Phillips vs. Flat vs. Hex vs. Torx ETA (Torx is the best, Phillips the worst) - Page 3

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Phillips vs. Flat vs. Hex vs. Torx ETA (Torx is the best, Phillips the worst) (Page 3 of 4)

Posted: 5/28/2018 12:04:50 PM EDT

[#1]

Robertson or hex the rest is practically designed to pop out under serious torque.

Posted: 5/28/2018 12:44:49 PM EDT

[#2]

The purpose of a philips head is to limit the torque that can be applied to a screw. Too much torque and the bit pops out of the screw.

Posted: 5/28/2018 12:49:32 PM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
Torx.

Fuck flathead with a spike. Fuck everyone who uses slotted screws on a gun or computer so the shitty screwdriver can slip out and mar something with a spike-covered spike. Fuck Philips also because of every twat who makes a tiny electronics screw out of a shitty soft metal so you strip it just barely turning the goddamn screwdriver. Fuck hex in applications that need torque, some asshole always makes soft screws and then they get rounded.

Torx is the only screw that never screws up. There are people who prefer torx, and there are people who are wrong. Period.

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Torx looks like shit on pretty guns.

Posted: 5/28/2018 1:02:11 PM EDT

[#4]

Torx or hex depending on the application. Philips is the first indication of cheap crap.

Posted: 5/28/2018 1:09:03 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
square is the bomb

to those who say torx, you guys must be taking them out of plastic, torx in wood or steel is the worst. only thing that may be worse is allen

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Square drive is really bad if you're doing carpentry work at a weird angle. Torx is much more forgiving. Try screwing upward on a step ladder with a square drive.

Posted: 5/28/2018 1:10:12 PM EDT

[#6]

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Quoted:
Can't believe no mention of the Costanza.

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Is that what it was called? I went googling it yesterday but couldn't find anything...

Posted: 5/28/2018 1:11:55 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
The purpose of a philips head is to limit the torque that can be applied to a screw. Too much torque and the bit pops out of the screw.

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Well shit, that seems counterproductive, IMO...

Posted: 5/28/2018 1:13:26 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
No, Allen is the same as Hex:

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/20962/4nqvdrX-557680.JPG

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Reminds me of this stupid shit.

Posted: 5/28/2018 1:15:19 PM EDT

[#9]

As long as it's made of cheap Chinese pot metal, and all of them on the consumer market are, it does not matter what the head is. It will either strip or break off if you look at it sideways.

Posted: 5/28/2018 1:21:25 PM EDT

[#10]

No love for the Reed & Prince drive?

Posted: 5/28/2018 1:32:26 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
What, no clutch drive?

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WOW, I thought I was the only one who remembered clutch drive, ( the bow tie). Was used in the mobile home industry years ago.

Posted: 5/28/2018 1:42:19 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
Torx all the things.

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Posted: 5/28/2018 1:49:43 PM EDT

[#13]

We use hex and torx fasteners in surgery and each does ok, I’ll say hex seems to have a higher incidence of stripping, torx does well as long as your are lined up correctly. The torx can strip if your out of line with the fastener but overall it seems to be more secure.

I’d be fine if I never saw another philips or flathead.

Posted: 5/28/2018 5:56:47 PM EDT

[#14]

Was introduced to Torx and do all I can to stick with that.

Have bits for others just in case.

Posted: 5/28/2018 6:02:13 PM EDT

[#15]

actually all of them still sucks. I have seen torx and hex failed but the do not fail as often as flat or Philips. But to remove all strip screws royally sucks.

Then torx plus sucks harder.

Posted: 5/28/2018 6:04:34 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
Lockheed uses fasteners that do it even worse. Called high torque fasteners.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/iTkAAMXQPd1RGezt/s-l300.jpg

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Quoted:

Quoted:
Anyone that thinks Phillips is anything but a monument to human stupidity hasn't spent five minutes examining how it actually works.

Ok. Fill us in please

The angle of a Phillips drive causes a caming-action between the drive and the fastener. This causes significant cam-out action at relatively low torque, leading to fastener damage and difficulty reaching proper torque in many applications.

See US Patent #2,474,994 for details on this wonderful feature of the Phillips drive.

Friends don't let friends use drives that cam-out.

Lockheed uses fasteners that do it even worse. Called high torque fasteners.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/iTkAAMXQPd1RGezt/s-l300.jpg

The off-set torque is called Nazi bit in the airline biz.

Worst is the tri-wing bits on L1011 on DC10.

Posted: 5/28/2018 6:08:57 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
Everyone loves to bash slotted (for good reason), but if you're going to take a fastener and expose it to decades worth of grime, dust, grease, and paint and still want to unscrew it, slotted is easiest to clean out by far.

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Slotted is usually on pan head fasteners so the max torque stress is put on the outsides where the slot is shallowest. If they implemented it better - cap screw with slot for instance - I wouldn't hate it so much.

Posted: 5/28/2018 6:09:45 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
SPAX SCREWS are my favorite.

they are torx

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Love SPAX, love Torx

Posted: 5/28/2018 6:14:15 PM EDT

[#19]

For reference, slotted screws are known as Fillister head. Pedantic...but worth knowing.

I am in the Hex and Torx camp...HOWEVER...as has been noted; any lack of quality in the drivers AND/OR the fasteners renders them just as useless as Fillister or Phillips. In fact, if you have a PROPERLY MADE ( you have fun finding that ) Phillips fastener and a properly made driver bit, the Phillips can be an effective fastener....however, there is absolutely no tolerance for lack of quality with Phillips.

Truth be told, there are some guns that look horrible with anything but a proper Fillister head. Smith revolvers? ...a Sharp's rifle? yeah, best make it a Fillister.

THAT being said, with the right quality, Torx and Allen are the best fasteners for our hobby.

Posted: 5/28/2018 6:15:35 PM EDT

[#20]

I like Torx

Posted: 5/28/2018 6:16:20 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
No, Allen is the same as Hex:

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/20962/4nqvdrX-557680.JPG

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Is Allen and Torx the same thing?

No, Allen is the same as Hex:

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/20962/4nqvdrX-557680.JPG

Looking at the one-way.

Am I the only one who gets bored taking a dump in restroom stalls fastened with these and pulls out his multitool and starts unscrewing them with the pliers? Just because they are designed to not be unscrewed....

Yeah I figured I was. Carry on.

Posted: 5/28/2018 6:23:04 PM EDT

[#22]

I deal with a lot of hex and Torx on my bikes that get packed with dirt and rock. When I assemble, I fill them with silicone rtv. Then when the time comes to service I pop the plug out with a pocket knife.

Posted: 5/28/2018 6:26:52 PM EDT

[#23]

To hell with flatheads....hate the fucking things.

Square
Allen
Torx
Phillips

Posted: 5/28/2018 6:31:15 PM EDT

[#24]

Wood screws- torx
Self taping screws into plastic Philips is fine
Self taping metal screws -hex
Machine screws and bolts are metric hex
If there is a need for a machine screw to need something else I prefer inverted torx

Posted: 5/28/2018 6:35:01 PM EDT

[#25]

Torx on everything.

Posted: 5/28/2018 6:42:59 PM EDT

[#26]

Torx

Posted: 5/28/2018 6:56:37 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:
Well shit, that seems counterproductive, IMO...

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
The purpose of a philips head is to limit the torque that can be applied to a screw. Too much torque and the bit pops out of the screw.

Well shit, that seems counterproductive, IMO...

It keeps you from over-torquing screws going in. You don't want to break the head off while installing drywall or putting together lumber. Or sink the screw too far into the soft surface.

It's a built-in limited torque clutch. Very clever design, but frequently used in inappropriate contexts.

Posted: 5/28/2018 6:57:03 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
Pozidrive didn't make the list?

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fuck that abortion that makes you think a philips is what is needed..............

Posted: 5/28/2018 6:58:12 PM EDT

[#29]

Quote History

Quoted:

The angle of a Phillips drive causes a caming-action between the drive and the fastener. This causes significant cam-out at relatively low torque, leading to fastener damage and difficulty reaching proper torque in many applications.

See US Patent #2,474,994 for details on this wonderful feature of the Phillips drive.

Friends don't let friends use drives that cam-out.

View Quote

Posted: 5/28/2018 7:01:46 PM EDT

[#30]

I mount hundreds of rifle scopes a year. My vote is for Torx.

Posted: 5/28/2018 7:04:42 PM EDT

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:
For reference, slotted screws are known as Fillister head. Pedantic...but worth knowing.

I am in the Hex and Torx camp...HOWEVER...as has been noted; any lack of quality in the drivers AND/OR the fasteners renders them just as useless as Fillister or Phillips. In fact, if you have a PROPERLY MADE ( you have fun finding that ) Phillips fastener and a properly made driver bit, the Phillips can be an effective fastener....however, there is absolutely no tolerance for lack of quality with Phillips.

Truth be told, there are some guns that look horrible with anything but a proper Fillister head. Smith revolvers? ...a Sharp's rifle? yeah, best make it a Fillister.

THAT being said, with the right quality, Torx and Allen are the best fasteners for our hobby.

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Fillister does not mean slotted. Fillister refers to a particular style of screw head. Fillister head screws are available in phillips. Flat head screws are screws meant to fit a cone shaped countersunk hole. Flat head screws are available in most of the different drive types.

Phillips Fillister head screw.

Posted: 5/28/2018 7:04:51 PM EDT

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:
square is the bomb

to those who say torx, you guys must be taking them out of plastic, torx in wood or steel is the worst. only thing that may be worse is allen

View Quote

its robertson drive not square, and its good, but torx can handle more torque

Posted: 5/28/2018 7:06:06 PM EDT

[#33]

Quote History

Quoted:
Edit. Beat. Dang it. But the fact remains. These suck.

Anyone that has ever dealt with hi torq in the navy can testify to this. Aka swazis. They strip out so easy. And break tips. I fucking hate them.

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/443210/6EECC2A1-B4FB-4317-BE58-5C16AE0B07EE-557671.jpg

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THOSE FUCKING SUCK

Posted: 5/28/2018 7:09:15 PM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted:
torx or hex

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or 12 point, fuck everything else

Posted: 5/28/2018 7:15:13 PM EDT

[#35]

Quote History

Quoted:
Torx is the best

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Just about everything on Harleys is Torx nowadays. BMW going the same way.

Posted: 5/28/2018 7:17:38 PM EDT

[#36]

Quote History

Quoted:
This seems appropriate here...

http://www.alexholden.net/misc/TracyToolsBoltsBig.png

I was actually looking for another cartoon, where some guy was like the OP, "Hey, we need to standardize on this!"... which simply ended up with yet another fastener type being added to the mess.

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I have one of those!

Attached File

Posted: 5/28/2018 7:17:43 PM EDT

[#37]

Torx only

Posted: 5/28/2018 7:30:22 PM EDT

[#38]

I absolutely hate trying to get Allen screws out. It's almost like they are designed to sell wrenches.

Posted: 5/28/2018 7:36:56 PM EDT

[#39]

Quote History

Quoted:
For reference, slotted screws are known as Fillister head. Pedantic...but worth knowing.

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Fillister/slotted/flathead; ban them.

While we're at it, get plumbing engineers to ban needle valves and switch to ball valves.

Posted: 5/28/2018 8:21:16 PM EDT

[#40]

Those of you hating on phillips - feel free to hang sheetrock all day with any other threaded fastener of your choosing and tell me how it works out for you.

Posted: 5/28/2018 8:36:03 PM EDT

[#41]

Quote History

Quoted:
Those of you hating on phillips - feel free to hang sheetrock all day with any other threaded fastener of your choosing and tell me how it works out for you.

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The problem with Phillips isn’t installing them, it’s removing them. The same “feature” that prevents overtorquing them on install also prevents applying correct torque to remove them after years of heat cycling, corrosion buildup, etc. In your application they are never meant to be removed so who gives a fuck?

In my experience (removing panels on aircraft daily for 20+ years) they are dogshit. I know all the tricks I promise you. Clean the paint out of them, degrease them, use gritty gripping agent, use a fresh bit, use a speedhandle, use a Johnson bar, use an “old man screw knocker” aka modified rivet gun, drill the heads off the useless pieces of shit. I fucking hate Phillips.

Posted: 5/28/2018 8:41:48 PM EDT

[#42]

I prefer anything flat headed because you substitute a multitude of things in lieu of the proper tool.

But, if I had to choose one to the the "standard" I would go with torx.

Posted: 5/28/2018 8:43:35 PM EDT

[#43]

Slotted ftw. I use them on the daily. Torx are stupid, since the bits never hold the screws when you start them. Square drive are miles ahead in that regard. Hex head with a magnetic tip driver aint bad either.

Posted: 5/28/2018 8:44:50 PM EDT

[#44]

Quote History

Quoted:
Torx should be the standard.

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Posted: 5/28/2018 8:52:46 PM EDT

[#45]

Quote History

Quoted:
The problem with Phillips isn’t installing them, it’s removing them. The same “feature” that prevents overtorquing them on install also prevents applying correct torque to remove them after years of heat cycling, corrosion buildup, etc.

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Those of you hating on phillips - feel free to hang sheetrock all day with any other threaded fastener of your choosing and tell me how it works out for you.

The problem with Phillips isn’t installing them, it’s removing them. The same “feature” that prevents overtorquing them on install also prevents applying correct torque to remove them after years of heat cycling, corrosion buildup, etc.

In addition, half the time a Phillips head is FUBAR'ed all to hell during install when it cams-out (especially if a power tool is involved). This means not only does the design make removal inherently iffy, but it's probably going to strip when you try.

In a few very specific applications it makes sense (sheetrock), but when I see Phillips on a gun, or a guitar, or under the hood of a truck, or on an 80% milling jig, my first thought is "oh great, this was designed by an idiot".

Posted: 5/28/2018 9:29:20 PM EDT

[#46]

Quote History

Quoted:
fuck that abortion that makes you think a philips is what is needed..............

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Ha! The first time I realized it existed was when I was looking through a set of bits and saw a "pz" label. I thought wtf? Why is there ph and pz? I had to Google it.

Posted: 5/28/2018 9:36:42 PM EDT

[#47]

Straights/flatheads suck donkey dick. Pointless, and always on mile-long screws. Philips is a bit better, but still obsolete.

Hex heads works great, but can't be countersunk. Torx is a big step up from philips, harder to strip, and they sit on the bit without falling off. I still prefer hex heads, but again, they can't be countersunk for flush-fit applications.

Posted: 5/28/2018 9:38:13 PM EDT

[#48]

GD's most hated grip screws.

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Posted: 5/28/2018 9:49:17 PM EDT

[#49]

Quote History

Quoted:
Straights/flatheads suck donkey dick. Pointless, and always on mile-long screws. Philips is a bit better, but still obsolete.

Hex heads works great, but can't be countersunk. Torx is a big step up from philips, harder to strip, and they sit on the bit without falling off. I still prefer hex heads, but again, they can't be countersunk for flush-fit applications.

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