just strip.
    – isherwood
    Dec 1, 2021 at 15:33
  • Self-tapping or self-drilling? Big difference. Self-tapping (needle or notch tip) won't touch beam steel. They'll only do sheet metal.
    – isherwood
    Dec 1, 2021 at 15:34
  • Freeman has a good suggestion but if you're intent on using the top mount buy a tap and drill set. You can get them in most common sizes for less than $10. Comes with the tap for tapping the threads and the correct size drill bit.
    – Platinum Goose
    Dec 1, 2021 at 15:52
  • use supermagnets ... duckduckgo.com/?q=supermagnet+hook&iax=images&ia=images
    – jsotola
    Dec 1, 2021 at 16:58

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