ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Robertson Screwdrivers

Imagine an Allen head screw with a square recess instead of a hexagonal one.

These things are great! Square D is using them on their panelboards now, on the terminal screws and the panel cover screws.

My security bit set has some square drive bits in there, I figured they were just another type of tamper-resistant fastener; didn't know they were so common. If they are as slick as they sound, I wouldn't mind seeing them replace the philips and flathead in some locations....

-John

I work in metal stud buildings, when the carpenters have to attach would trim to the metal studs the use a square drive self drilling screw that has a very small head, almost as small as a finish nail head.

These guys do go through a lot of square drive tips but that is only because of the very small size of the square compared to the size of the screw.

Bob

Started using them at my (now defunct) "main job" after my foreman showed me how easy they were.

Most of the newer fitings have a combo slot/phillips/robertson head on them.

They're great if you're forced to work at an angle, as they'll stay in, rather than jump like a straight or phillips will. they're grat with power drivers, too... my buddy (fence & decking guy) has been using them for his work for years. He's surprised it took so long for them to "come indoors"

I use them for wood working.

C-H go here.
http://www.robertsonscrew.com/

Roger

They are nothing new. They come in three sizes, r-1 r-2 r-3, and have been in use in mobile homes and rv for many years. I have now seen them for building decks, and more and more in the electrical industry

don't you boys have a 10 in one. if so you have one

We don't have Robertson screws over here, but we do have a system known under the name Pozi-Driv which has been around for 30-odd years.

The heads look similar to Philips at first glance, but have extra, shallower flutes at the 45-degree points between the main slots, and a slightly rounded center section in place of the straight cross of Philips.

Paul, do you remember GKN Supadriv screws? you needed a special screwdriver although Pozidriv screwdrivers fitted, as I recall they had more of a snub nose than Pozidriz, I wonder what happened to them.

I've been using a Robertson driver for about 7 years. Neer setscrew conduit fittings have had a universal head on their setscrews for a long time and the square option works the best. Robertson deck screws have been common around here for quite a while too. Most collated deck screws are Robertson as well as collated drywall screws. As someone said, Square D panels and breakers have used Robertson screw heads for quite a while and Siemens and GE have offered them in their panels too in recent years. I like them.