torx versus phillips

[jd_1138]

I used torx fasteners for the first time recently when I built a fence here at my mom's new house. The box of fasteners even came with free bits in each box that I had to buy. What a pleasure to work with. The cordless impact drove them through like nothing.

Yesterday she got her shipment of window blinds, and they all came with phillips fasteners. The hardness of the wood window frames and the power of the cordless impact meant that my drill was just torquing out. Instead of pre-drilling 8 screws for each window blind, I ran and got some torx fasteners I had left. Same exact size as the included phillips fasteners. They went right in easily.

I am now a torx fan and will never buy Phillips fasteners again. And I got 4 free torx bits by buying 4 boxes of fasteners.

SelectBlinds are great, BTW, if any of you are in the market for blinds. They came nicely packaged. And the mounts are great -- little metal boxes that you simply screw into the window frame, drop the blinds in, and then lower the metal locking tab. They want you to measure down to 1/8th of an inch, and there are like 50 color options. She got the faux wood ones with magnetic valances (top trim). 9 blinds were like $600. Basically the same quality as getting a pricey custom installation for probably 1/3 the price.

However, they need to start including torx fasteners and skip the Phillips. Their aim might be to encourage people to pre-drill? Would pre-drilling add any strength to the mix? Sure would've taken a lot longer.

 

[Cmreschke]

Torx fan here as well.

 

[bigroomboy]

The only thing worse than Philips is a slotted. Both are obsolete and I see no excuse for people still using them. In the UK all electrical items use slotted screws. Nothing could be more stupid in an application where you can't see the screws!

 

[devoncoolman]

Torx for wood screws is nice. I even like the square drive. Phillips kind of ****.

 

[Sunbimmer]

Yes, if you ever work with torx you don't want anything other no more

 

[Worsedog]

What many people don't realize is that Phillips heads were originally designed for assembly line production. The screwdriver bits would cam out before the fastener would be over torqued.

For no slip high torque, the torx is the way to go.

 

[MrGiggles]

I love Robertson or Torx for any screw over an inch or so. They are a lot easier to reuse too, since you won't strip the heads going in and then back out.

Phillips should have never been adopted for widespread use, since it only has one primary attribute. I'm glad that a lot of automakers are switching to Torx instead.

 

[BioNerd]

You try GRK fasteners and then suddenly all other screws are ****. They are all torx. Bugle, pan & trim heads.

 

[RVDan]

Robertson is all we use in Canada and even three quarters of the USA made Recreational Vehicles I work on use Robertson.

 

[ctb]

Once you use Robertson you will never willingly go back to any other kind. The bits and screwdrivers fit the screwhead so snugly you don't need worry about the screw falling off the driver.

 

[jd_1138]

The irony is that I was sightly annoyed when I couldn't find any boxes of Phillips wood screws at the local hardware store. The clerk simply replied: "we only have torx if you want a large box of fasteners." I wonder how many sales they lose by him not pointing out to customers: "you will prefer torx."

Also, I asked if they had a standard materials list of required lumber for shed construction, and he replied "no". They have a lumberyard/mill there at the hardware store. Seems like a no brainer to keep material lists on hand for 6x8, 8x8, 10x10, etc. sized sheds. Especially since they don't sell shed kits like you'd find at Lowe's or HD. We are 60 miles away from the nearest Lowe's/HD.

Might be some weird liability issue. If they sold a dude a bunch of materials, and he chops his arm off building a shed, they might be sued in this crazy sue happy world we live in. Whereas, if they sold a kit, they could pass the "blame" off onto the manufacturer of that kit.

 

[jd_1138]

Once you use Robertson you will never willingly go back to any other kind. The bits and screwdrivers fit the screwhead so snugly you don't need worry about the screw falling off the driver.

I will try Robertson on my next project.

 

[mustangmike6996]

I love Robertson bits, they work VERY well.

Torx are nice for grip but I break a lot of bits, mainly in automotive use. (snapon/matco/craftsman, you name them)

 

[Junkmanryan]

I much prefer Torx over Phillips. They strip less easy.

I am only two hours away Canada and see Robertson screws a fair amount. I have had good luck with those too.

 

[Rob_b]

Its unfortunate that south of the border has never gripped using Robertson screws. Standard for us. 4 different sizes, #1 (yellow)#2 (green) #3 (red) #4 (black). #2 & 3 the most common used.

 

[rustrunner]

use to use air driven Phillips drivers to remove the cargo floors on the C-141 aircraft when I was in the Air Force. what a pain in the *** they were. drove the guys in the sheetmetal shop crazy because they had to come anr drill them out. the new Torx are great.

 

[Gotcha640]

I've always liked the combo square Phillips drive deck screws. I'm in Houston Texas, so I'm used to talking about a different border, but I used torx screws in Argentina, so maybe there are no square drives in Antarctica.

 

[Dberglind]

Does Robertson = square?

 

[MScott]

Does Robertson = square?

Yes it does.

 

[CTyankee]

Once you use Robertson you will never willingly go back to any other kind. The bits and screwdrivers fit the screwhead so snugly you don't need worry about the screw falling off the driver.

Does Robertson = square?

Yes it does.

They must be different than the square drives I'm use to using...There is no way you could get me to go back to using square drives after using torx. If I was using them with a hand driver it wouldn't make a difference, but if I'm using an impact..no way I'm taking a square drive over a torx.

 

[MikeF2316]

Once you use Robertson you will never willingly go back to any other kind. The bits and screwdrivers fit the screwhead so snugly you don't need worry about the screw falling off the driver.

Sometimes you have the opposite problem with Robertson - the bit ends up stuck in the screw and you need to pull it out.

 

[MikeF2316]

They must be different than the square drives I'm use to using...There is no way you could get me to go back to using square drives after using torx. If I was using them with a hand driver it wouldn't make a difference, but if I'm using an impact..no way I'm taking a square drive over a torx.

I think that while Robertson is square, there are "Square drive" screw heads that are NOT Robertson. That's probably the source of the problem - using Square Drive bits in Robertson screws or vice versa.

 

[rburke65]

You are correct....OP....about how easily they drive. Love 'em.

 

[maddog1949]

Torx fan here too.

 

[Notgrownup]

The key I bound to Torx or Robbie's is using the correct size bits.

 

[MushCreek]

I used a lot of Torx building my house- Love 'em. They're particularly useful when you might want to take something apart again. I used square drive SS screws for my deck, and they were easier to strip out. Too bad all of the drywall screws are still Philips. I had trouble driving some of them into yellow pine, which can be pretty hard.

 

[sberry]

No, your lumberyard is stupid. But, Torx drive the best, square is easiest to use as the number 2 bit fits all the screw sizes. It really isn't as good. Our local outfit went to T and the only place really sells square is Menards. They sell 3 inch in a 9, maybe the others too. I continue to use them as I have a couple houses we used them on, I deliberately keep them because it our standard there, if I am doing work away buy Torx for the job especially structural and climbing around.

 

[dfiler2]

Torx work well for a lot of things, however, if I'm putting in 1 1/2" screws or shorter and a lot in one area Phillips head are much quicker to put in.

 

[225]

I've been building a teardrop camper, and it was my first time using torx screws. Man, I should have went to them years ago.

 

[sberry]

Every length screw has a different size bit with Torx.

 

[pepi]

Phillips heads are fine the user is the problem, having the wrong size bit. I prefer allens for machine, and engine work.

 

[n8n]

The only thing worse than Philips is a slotted. Both are obsolete and I see no excuse for people still using them. In the UK all electrical items use slotted screws. Nothing could be more stupid in an application where you can't see the screws!

I disagree, Phillips is worse than slotted! At least slotted don't cam out.

But Torx, Allen, or Robertson (square) would be preferable to either...

 

[JimVonBaden]

I love Torx! They are used on a lot of motorcycles these days.

 

[flippin]

Its unfortunate that south of the border has never gripped using Robertson screws. Standard for us. 4 different sizes, #1 (yellow)#2 (green) #3 (red) #4 (black). #2 & 3 the most common used.

I suspect that you made an oversight.

Yellow handle - #0
Green handle - #1
Red handle - #2
Black handle - #3

#4 ROBERTSON do not have a handle color designation to the best of my knowledge.

As others have said the biggest design advantage of Robertson square drives is the tapered hole. With a slight amount of pressure, the robbie screw will stay on the driver even upside down. I am also a huge torx fan, currently have a cart open with Apex bits waiting to cash out. The advantage which Robertson has over torx would be the durability factor. Torx drives do not last.


Glad to see that you are no longer subject to building with Phillips!

.

 

[MushCreek]

Every length screw has a different size bit with Torx.

Not the ones I've been using. I've got #9 Torx from 1-1/4" up to 4", and they all take a T-25.

 

[Radix2]

Not the ones I've been using. I've got #9 Torx from 1-1/4" up to 4", and they all take a T-25.

#9 is unusual for the smaller sizes AFAIK, may be by brand?

at the big boxes you have #8 up to 2" (t-20), and #9 for longer(t-25)

Still far from a different size bit for each length...

 

[ripperd]

Once you use Robertson you will never willingly go back to any other kind. The bits and screwdrivers fit the screwhead so snugly you don't need worry about the screw falling off the driver.

This, 100%. Previous owner had hung a bunch of crappy things in the garage that I tore down. I had never used square drive before and thought what was he thinking? Then I pulled a few things down and put up some other stuff using up my existing philips screws and then re-using some of the square drive. I fell in love with the square drive. Such a good setup. Can handle huge torque, no cam out, and they stay on the driver well.

 

[ripperd]

Too bad all of the drywall screws are still Philips. I had trouble driving some of them into yellow pine, which can be pretty hard.

Not so sure about that. This is where the cam-out is actually a good thing. Otherwise its easy to drive the drywall screws in too deep and break the paper.

 

[MushCreek]

Here's an 1-1/4 I got at Lowe's with a T-25 driver. It is a #8, but uses a T-25. Most #8's are T-20.

 

[coljar]

I've use Torx screws for years on metal, but just recently started using the wood screws. Been using them on the interior of the garage wall and that is the only thing I want to use now. I like the bit MushCreek is using in the above picture better than the bit that comes in the box of screws, because they fall out of the coupling on the screw impact gun.