List of screw drives

[tao]

A screw drive is a system used to turn a screw.^[1][2] At a minimum, it is a set of shaped cavities and protrusions on the screw head that allows torque to be applied to it. Usually, it also involves a mating tool, such as a screwdriver, that is used to turn it. The following heads are categorized based on commonality, with some of the less-common drives being classified as "tamper-resistant".

 

Most heads come in a range of sizes, typically distinguished by a number, such as "Phillips #00" or "Torx T5". These sizes do not necessarily describe a particular dimension of the drive shape, but are often arbitrary designations in the same sense as a "Size 8" dress.

 

If interested, please, read more < here >.

[debebee]

Different Types of Screws and their Uses

Before elaborating the different types of screws available today in the market, let us first of all have a quick review on its definition.

So what is a screw?

A screw/bolt is a type of fastener distinguished by a circular ridge, known as threads which are wrapped around a cylinder.

While some screw threads are designed to get along with an internal thread, also known as complementary thread, there are some threads, which are fashioned to cut a helical groove in a softer material, say wood or plywood, when the fastener is inserted. The major function of a screw is to hold two objects together.

These kinds of fasteners are astonishingly versatile and powerful enough to be hold two different surfaces intact. The basic concept behind such metal objects� functionality is their threaded cylindrical parts, which are designed to get inserted into any kind of material, be it a plastic, wood, metal or plywood. However, there are various types of screws available suitable for distinct surfaces.

These types can be distinguished depending upon the driving methods, job requirement, head shape, type of threads and material used to make such metal pieces. Have a look!

Driving Methods

Slotted: The heads of such fasteners are most probably the most ancient and commonly used variety. The linear slot in the screw’s head is easily gets along-with any standard screw driver, such as the flat-head screwdriver.

Phillips: These are the enhanced forms of slotted ones. Their cross-shaped laps, which are not continuous up to the edge, will certainly require a Phillips-head screwdriver. The heads of such rivets, featuring a circular shape, enables a larger mating surface, thereby reducing the chances of wear and tear. Plus, they also prevent the chances of slipping. A cross head usually features 2 full-length slots, which can only work with a flat-head screwdriver.

Square: This type is also known as Robertson screw head and features a square dent to reduce the chances of slipping. It requires a special kind of driver for its usage.

Hex: This is again available in two designs. Such types of fasteners either feature a hexagonal recession in the head or do not have grooves at all. The hex socket screw/Allen screw requires an Allen wrench, featuring a hexagonal shaft and the other type of hex screw’s head is completely hexagonal in shape. A socket wrench is required to tighten or loosen it.

Apart from being available in above mentioned types, the screws are also available in various materials. While some are made up of steel and stainless steel, there are fasteners, which are made up of brass, nylon, aluminium and are also available with zinc and black-oxide coating.

Source: http://blog.mutualscrew.com/2015/07/07/different-types-of-screws-and-their-uses/

 

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The Screwdriver – A Modern Man’s Guide to Tools

A few generations ago, men built their own houses, fixed their own toilets, installed their own sprinkler systems, and grew unironic mustaches. Unfortunately, due to a lack of immediate necessity, these DIY tool skills have been lost on many of us. Our new series will teach you to correctly pick and use the best tool for whatever job you have to tackle.

BY JESSE STERN / PHOTOS BY ANDREW SNAVELY

A Modern Man's Guide to Tools 

• The Screwdriver - A Modern Man's Guide to Tools
• The Power Drill: A Modern Man's Guide to Tools
• Pliers: A Modern Man's Guide to Tools
• The Box Wrench, Open-End Wrench, and Adjustable Wrench: A Modern Man’s Guide to Tools
• The Socket Wrench: A Modern Man's Guide to Tools

Strangely enough, this is one of the simplest tools, but it’s also the easiest to screw up, no pun intended. For our purposes, the Screwdriver category consists of a simple metal rod with a shape on its head, designed to fit inside its counterpart, the screw (or bolt). This distinguishes it from the Wrench category, in which the tool fits around its counterpart.

Like all things that screw, the screwdriver shares a “complicated” relationship with its counterpart. To carry the metaphor a little further, if the two parts are not compatible, the one doing the screwing can permanently damage the one getting screwed. Let’s put it in plain terms.

Screws, and screwdrivers, have different types and sizes. The most common types here in the US are Phillips head and slot head. Then there’s the less common Torx or star head, a super cool six-pointed star-shaped head, which is used on things that need to get very tight. Others exist, but let’s not get too complicated.

The Allen wrench is something of a step-child. While a wrench by name, it also falls somewhat into the screwdriver category. It shares the criterion of the tool fitting inside the counterpart, and it shares some of the pitfalls of other screwdrivers. You can even get an Allen-head screwdriver. However, most commonly (and technique-wise), it is more of a wrench. Read on.

→ The Other Kind of Screwdriver

About the drink: According to legend, American petroleum workers in Saudi Arabia (or Siberian, Welsh or Irish coal miners, depending on your ethnic pride) mixed vodka into cans of frozen orange juice, using a screwdriver to stir them together. Whence the name.

You are likely to need a screwdriver for:

• Computers, small electronics
• Wall socket electrical outlets, light switches, and cover plates
• Changing the air filter or hoses in your car
• Furniture fixtures (cabinet & dresser knobs)

Screwdriver Technique

The most important technique is to use the right size screwdriver. While screw size is shrouded in mystery, there are four basic sizes of Phillips screwdriver — from #0 to #4 — #0 being the smallest. The most common sizes are #2 and #1, #2 for standard screw sizes, #1 for “miniature”. Then there are the jeweler-size screws. With slot head screwdrivers it’s even simpler, the blades are measured in fractions of an inch. The point is, before you go all Bruce Willis on a screw, make sure the screwdriver head fits snugly.

Screwdriver set with lifetime guarantee

The technique of tightening or loosening a screw is pretty simple. Push the screwdriver toward the head of the screw, and then it’s righty-tighty, lefty-loosy. In other words, turn clockwise to tighten (the way a clock’s hands turn), counter-clockwise (or anti-clockwise if you’re speaking the Queen’s English) to loosen.

Phillips head screwdrivers are designed to “cam out”, which means they are designed to slip out of the screw, so you don’t over-tighten them. This also leads to their greatest pitfall.

Screwdriver Pitfalls

The greatest danger of screwdriving (new word, you read it first here) is stripping the screw head. Using the wrong size screw, or trying to over-tighten can damage the screw, making it unusable.

Another danger, as with any pointy object, is cutting yourself, poking your eye out, all those things that Mom warned you about. Be careful. Use the screwdriver for its intended purpose: screwing things. And if you bleed, don’t bleed on this article. We won’t clean it up.

Source: https://www.primermagazine.com/2012/learn/screwdriver

[straycat19]

You all must have gone to school recently if those are the only screws you know.  Here's a little help from the past.

 

SCREW

 

1a : a simple machine of the inclined plane type consisting of a spirally grooved solid cylinder and a correspondingly grooved hollow cylinder into which it fits

b : a nail-shaped or rod-shaped piece with a spiral groove and a slotted or recessed head designed to be inserted into material by rotating (as with a screwdriver) and used for fastening pieces of solid material together

2a : a screwlike form : spiral

b : a turn of a screw; also : a twist like the turn of a screw

c : a screwlike device (such as a corkscrew)

3: a worn-out horse

4chiefly British : a small packet (as of tobacco)

5: a prison guard

6: a person who bargains shrewdly; also : skinflint

7: a propeller especially of a ship

8a : thumbscrew 1

b : pressure or punitive measures intended to coerce —used chiefly in the phrase put the screws on or put the screws to

9a vulgar : an act of sexual intercourse

b vulgar : a partner in sexual intercourse

[DKT27]

Topic moved to The Chat Bar.

 

As someone who has never learned all this, it's good to know about it.

 

It's good to see that I'm not the only one who gets frustrated by the Phillips ones, but still, they are better than others.

 

Frearson looks good. I also like those combination ones more, the one that combine Phillips and slot ones, but not Quadrex, they are crap. What I really hate are hex as the drivers are not easily found here. Another problem I have is star like drivers, it's like they are available with all the kits, but their screws are not to be easily found here.