phillips or robertson

[nature boy]

so i was going through the original thread and tried to pick out some of the ones that i'd like to talk about. this is one of them.

i've normally always preferred phillips over robertson because i hate how robertson's never fit. but then i was talking to some of the trustees at work and they all swear by robertson (they're pretty handy guys, one's and engineer and the other does carpentry for fun). they say that there's usually only one standard size and it'd be rare to use the other ones. and that one size is awesome.

what do you guys prefer?

[geForce]

There isn't only one size for Robertsons... I find using Robertsons annoying too because the square hole strips so easily if you use the wrong size head.

[Wetundies]

i find philips strip pretty easily as well, especially if the groove isn't very deep. I prefer torx shape.

[tyson]

robertson engages better. so long as you have the right size and a half decent bit, you are good to go.

[se7entse7en]

I don't see robertson used much. Usually I'll see phillips or allen. I think the problem I have with phillips is that I get it confused with Frearson and I always seem to use the wrong one. In fact, I didn't even know there was a difference until 5 minutes ago.

I prefer allen.

[joel]

are we talking about for power or manual here?

[Wetundies]

either or.

[jeSteR]

My order of preference.

Torx
Robertson
Phillips.

If you strip it because you are using the wrong size, then it isn't a design shortcoming, it's a user shortcoming.

[geForce]

I didn't say it was a design flaw... but you can use the wrong size phillips head and it won't strip it the way a robertson screw strips if you use the wrong size.

[nature boy]

i never said that there's only one size robertson, i said that i was told that there is one standard (as in commonly used) size. have that in your tool box and you're generally good to go. i find torx strips on me too, more often if i'm using power. the funny thing is that flat heads seem to strip the least, but they don't seem to be used too much anymore.

[nature boy]

we need this:

[joel]

i think the problem with flat head is it can slide out, if there isnt even downward force on the screw.

phillips are designed to cam out after too much torque is applied, that's why they are round in the middle, and that's why they can strip the screw.

i think it's quite dependent on the context of use. when screwing in to a threaded hole like something like a electronics device, and the screw is meant to be re-used, and done manually, i think you are pretty good with any basically any head type.

if you are screwing something into wood without a threaded hole, you probably aren't going to re-use the screw anyways, if that head strips while driving in, it's not a big deal anyways. so i understand why using the more common "phillips" head make sense.

[joel]

to add:

with roberstons, if you do actually strip it while driving it in, you sort of screw yourself if you need to unscrew it later. if you strip a phillips while screwing in, you can still unscrew it as the pattern isn't stripped for the opposing direction.

[se7entse7en]

Frearson - one size bit fits all screws.

[nature boy]

what the heck is frearson anyway?