Blum hinge screws need pilot holes?

[Brian Penning]

Pine specifically, but the question applies to all other woods as well.
TIA

[Rod Sheridan]

I always drill using a Vix bit.......Rod.

[Garth Hulley]

Brian
When I use screws for Blum hinges I don't predrill pilot holes. The screws I use are Roberston # 6 x 5/8 LoRoot. They have an extremely sharp point so you can easily center them. I have never had a problem with splitting. I find they work equally well in hard maple as well as pine.
Most of the time I use Inserta hinges using a Blum jig to drill a 5 mm hole.

Garth

[glenn bradley]

I always do. The tiny bit of time I would save will be lost on the one hinge that goes "wonkey". Vix bit.

[Roger Ronas]

If you mean system screws then yes they need a pilot hole. If you mean a wood screw then not necessarily. You will probably save time by measuring and drilling a pilot hole versus just stabbing a screw in a hole when you think you have the hinge lined up correctly.

HTH
Roger

[Peter Quinn]

Yes pilot. Use vix bit.

[Jim Becker]

It's generally a best practice to pre-drill for screws...with the proper size bit. The Vix bits that folks mention are perfect for this as they self-center for an accurately placed pilot hole using the hinge in this case to guide for location.