Who makes Robertson screwdrivers?

[KSB]

I can't even imagine building a deck with a freaking Phillips head screw. They are the worst.

First choice for me is the PAM fasteners then Robertson. The only screw you can even buy here with Phillips head is drywall screws. Everything else is Robertson.

I agree, Roberston head screws are the best for building projects.

The key to the Robertson system is the tapered drive. I have had some excellent and some downright poor screwdrivers/bit drivers in the past. If the taper is not right the screws will strip out. I have a Klien set that are excellent, good fit and holds the screw tight.

Roberston fasteners really shine when working overhead or in awkward positions because you can hold the screw to the screwdriver tip by giving it a quick tap on something hard and the screw will stay there nice and tight in the taper.

 

[malibu101]

Klein also makes them.

That's what I have.
Square drive is, and has been for awhile, very common on electrical devices and panels. Although these screws are normally combo heads the square drive is the best fitting choice.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I saw a carpenter using square drive screws just this morning. I was kind of surprised!

 

[zer0cell]

I think we should petition the companies who are responsible for the screws in this country to stop being so ignorant and switch to square drive. Phillips is a terrible invention. This is one of things the Canadians got right. I attribute the obsession with pushing Phillips in this country to big business trying to increase profits. Lets face it, Phillips bits are much more susceptible to breakage and their corresponding screws are easily damaged. Thus you have to buy more of their products...

 

[buco]

I agree, Roberston head screws are the best for building projects.

The key to the Robertson system is the tapered drive. I have had some excellent and some downright poor screwdrivers/bit drivers in the past. If the taper is not right the screws will strip out. I have a Klien set that are excellent, good fit and holds the screw tight.

Roberston fasteners really shine when working overhead or in awkward positions because you can hold the screw to the screwdriver tip by giving it a quick tap on something hard and the screw will stay there nice and tight in the taper.

I agree 100%

 

[Burgerkong]

Robertson =/= Square Drive.

You will strip a Roberston screw with a square drive screwdriver.

 

[Worsedog]

The philips head screws were never designed to be high torque fasteners. The original design was intended for the drive to tool to "cam out" of the slot before breaking the shank of the fastener.

See this note from Marine Fasteners Inc. http://www.marfas.com/phillips.shtml

 

[KPSquared]

Really? I always assume most modern "square drive" screwdrivers have the taper just not the license to call them Robertson.

Here's an interesting tidbit from Wikipedia:

" When Henry Ford tried out the Robertson screws he found they saved considerable time in Model T production, but when Robertson refused to license the screws to Ford, Ford realized that the supply of screws would not be guaranteed and chose to limit their use in production to Ford's Canadian division. Robertson's refusal to license his screws prevented their widespread adoption in the United States, where the more widely licensed Phillips head has gained acceptance."

Ain't that something.

 

[zer0cell]

I don't need a screwdriver to cam out to know if I am applying too much torque. That's just silly.

 

[timbitca]

Then your set of screwdriver set would not come with paint can openers in various sizes

Which is about all I'll use mine for if it can be helped

I don't know why but when my grandfather built our house in '67 he used a lot of slotted screws and I cursed him quite a bit while taking stuff a part last year during our big renovations.

 

[Outlander]

Which is about all I'll use mine for if it can be helped

I don't know why but when my grandfather built our house in '67 he used a lot of slotted screws and I cursed him quite a bit while taking stuff a part last year during our big renovations.

My Dad built our house in '49. Since I have been remodelling for my family, I have discovered hundreds of them all over

 

[Trucky]

I don't need a screwdriver to cam out to know if I am applying too much torque. That's just silly.

Originally intended for assembly lines, automated fastener application, that kind of junk. It wasn't meant to let us know.

 

[zer0cell]

Originally intended for assembly lines, automated fastener application, that kind of junk. It wasn't meant to let us know.

Ah okay, well thanks for the insight. ***** that every day people have to deal with it though. I guess we have it around for pretty much the same reason we have not universally adopted the metric system here in the US... its annoying when you are forced to do more work to accomplish the same task.

 

[KPSquared]

It is about time you guys got on the metric train. . .or at least half on like here in Canada...

Figure this out. . .my truck gets 20 miles per gallon but it takes 95 litres to fill the tank. I know I have to drive 40 kilometers to work but I live 10 miles from my cousins farm. It rains in tenths of inches but snows in centimetres. I'm caught in measuring limbo somewhere between imperial, US, and metric. . .blah. :banghead: :screwy:

 

[Pantsfall_McFixit]

Wiha makes a 4-peice set #35894, with Robertson 0, 1, 2, and 3. I have it, pretty nice.

Also I agree, out with Phillips! Everywhere you see them stripped out, on buildings, on appliances, on furniture, etc. Smart builders are using Robertson or Torx, and the project looks nicer and can be maintained in the future.

 

[thetreshon]

I use almost nothing but Robertson screws. I despise philips (even though that's my name) and I wish flat heads had never even been invented.

late to this thread, but I TOTALLY agree with EVERYTHING you said here.

Philips **** and I HATE THE FLATHEAD!!!

I just realized "why in the hell did I try and acquire every single length and tip width of flathead?!" I hate using them!

 

[Carson_13]

Canada was built using #2 robertson screws haha. Only flathead I really use is a pocket screwdriver that gets used for everything but screws.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Lucikly here in ME, its not hard at all to find the good stuff...aka Canadian screws & fasteners. Even "Down south here" my local building supply stocks GRK fasteners & bits...which side note, when it comes to small torx bits, nobody makes a better insert then GRK.
Even as a kid, living in a border town, building supply houses all stocked nothing but Square/Robertson. I've got boxes & boxes here of all sorts of square drive sheet metal screws, my deck is all 100% square drive deck screws.

Only thing I've never seen is a square drive sheetrock screw.

 

[MikeF2316]

Lucikly here in ME, its not hard at all to find the good stuff...aka Canadian screws & fasteners. Even "Down south here" my local building supply stocks GRK fasteners & bits...which side note, when it comes to small torx bits, nobody makes a better insert then GRK.
Even as a kid, living in a border town, building supply houses all stocked nothing but Square/Robertson. I've got boxes & boxes here of all sorts of square drive sheet metal screws, my deck is all 100% square drive deck screws.

Only thing I've never seen is a square drive sheetrock screw.

I was sure these were Robertson drywall screws, but now I'm not 100% sure. I've never seen any in stores, but these ones were used by a previous owner of my house drywalling the unfinished basement.