flat head screwdrivers

[chipper]

When do you think they will dissapear i can't remember the last time i used one for what its supposed to be used for. and why do most screwdriver sets have a majority of flatheads it doesn't make sense to me what do you think?

 

[ken w.]

I usually use mine for pry bars.

 

[SKAutomotive]

Never? I use them daily. There are a ton of things that still use flat head screwdrivers.

 

[Brownsfan]

The reason there are more flat heads in sets- There are more sizes of slotted screws than phillips. Besides the outlets in my house I use them for pretty much everything they are not supposed to do. Punch, pry bar, chisel etc.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Still too many occurances of them to completely dissappear any time soon.

 

[Haveblue]

Carburetors, hose clamps, prying apart electronic connectors, electrical outlets, mixing up a batch of JB quick.. Tons of uses im forgetting about here! The flat head screwdriver in itself is a valuable tool. Good quality flatheads can serve as a small prybar, but im getting away from that as I bought a small prybar that is perfect for those situations. Find yourself in a situation where a phillips has rounded out? With a Dremel, cut a slot in the fastener, and remove it with a flathead. I have no love for flathead fasteners, but good flathead screwdrivers are a toolbox staple.

 

[CWP1616L]

Fillister head screws have deeper slots than other screws do. You never have to worry about a screwdriver slipping out. A Fillister head screw with the correct screwdriver is a real pleasure.

 

[Danglerb]

Flat head must have some inherent advantages, otherwise why are they used so often for precision items like firearms?

 

[devilsnight]

I like when small hose clamps with phillips are notched out for a flat head also, most of the time a phillips screwdriver would never turn them loose. I Hate! Phillips, wish i could just get rid of em! Use flatheads all day

 

[Biomed]

Flat head must have some inherent advantages, otherwise why are they used so often for precision items like firearms?

I've changed all my Sig Sauer grip screws from slotted to Torx. I like the Torx look better and have less problems.

It is interesting to see the number of slotted screws in use with firearms. However it should be noted that hollow ground screwdrivers are really recommended for gunsmithing.

 

[ddo]

Flatheads are here to stay. Many advantages. Very common - easy to find a tool that would work. Likely cheaper to make. Not friendly with power tools - less likely someone with overshoot horsepower on a screwhead on precision part. Easily substitutions - can pop cabinets open with a penny or anything else. Easily identified as well.

Phillips can go except in certain applications where torque limiting is beneficial.

Not a fan of torx, especially at small sizes. Bits twist too easy. Cant ever see myself purchasing a non lifetime warranty torx screwdriver set with driver failure rate ive seen.

Pozidrive is better but too much confusion. Same with jis. Too similar to phillips.

Cant stand allen heads as theres too many sizes. Understandable for higher torque fasteners but annoying to determine whether youre looking at metric 3.5 mm or sae equivalent, which can lead to use of wrong driver.

Square drive would be my ideal. Three sizes, self centering, cam out reduction, no metric / sae bs. Just universal funtion. Only real failures ive seen with these are wrong drivers being used tearing up bits. A size smaller bit will turn fastener unlike allen heads due to sharper edges on square vs. Hexagon. Tapered nature of bits makes screws hold to bit for easier starting of screws.

 

[kamesama980]

I use flathead screwdrivers all the time. I use them about 3 times a year on flathead fasteners (and 2 are glasses-related).

Phillips, I heard somewhere, was used back in early manufacturing history before torque wrenches were really reliable. Rather than having a sturdy fastener installation method and torque measurement, the fastener installation method slipped past a certain torque. The idea being it'd strip out before it's overtorqued. the problem I see is that the point of stripping is dependant on the angle of the drivers (just a degree off makes a HUGE difference) and how hard you're pressing in.

So many better options these days though. I try to replace them whenever possible. Robertsons are great for household screws. I use a lot of allen heads on my cars/motorcycles.

 

[rlitman]

Flat head must have some inherent advantages, otherwise why are they used so often for precision items like firearms?

Tradition.

I've changed all my Sig Sauer grip screws from slotted to Torx. I like the Torx look better and have less problems.

It is interesting to see the number of slotted screws in use with firearms. However it should be noted that hollow ground screwdrivers are really recommended for gunsmithing.

Torx is superior, although as mentioned, the tips twist a lot. Still, it is better when the tool is damaged BEFORE the fastener, and I generally use replaceable bits with torx for that reason.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I probably have 50 pocket clip screwdrivers, mostly flathead. I use them constantly when working on locks and various electronics. There is always something to be adjusted.

 

[HubbaBubba]

Use them several times each day. They are here to stay (our lifetime)
Only good thing about + is when you need to drill them out.

 

[djb2]

Phillips, I heard somewhere, was used back in early manufacturing history before torque wrenches were really reliable. Rather than having a sturdy fastener installation method and torque measurement, the fastener installation method slipped past a certain torque. The idea being it'd strip out before it's overtorqued.

That's a myth that should be quashed wherever it appears. And don't believe everything you read on Wikipedia.

Phillips was developed to be self-centering for semi-automated assembly. Not to cam out.

Read all about it in US patent 2046837.

 

[Chuck122]

I think the OP does not adjust many carburators or deal with many hose clamps

 

[mooman]

I just used one last night tightening screws on an old military cot.

 

[chipper]

I think the OP does not adjust many carburators or deal with many hose clamps

Listen here charles i deal with clamps all the the time flatheads are one of many tools to use on them but are a dying breed popular mechanics has them phased out in 10 years and i believe it...one day your gonna have to get rid of your rotary phone and dail up internet face the facts

 

[warmpancakes]

license plate screws,

 

[Steinmetz]

When do you think they will dissapear i can't remember the last time i used one for what its supposed to be used for. and why do most screwdriver sets have a majority of flatheads it doesn't make sense to me what do you think?

Used them just last night to repair my Accutron (the "tuning fork") wristwatch. Repaired a light switch in my home this morning with them.

 

[diesel research]

I think the OP does not adjust many carburators or deal with many hose clamps

or he uses a carburetor socket, has vehicles equipped with constant tension clamps/push connect, or uses the preferred nutdriver/socket for clamps.

 

[Haveblue]

Flathead fasteners might go away in the future, Idk. but flathead screwdrivers probably wont.

 

[shampoop]

Wish they would die. I hate them.

 

[chipper]

I read somewhere that the Phillips. head screw was one of the best invetion of all time which eventually lead to torx and hex just imagine if all we were turnnin was flat head screws

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I use them all the time. Rarely for slotted screws though.

 

[Engineer61]

Flat head must have some inherent advantages, otherwise why are they used so often for precision items like firearms?

The advantage is that a gunsmith can cut a slot with a file, it's a little harder to make phillips, hex or torx heads on a screw. This is the real reason - on a high quality firearm you will note that all of the screws when properly tightened will have the slots parallel to the barrel bore. The way this is done is to hand-make and fit each screw in place. When mass production of guns started it just made sense to stick with slotted screws because flat screw drivers were what was in the tool box of the gun smiths.
It does help to use the proper screwdriver that correctly fits (and fills) the slot instead of generic tapered flat screwdrivers that don't fit any slotted screw because of the taper. This is true for all screws except wood screws with the beveled heads to fit countersinks where the correct fitting screw driver is only as wide as the bottom of the slot so that it can fully enter the slot instead of being blocked by the surrounding material the countersink was cut into.

 

[AV tinker er]

They are used quite abit still in the electronic world: case screws, potentiometers....

 

[theknurl]

why do they use flat head screws on guns???????

Ithaca 7E Flues Trap gun.....there is a screw in front of the trigger guard......see it?
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p81/billgrill/DSC02149.jpg

i have a 7E Flues different engraving pattern with 6 colors of gold.....but my 6E with 2 colors was done by Rudolph Kornbrath and it is mind boggling....the 5/8" tall Indian has muscles and ribs, the Trap shooter is wearing Houndstooth check pants with the correct pleats!

Piotti over under;
http://www.piotti.com/wp-content/gallery/sovrboss/GENLEESX.jpg
the screw with the gold line is a cocking indicator

Lebeau-Courally;
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c181/tintype1/Lebeau/lebeau_07.jpg

see the screw? gun makers for the Tzars

i think a stupid Torx screw or Phillips would kind of ruin it wouldn't it

i worked in the Engineering Dept at HiShear Corp. the aerospace fastener company in the INSTALLATION TOOLS SECTION

you can't power feed Torx fasteners they are POS.....
next time you fly, look out on the wing......see all the bolts with no head driving features????

they're HiLoks....the holding Allen and threads are on the same end, the air wrench is fed nuts down a hose from a Syntron ******** bowl.....it takes 2-3 seconds per bolt to install and torque them correctly

PS;
in '65 there were about 20 Mil-Spec cross point screw driver designs

 

[Chuck122]

Listen here charles i deal with clamps all the the time flatheads are one of many tools to use on them but are a dying breed popular mechanics has them phased out in 10 years and i believe it...one day your gonna have to get rid of your rotary phone and dail up internet face the facts

I think i came off as being offensive but that as not the objective. But my rotary phone will have to be taken out of my Cold dead hands

 

[Steinmetz]

"...i worked in the Engineering Dept at HiShear Corp. the aerospace fastener company in the INSTALLATION TOOLS SECTION..."

They produce superb products, in my estimation.