To My American Friends

[Tayana42]

Screwing is complicated. You can cause a lot of trouble screwing, especially if you do it wrong. Take precautions when screwing and use the right equipment. Striping first isn't necessary but is common. No matter what tool you prefer once your screwed you can't be unscrewed.


S/V B'Shert

[ViribusUnitis]

See, standardizing on one unit system, or one style of screw head would be unAmerican.

We've got "square". We've got "Roberts". We've got Phillips. We've got Allen. We've got Torque. We've even got slotted. IF you came come up with a screw head, or a nut head, or a socket, SOMEONE SOMEWHERE is using it. And making special, one off drivers for it!

It's just like our unit system. Foreigners say that Americans don't use Metric. That's incorrect. We use metric, "standard", and specialized stuff that you only find in America. We've got long tons, short tons, and yes, metric tons. There's the US gallon, the Imperial gallon, the square foot, the cubic yard, and of course the liter. Ever heard of the "Blue Barrel"? Americans invented it for a special purpose, and now the whole world uses it! We didn't standardize on any one unit system, but just use "them all".

Why? Because we can, and nobody is forcing us to use one specific system. We all have a system that we like, we use, and damn anyone else who doesn't agree with us!

[Jason Flare]

Wait. Isn't Canada in America?

[Scaramanga F25]

There are presently 28 different types of screwdrivers on the market. LOL

[Scaramanga F25]

No Jason, Canada is NOT in America. It is however in the North American Continent. LOL

[Cadence]

I have seen them around the US for years however not enough. Hex and splined aren't bad. Why the sticking to slotted and Phillips heads, beats the hell out of me?

[crazyoldboatguy]

I love square drive fasteners. Didn't know they had a name! Will call them that and drive the boatwright crazy.

We used slotted screws to fasten the planking on Surazo. They were 2 1/4" long #16 bronze screws. Altogether we used 3900 of them (not a typo - that's three thousand nine hundred). I found square drive ones but the price scared the hell out of me. We found the slotted ones and paid about 0.75 cents USD for each of them.

BTW - we love our Canadian neighbors. Friends and allies for centuries!

[Cheechako]

Robertson screw? Is that just a square drive screw? First used them about 1980.

[deblen]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Hay those Roberts/square heads come in a lot of sizes too -- and you can't fake it with the wrong size drive like you can with a plus or minus head driver

Paul
There are 4 sizes of P.L.Robertson or square/socket head screw head.
#1 Yellow up to # 5 shank
#2 Green # 6 shank
#3 Red # 8 & 10 shank
#4 Black # 12 & up

Use hardened steel drive bits. The cheap bits round off quickly & make it appear that the screw head is stripping,when it's really a worn bit.

Test: The bit should fit tight enough in the screw head socket that you can shake it around & not drop the screw. It is the original one handed screw.

Of course,like everything these days,cheap copies of the screws & bits are showing up-leading to sloppy bit/socket fit.
It is best if you can perform the above "Test" before buying.

Slut & phillips/reed prince are good for loose ballast,though I know of people that have used them as screwnails at times.

Torx were a nice invention for new production line installation by GM & others who didn't want to pay P.L. for his patent,& definitely didn't want their product taken apart to be repaired after the warranty period.

...and Allen...for bigger bolts in tiny spaces in lab conditions-loved by outboard mfgrs & the like.

Cheers/ Len

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Jason Flare

Wait. Isn't Canada in America?

Yes Jason, Canada is in America. The USA is not America. There are South Americans and North Americans. They are all Americans.
"America is the name of a whole continent. United States of America means that the United States belongs to America and NOT that America belongs to the United States. So, next time you want to refer to The United States of America, you can do it as U.S. or the States or whatever you want but not as only America."

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Yes Jason, Canada is in America. The USA is not America. There are South Americans and North Americans. They are all Americans.
"America is the name of a whole continent. United States of America means that the United States belongs to America and NOT that America belongs to the United States. So, next time you want to refer to The United States of America, you can do it as U.S. or the States or whatever you want but not as only America."

I doubt anyone really needed a geography or history lessen.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Cadence

I doubt anyone really needed a geography or history lessen.

Reading some posts evidently they do!

[deblen]

Originally Posted by Jason Flare

Wait. Isn't Canada in America?

USA & Canada are both in "America" as are all the countries south of the USA clean to Cape Horn.

More useful info:

The Canada Goose is not Canadian.
The American Black Duck is not a USA only bird.

If you live in New Brunswick,where would the 20K non USA members of CF think you live?

Where is the St. John River?

I live in Grand Harbour, not far from Pocologan & even closer to Deer Is.

I kid thee not

Cheers/Len

[deblen]

Originally Posted by SouthernPride

The worst invention ever is the wonder bra.

Maybe they have changed since I was a young feller-used to be a one handed "snap" job.

[deblen]

Originally Posted by Tellie

the telephone, the light bulb, the zipper and poutine being just a few.

I guess I'll have to buy the most recent revised history book so I can keep current on past events. But Poutine? Definitely Canadian. But if we have to, us Americans will improve on that too.

Can you make e Caeser in USA yet?? Better solve that deficiency first