Hello everyone. I've been hearing more and more about Robertson screwdrivers -- that folks in Canada use them a lot more than folks in the U.S., and about their great turning capability (since the screwdriver and tip of the screw stay put together better).

I was wondering, though -- what kinds of applications would you use these for? If I'm working in a lumber yard, could Robertson screws be used? Or there other projects out there where Robertson screwdrivers are typically used? If they could be used for virtually anything (that one would normally use a Phillips head for), I may even consider switching my arsenal to use only these screws and screwdrivers.

Thoughts?

Thanks, ALA12

This kind of sounds like a sales pitch, particularly as you list your profession as Public Relations.

You are taking about square drive screws and you have answered you own question.


Many panel terminals have provisions on them for square drive and it is easer to use a torque screwdriver with a square drive then a Philips.

I do not see me getting rid of my Phillips tips just yet.

Bob

[This message has been edited by iwire (edited 04-12-2004).]

I'm sorry if this came off as a sales pitch. I'm merely a young, new member to the group and am trying to figure out just what the heck Robertson screwdrivers are used for. Someone was telling me about all their benefits the other day but never really said what they're used for. Can you help?

Thanks in advance.

Being Canadian and using both i will tell you that yes Robertson screwdrivers are far superior than Phillips,and can,t think of one situation where i would rather use a different type of screw.

I am sorry if I am mistaken but we do get people here trying to push a product.

Bob

Is the Robertson screw a uniquely Canadian invention? First time I saw them was on my first visit to Montreal back in 1999....

The first electrical shop I worked for used them exclusivley. There are many benifits. The tip holds the screw as though it were magnatized. It is nearly impossible to strip them. Once the tip is in the screw it doesn't come out until you want it to, unlike a slotted or phillips. And last but not least...not every trade on the job site has one, so if someone needs to move one of your boxes or pipes, they have to come get you instead of just hacking it apart! I am a big fan of these, and as Bob (Iwire) pointed out, alot of equipment is now putting in slotted/square screws on their terminlas, covers and dead fronts. I'll tell you the truth, I couldn't say enough about how much I like working with them.

I believe it is Canadian,but I am being unbiased in my thoughts about them.

Never heard of it. What does it look like?

Just when you thought you had enough of weird screwdrivers. Philips, Torx, tamper proof torx, hexagonal and a couple I haven't even a name for.

The screwdriver has a square tip that fits in a square opening on the end of a screw,due tothe square in square it has plenty of torque and doesn,t fall off very easily.

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.

I live in Canada. Robertsons are the only type of screw I normally use. Of equipment fromthe USA is all Phillips.
The reason you don't see them USA is because of Henry Ford.

Read the story here. http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Ontario/robertson_screws.htm

I agree I would rather use the square drive option rather than phillips. Now if Klein would make a Robertson driver. Or do they? I haven't looked on their site but I haven't seen them at the suppply house.

-Hal

Here you go Hal they have a bunch of them.

Of course they do. I use em everyday. They are the long shaft type with the excellent rubber handle. I have a "red" robbie and a "green" robbie. These are the best screwdrivers on the market.

back in the eightys my forman called them canadian head screws and until this post i never had a manufacturer or inventors name to put to these screws. ive found them used on some of the switchgear at tropicana. the #2 robertson is the most common one ive found in use
thanks for the info...

I've come across these Robertson-head screws before- in fact, someone used them to anchor a handy box in my basement which I needed to replace. Never knew until now that they had a Canadian origin; this might explain why they were used since I live about five miles south of the border. I agree with the other comments- they are indeed a GREAT screw-head type to use unless you actually need the "cam-out" feature of the Phillips head.

Yes, I remember them being around. Does anyone still make them?

I just had a look at some online vendors and Stanley amongst others are selling combination Pozi/Supadriv screw drivers although I can't see any vendors in the UK for the screws, possibly gone the way of Betamax vcr's

There is actually an R0 too

They often are colour coded:
R0 Yellow
R1 Green
R2 Red
R3 Black

They are often used for furniture assembly in Canadian factories.

I use them to attach things to wood, although I use drywall screws often to (with a #2 phillips bit, which is almost always in my screw-gun)

Canadian made appliances also use R2 screws to hold themselves together.

Most electrical devices (Switches and recepticles), us R1, larger stuff R2, and the screws I use to attach electrical boxes use R2 screws.