Robertson vs Phillips headed screws

[svmariane]

Why are sailboats and furniture constructed with Robertson screws while automobiles and airplanes use Phillips screws?

Why are Canadiens (mostly) addicted to the Robertson when so much of the rest of the world (mostly) is obsessed with Phillips or the flat-head?

If you're guessing that it has nothing to do with Henry Ford, Peter Robertson, the Russian Revolution, and two World Wars then you'd be wrong.

Watch, learn, and sleep well tonight.
Presenting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-mDqKtivuI

[IslandHopper]

That was riveting, thank you

[smac999]

I throw Phillips screws in the trash. And replace with rob. So much better.

[JPA Cate]

Our boat has many of the known types of screws, somewhat determined by what the PO had on hand at the time. We have one stanchion base with 4 different types of screw. Quite annoying, actually, at times.

Ann

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by smac999

I throw Phillips screws in the trash. And replace with rob. So much better.

My boat was built in Canada and i do the complete opposite

[svmariane]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

We have one stanchion base with 4 different types of screw. Quite annoying, actually, at times.

Ann

That seems like a bit of a project. Got a free month or so?

1) Remove stanchion.
2) Grind, drill, use a hatchet, whatever, then repoxy/fiberglass the area.
3) Fashion large s/s backing plate.
4) Install stanchion with backing plate using nut/bolt combos.
5) Curse in mutiple languages then rework backing plate so it fits.
6) Smack forehead with palm, then redo job making it water tight.
(Don't ask how I developed the necessity for steps 5 or 6.)
Repeat for each stanchion.
Alcohol helps.

Piece of cake!

[John_char]

Try fasteners on aircraft.. I’ve worked on some military jets that had both imperial and metric fasteners. Was a nightmare.

[slug]

And many of those fasteners that look like philips and not

They are pozidriv

Be alert

[Mr B]

My RV was built in the USA, It was the first time I ever saw square headed screws,
What the hell are these things,
I had nothing even close to remove these things,
Can I even buy a screw driver to fit it in OZ, ?????????
Luckily Bunnings had some screw driver heads to fit them,
Then I found out they have different sizes as well,
Bugga, Back to Bunnings for more screw heads,

I didnt know they came from Canada, I just thought it was just some weird screw the Yanks used,
Great Video, Very informative,

[GordMay]

Although the terms "square drive" and "Robertson" are often treated as synonymous , the difference is that Robertson tools and screws have a slight taper to the square recess, and the square drive ones do not.

History of the "Robbie" ➥ https://www.robertsonscrew.com/history

[dfelsent]

For cross head style screws a lot of cabinetry has been built using Reed and Prince screws.

[Mike OReilly]

I prefer Robertson, although Phillips is usually fine most of the time. But there is a special place in Hell reserved for the creator of the slotted head, and to any manufacturer who uses these damnable things .

[smj]

I prefer the new and improved torx screws

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

I prefer Robertson, although Phillips is usually fine most of the time. But there is a special place in Hell reserved for the creator of the slotted head, and to any manufacturer who uses these damnable things .

I'm used to, and tooled up for both. The Robertson are definitely superior than Phillips/crosshead for driving woodscrews, especially with a powerdrill. Robertsons are also used (up here anyway) for electrical boxes, outlet & switch terminals, wire clamps, etc.

The slotted screw was developed by industry for use by consumers, so that when the average non-tool-geek consumer tackles a home project by buying some blister-packed piece of hardware with slotted screws, they stab themselves a few times and become so discouraged that they give up and hire a pro.


Torx is used a lot in assembling vehicles and appliances. Like Robertson, the screws are gripped and driven well by motorized tools. But there's so many different sizes that they're more of a hassle to use generally.

[ttex]

The type of screw head determines the amount torque that can be applied to the screw. At least that is what I was told by my elders. If it is wrong its their fault.