Eigenvector wrote:
"dpb" wrote in message ...
Eigenvector wrote:
When working with wood projects and the need for a screw fastener comes
up, what head is used now a days? ... Are torx head screws replacing
phillips as
the screw head of choice or are there clear advantages to ANY kind of
screw head? This is for wood, I'm not worried about metal, or plastic,
or something else. I don't really want to start a flame war either, just
curious.

It wouldn't bother me if torx did replace phillips but there has to be
some sort of convention forming, there can't be that many reasons to
choose slotted over phillips over torx over square.
Little to choose slotted for anything other than -- well, I can't think of
any reason, really...

The choice otherwise is really pretty immaterial for the average _rec_
woodworker; the only real place it matters a whole lot is for automated,
high volume applications.

For those, square, torx and similar are preferred as they have less slip
and lift out force than Phillips or even Robertson (the advantage of it
wrt Phillips besides the licensing issues).

That, of course, doesn't address the tampering issue, etc., that is also a
major factor for commercial applications in many fields although probably
somewhat less so for woodworking than other materials.

Then, you're left w/ appearance. If it is in an area that is visible,
nothing is as good looking imo as the Phillips. If it isn't, I'll
normally choose square if all else is equal...

Oh, head shape and application is another consideration, of course,
although lesser to drive configuration, although some things aren't as
readily available in alternate syles (bugle head seem mostly square drive,
for example).

One could go on almost indefinitely w/ more and more minutiae!

In the end, choose what you like and go...again, unless you're in a
production environment it will really make virtually no difference in all
likelihood which you choose once you give up the old slotted...

--
I don't really believe that.

What is "that"?

The nominal advantage of torx or square over
phillips/slotted is in the way its manufactured. Torx head and Square have
to be stamped or cast within reasonable tolerances, whereas slotted and
phillips can be quite a bit more sloppy - especially with respect to
screwdriver bit size.

Not really, except for the slotted. Phillips are manufactured to pretty
close tolerances, too (discounting really cheap imports).

The thing is they were developed initially for automated drive systems
and there is significant literature/engineering on the subject although
I don't care to start in on significant research again, I have looked at
it some in the past.

....
...you can usually manage to put in a large phillips head in with a
small phillips - the end result being that the smaller screwdriver bit will
slip and tear up the screwhead.

Well, DOH!!! What's the point? You can hammer a larger flat blade into
a smaller straight slot screw head and tear it up, too. I would assume
the point in a piece of woodworking is to put the fastener in to hold
the piece and have it look presentable, _too_.

If we're hanging drywall, that's something entirely different.

....
...what sizes of phillips are available, ...

0 thru 3 are about all you're going to find at all commonly...


All in all, I don't know your point/beef -- you asked for an opinion, I
gave mine and some background as to why/what...

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