Ton ton
Well-known member
Is your favorite screwdriver torx, Robertson, Phillips, Pozidrive, slotted, or Vodka?
Favorite screwdriver.
- Thread starter Ton ton
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BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Phillips because it’s simple. Flathead because I have the most of those lol 
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.Bubba Fett
Well-known member
A good Phillips is a great thing. Recently, I stupidly bought a whole set of Husky screwdrivers, which I don't need at all. They are the old-style Western-Forge drivers, that are similar to the Craftsman drivers. They are decent, but like the last WF Craftsman drivers I bought, the #2 Phillips doesn't fit. I goes in a couple of millimeters, but not nearly enough to engage the screw. Any real torque would damage the screw or the driver. I will have to file it to get it to fit. WF should have stuck with wrenches, pliers, etc and left all the screwdriver contracts to Pratt-Read. Not that it matters anymore.
As far as the bit type goes, I do love Torx. It rarely slips or cams out, and having six sides makes it easier to position the driver. I wish Snap-On/Williams and Stanley would make Torx drivers for their Hardhandle and 100-plus lines respectively.
As far as the bit type goes, I do love Torx. It rarely slips or cams out, and having six sides makes it easier to position the driver. I wish Snap-On/Williams and Stanley would make Torx drivers for their Hardhandle and 100-plus lines respectively.
ChevyEFI
Well-known member
Torx Quadrajet screws are better than straight bit Q-jet screws.
Looking at the Wright 2020 catalog, I kinda wish they had a Torx screwdriver set. Because cushion-grip is a favorite screwdriver style for me, and I haven't bothered buying a full torx driver set before.
Looking at the Wright 2020 catalog, I kinda wish they had a Torx screwdriver set. Because cushion-grip is a favorite screwdriver style for me, and I haven't bothered buying a full torx driver set before.
ChevyEFI
Well-known member
High Five for being in a similar time-thought continuum.
kabinenroller
Well-known member
philips work good and look good. The only screwdriver to use is a Vessel JIS.
Farmall450
Well-known member
A good deep open Phillips.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
I have 100-plus Torx screwdrivers. Imagine my surprise to find out that they don't make them.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
A good Phillips is a great thing. Sadly, it doesn't exist except in the JIS form.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
A while back I ran across a bunch of Frearson screws in an old elevator phone system. I didn't have a proper driver to engage them. Of course, I ordered some Reed & Prince bits, but no one appears to offer a dedicated driver. I hate when tool companies stop offering legacy tools. It's not like all those old fasteners suddenly disappear.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
I've always like Robertson screws (yea, I know the Hoi-Polloi call them square drive). I think we woodworkers were the first to adopt them in the USA due to McFeeley's Hardware bringing them in from Canada but an authentic Robertson screw on an authentic Robertson two piece screwdriver is truly a thing of beauty as it clings to the end of the driver. Also, few realize it but most electrical devices: Plugs, outlets all of that kind of stuff that you hook wire to uses a #1 square drive to fasten the wire to the device. Ever wonder what that square in the middle of the crappy Phillips/Slotted pan head screw was. Well it's a #1 Robertson. Believe me once you start using that when you're wiring you're not going back to Phillips or slotted.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
I have noticed that the SBD Craftsman Phillips drivers fit perfectly. I prefer Klein, though.
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Vodka, OJ... plop in a few cherries.
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
Vodka ( ), followed by torx. Robertson is fine as well. hex sockets are OK as well...
Anything with a "phillips" profile is, IMO worthless... I've been told that phillips are designed to cam out; for the life of me, whoever thought up that should be shot. Both the screws (what good are they if you can't get them back out? May as well be rivets you have to cut off) and the bits (that break or cam themselves out as well, and cam out otherwise fine screw heads once the bit starts to wear)... and I don't buy the JIS phillips are somehow special - I can't count the JIS phillips that I have had to use a JIS impact driver to try to get out, followed by a non-JIS drill and/or chisel...
), followed by torx. Robertson is fine as well. hex sockets are OK as well... Anything with a "phillips" profile is, IMO worthless... I've been told that phillips are designed to cam out; for the life of me, whoever thought up that should be shot. Both the screws (what good are they if you can't get them back out? May as well be rivets you have to cut off) and the bits (that break or cam themselves out as well, and cam out otherwise fine screw heads once the bit starts to wear)... and I don't buy the JIS phillips are somehow special - I can't count the JIS phillips that I have had to use a JIS impact driver to try to get out, followed by a non-JIS drill and/or chisel...
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
For small stuff, torx seems the best. But it can still infuriate, since it wasn't designed with proper depth of fastener insertion IMO. For anything with high torque or corrosion, it can be a nightmare with that 1/8 inch depth torx head. Baby XZN are really hard to size by eye, just like torx, although they work much better in larger sizes.
Doylee4693
Well-known member
Torx, wright
FuzzyTiger
Well-known member
Flat heads are the most useless screw drivers but most useful tools. They shouldn't even be up for consideration. Anyone that actually likes them as a screw driver is a straight up serial killer.
Philips is just a lousy design that has had way too much effort put into making it not terrible.
Allen been growing on me lately but obviously they don't really work well for anything that can't accommodate the insertion depth.
I think Robertson is my favorite general purpose design for larger stuff and torx for tiny stuff like in electronics.
Philips is just a lousy design that has had way too much effort put into making it not terrible.
Allen been growing on me lately but obviously they don't really work well for anything that can't accommodate the insertion depth.
I think Robertson is my favorite general purpose design for larger stuff and torx for tiny stuff like in electronics.
FuzzyTiger
Well-known member
Robertson really is the salvation of the trades. I'm in Canada so they're relatively common thankfully but I still see people trying to build decks and stuff with Philips for some reason though.
Catfishdan
Well-known member
I’ve worked on quite a few mobile homes that were put together with a combination of clutch head screws and narrow crown staples.
Hammer1963
Well-known member
Torx, Torx Plus
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Flat head screwdrivers give me the most daily joy... seeing all the outlet and switch plate screws in perfect up and down alignment... it can only be accomplished with a properly sized flat head and a gentle twist of the wrist. Absolutely not the iron grip you guys have on your tool normally.
A quality laser etched phillips will prevent cam out...
Robertson is my choice of fastener
But all three drivers, FLAT, PHILLIPS, ROBERTSON oh and VODKA are my favorites equally.
bwringer
Well-known member
Same. Also, Torx fasteners above about T30 or so should be outlawed.
Torx is fine for small stuff, but leads to a near-certain nightmare on larger fasteners. Stir in normal corrosion, and there's no way on earth that stupid suspension bolt with a 10mm thread and stupid shallow T50 button head has the slightest prayer of budging. Just go straight to the drill.
Yeah, I'm lookin' at YOU, Ford.
Honestly, if I had my druthers, all screws would be Robertson. Torx is OK on small stuff, but it doesn't stick to the driver like Robertson, which is extraordinarily handy. But these seem to be nearly nonexistent outside woodworking.
I also use a lot of hex socket head (allen) stuff in motorcycle work.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
Apparently it was a result of early assembly line production. Workers would use power tools to screw in, and as soon as it cammed out, they moved on to the next one. It was probably a bit crude by today's standards, but it worked. These days, with Phillips being everywhere, it's important to get a high quality, well-machined screwdriver or bit. It makes all the difference.Vodka (
Anything with a "phillips" profile is, IMO worthless... I've been told that phillips are designed to cam out; for the life of me, whoever thought up that should be shot. Both the screws (what good are they if you can't get them back out? May as well be rivets you have to cut off) and the bits (that break or cam themselves out as well, and cam out otherwise fine screw heads once the bit starts to wear)... and I don't buy the JIS phillips are somehow special - I can't count the JIS phillips that I have had to use a JIS impact driver to try to get out, followed by a non-JIS drill and/or chisel...
I like them when they are done right. Klein actually machines the tips, instead of just stamping and grinding them. Also, a good hollow-ground driver, that is *properly sized* is a joy to use. They stay in place much better, and don't damage the screw.
But the typical drivers *cough-Craftsman-cough* are great little pry bars, etc. As screwdrivers, they often are not even sized correctly. For example, 3/16 is really 7/32, and 1/4 is really 9/32. Lately, I've been filing and sanding them down to spec, which is quite satisfying and therapeutic in a way.
I still occasionally see Clutch drivers, specifically the G type, but I rarely encounter the screws.
Clutch head was hated but in its time it was far better than anything else in common use in this country. You can still get grip even after they are filled with paint, etc. While everyone else hated them, I liked them. The biggest drawback was that the bits snapped very easily.
Wrench97
Well-known member
For screws Torx, but not Torx for bolts.
If you are a engineer reading this, if it's 6mm or larger use a hex head or if needed for room a 12pt head.
If you are a engineer reading this, if it's 6mm or larger use a hex head or if needed for room a 12pt head.
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
I have easily over 100 flat blade drivers or bits, but it comes from working on stuff over 100 years old, as well as firearms, watches, et al... I (usually) have VERY little issue with them, but they MUST fit the dimensions and profile of whatever fastener I'm using... which is why I have so damned many of them taking up a lot of real estate for so infrequent use.
consti2tion
Well-known member
After owning a few homes that were built in the 70's I have come to hate a flat blade screw with a passion, it really brought in a new appreciation for phillips screws. I do like Torx and Robertson head screws as well. I've got some GRK fasteners that I used recently to build a deck and whatever those Torx T30 bits are made of, they're bad ***.
FuzzyTiger
Well-known member
BMW uses T40 on their suspension bolts. I seriously wonder if any of these engineers have seen a car outside their labs. Rust and dirt must be things they've only read about in text books and are completely solved by speccing a zinc coating I guess.
I'm about 50/50 for either breaking my torx bit or stripping the fastener. The fact the design can handle enough torque to break the bit is impressive.
FuzzyTiger
Well-known member
I stand by what I said. Ever watch American Psycho? The business card scene? That's how I'm imagining you right now.
KTM/Husky use a Torx/hex head which are pretty slick. Not sure of others that use these but I'm sure someone will chime in.
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