Thread: Square drive screws

thanx WB...and bob and john

that woodturners pack looks tempting

I think most of the phillips head available these days are just such poor quality, soft metal and the slots rip out very easily.

Never had the problem with the Sachys Robertson square head, and I'm guessing they're made from tougher stuff.

I agree with Tex B especially when you are working in a awkward area and can't apply decent pressure, you rarely have to worry about ripping the slot out of the screw

I read somewhere that the philips head were initially designed for automotive assembly and as such were intended to "cam out" rather than damage whatever they were fastening (apparantly the clutches on those early drivers couldn't have been reliable.

Denn

I like them for the same reasons as stated - they look good if you have to build something where you see the screws. I am trying to find raised head-hex drive screws now...... kinda like self-tappers that look like unbrako screws.... Years ago I found a manufacturer who made all kinds of proprietary screw heads but I can't recall where. Some of them were brilliant....in stainless too.

Originally Posted by dennford

I read somewhere that the philips head were initially designed for automotive assembly and as such were intended to "cam out" rather than damage whatever they were fastening (apparantly the clutches on those early drivers couldn't have been reliable.

Denn

Anyone in manufacture are fully aware of how much more efficient and cost effective it is to have a screw that fits snuggly (doesn't wobble when driven in) doesn't fall off the bit no matter the angle (allowing for one handed application), doesn't strip out the head of the screw, and doesn't wear out nearly as quick. But as the story below goes, they never caught on because:

The guy who patented it, Robertson, set up a plant on the East Coast of Canada and was approached by Ford to use the square drive head in the manufacture of his cars. At the time it was obvious that it was far superior to the flat headed screws used. Problem, at least to Robertson it was, Ford wanted to control most if not all aspects of the manufacture of his vehicles and relying on Robertson to supply was out of the question. He asked Robertson to sell the rights to him so he could choose who and where they were made himself. But he like Ford wanted to maintain complete control over his product and said no.

Ford went to a business associate and asked if he could help. That fellows name was Philips. To make a long story short, Philips then came up with the Philips head screw and sold the rights to anyone that wanted it.

The Robertson headed screw was and still is a far better design than the Philips head but due to that and other circumstances it never gained the success it should have. It's still relatively exclusive to Canada. The only people in Canada that actually want to use a Philips head screw are drywallers because they're prone to slip.

Robertson tried to sell his screw design in the UK also and was considered a revolution in design but the government and manufacturers had other more pressing things on their minds - WWII. Re-tooling was just not an option at the time. For some reason Robertson didn't pursue the brits when the war was over. That's why we're stuck with the grossly inferior Philips.

I managed to get some from the local hardware store and my impression is they are great!! Very positive action.
I've just done some work in a factory, where the guy makes 5th-wheeler type caravans. He uses only these type of screws to put it all together, absolutely raves about them! There was a huge selection, bulk boxes full of countersunk, dome head, in a range of sizes, as well as shiny, plated or plain steel. They were all imported specially, like most of his stuff, direct from Canada, as he can get them half the price of buying locally.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by China

jmk89 So that makes two of us who still make use of the 'Yankee"

or three

G'day.
I re-ground a worn phillips no.2 long bit to the square configuration.
Works just fine.
Love the square drive.

You can get a hand-held driver to fit a hex-click shaft from S.R. here in Oz.

Not cheap but nicely made.

Like Skew, I use these screws repeatedly for mounting turning blanks on faceplates or faceplate rings and they are re-usable, durable and grip well. Have worn out one #2 driver before breaking a screw.

Are one of the best things on the market!!

I have boxes of square drive and phillips and until I recently used really good phillips drivers agreed with most people, square drive was best. Then I used Festool driving bits and decided that phillips worked just as well as square drive if good quality bits are used. There is literally no advantage over phillips if good phillips drivers are used.

Originally Posted by glock40sw

G'day.
I re-ground a worn phillips no.2 long bit to the square configuration.
Works just fine.
Love the square drive.

Geez, Glock! I looked long and hard for the "I'm really cheap" smiley, but can't find it.

Originally Posted by Honorary Bloke

Geez, Glock! I looked long and hard for the "I'm really cheap" smiley, but can't find it.

Yeah...I know.

I just hate throwing anything away.

Besides, it kept me busy for awhile...

Originally Posted by glock40sw

Yeah...I know.

I just hate throwing anything away.

Besides, it kept me busy for awhile...

I have to say that I reckon $8 is not too much for a screw driver which fits perfectly first time! And less for driver bits.

I am glad to see that I am not the only one who has found these to be really great. Yes, they are pricier but I reckon that they are in general a better screw (ie made out of a better quality of metal) and using them takes one more irritation out of using screws when you know that they won't cam out or snap...