410 Stainless Steel Hex Head Concrete Screws

Hex washer head concrete screws in 410 stainless for exterior and high-moisture fastening. The washer face seats flat against the fixture and the hex drive takes far more torque than a recessed drive without camming out, which makes these the choice for ledgers, brackets, strapping, standoffs and general structural attachment. Available in Simpson Strong-Tie Titen®, DeWalt Crete-Flex® and DeWalt UltraCon® SS4. Each screw cuts its own threads as it drives and can be backed out and reinstalled if a fixture needs to come off. If the head must sit flush or below the surface, use the flat head version instead, or return to all 410 stainless concrete screws.

Diameters, Drives and Drill Bits

These lines do not share one drill bit or one socket size. Match both to the specific part you are installing, not to the screw diameter alone — check the product page for the exact part before you drill.

Key Features

• Hex washer head — 1/4" socket at 3/16" diameter, 5/16" at 1/4"; high torque, no cam-out
• Integral washer face seats flat against the fixture
• 410 stainless steel — good corrosion resistance for exterior and high-moisture use
• DeWalt lines carry a Stalgard® coating rated for 1,000 hours salt spray per ASTM B117
• DeWalt Crete-Flex® parts are code-listed under ICC-ES ESR-3814
• One-piece concrete screw — no shield, plug or expansion sleeve required
• Anchors into concrete, brick, grout-filled CMU and hollow block
• Removable and reinstallable
• 3/16" and 1/4" diameters in lengths from 1 1/4" through 6"

How to Install a Hex Head Concrete Screw

1. Look up the carbide bit for your specific part in the table above, or on the product page. Drill at least 1/2" deeper than the intended embedment to leave room for dust.
2. Blow the hole clean with compressed air. Dust left in the hole is the most common cause of a screw that will not seat or that spins out.
3. Drive the screw through the fixture with the socket for your diameter — 1/4" hex on 3/16" screws, 5/16" hex on 1/4" screws — until the washer face seats against the fixture. Do not overtighten; the hex drive will happily deliver more torque than the threads cut in the masonry can take, and stripping them ruins the hold.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size drill bit do I need?

It depends on the line, not just the diameter. A 3/16" Crete-Flex® takes a 5/32" carbide bit. A 1/4" Simpson Titen® takes 3/16", and so does the 1/4" x 6" DeWalt UltraCon® SS4 — but the 1/4" x 5" DeWalt Crete-Flex® takes 7/32". Check the table above or the individual product page. The bit is always smaller than the thread crest because the screw cuts its own threads into the hole wall.

Why choose hex head over flat head?

Torque and seating. A hex socket transmits more torque than a #2 Phillips or a T25 star and will not cam out, which matters on longer screws and in dense base material. The washer face also spreads the clamp load across the fixture rather than concentrating it under a tapered head. The trade-off is that the head stands proud, so use the flat head anywhere the fastener gets covered, walked on, or would interfere with something.

Are these the same as Tapcon® screws?

They are the same type of fastener. "Tapcon" is ITW Buildex's trademark for its concrete screw, and it has become shorthand for the whole category the way people say Sawzall for a reciprocating saw. The screws on this page are Simpson Strong-Tie Titen®, DeWalt Crete-Flex® and UltraCon® SS4 in 410 stainless — functionally equivalent to the stainless Tapcon® and to Elco Crete-Flex®. Same hole preparation and same head style; confirm the bit size for the specific part.

Can I reuse a concrete screw?

The screw itself can be removed and reinstalled, but each reinstallation into the same hole reduces holding power because the cut threads in the concrete wear. For a full-strength connection, drill a fresh hole.

How deep should the screw go into the concrete?

Embedment depth drives holding capacity, so select a length that puts adequate thread into the base material after passing through the fixture. Subtract the fixture thickness from the screw length to find your working embedment, and always drill at least 1/2" deeper than that figure.

Is 410 stainless good enough for coastal work?

It depends on exposure. 410 stainless is well suited to exterior and high-moisture conditions and substantially outlasts plated carbon steel, but it is not a marine-grade alloy. For direct salt spray, splash zones or submerged applications, step up to a 316 stainless concrete screw. Where the connection needs more capacity than a concrete screw provides, a stainless Titen HD® screw anchor is the heavier option.