The Better Screw: A Canadian Grip
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The Better Screw: A Canadian Grip
In 1908, Canadian P. L. Robertson invented the square-socketed screw to prevent 'cam-out'—the slipping that plagues other screw types. This superior grip made it highly efficient. While the Phillips head became more common globally, the Robertson screw remains widely preferred in Canadian construction and manufacturing for its reliability. #Canada #Innovation #Invention #Tools
@Canadian_Eh Oh my god, if I find out who is putting slotted screws in things in 2026 I will end them 🤬.
Philips are bad enough but holy hell, stop with the slotted already!
I *rarely* if ever have stripped Robertson screws.
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The Better Screw: A Canadian Grip
In 1908, Canadian P. L. Robertson invented the square-socketed screw to prevent 'cam-out'—the slipping that plagues other screw types. This superior grip made it highly efficient. While the Phillips head became more common globally, the Robertson screw remains widely preferred in Canadian construction and manufacturing for its reliability. #Canada #Innovation #Invention #Tools
More than once I have rounded out the screw (or found it has rounded out) and wondered if a triangle shape would have worked better.
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@Canadian_Eh Oh my god, if I find out who is putting slotted screws in things in 2026 I will end them 🤬.
Philips are bad enough but holy hell, stop with the slotted already!
I *rarely* if ever have stripped Robertson screws.
@javensbukan @Canadian_Eh Uhm, hex keys are not a thing over there? Don't you have IKEAs?
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More than once I have rounded out the screw (or found it has rounded out) and wondered if a triangle shape would have worked better.
@angela_underscore @Canadian_Eh
Interesting thought.
The three sharper points of the driver would be a bit (so to speak) less robust than four pointed corners, which perhaps Robertson thought about. On the other hand, the fastener itself might well have greater strip resistance. Someone must have experimented by now...
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@javensbukan @Canadian_Eh Uhm, hex keys are not a thing over there? Don't you have IKEAs?
@hennichodernich @Canadian_Eh We do! And those are pretty great tbh. Though they're rarely used in building and general house construction.
Case and point, every single lightswitch panel and outlet in my house has these stupid slotted screws and I hate them.
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@angela_underscore @Canadian_Eh
Interesting thought.
The three sharper points of the driver would be a bit (so to speak) less robust than four pointed corners, which perhaps Robertson thought about. On the other hand, the fastener itself might well have greater strip resistance. Someone must have experimented by now...
The three points of the driver could be a bit rounded. The three (relatively) broad faces would provide enough contact to move the screw after losing a bit of meat on the corners.
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R AodeRelay shared this topic
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@hennichodernich @Canadian_Eh We do! And those are pretty great tbh. Though they're rarely used in building and general house construction.
Case and point, every single lightswitch panel and outlet in my house has these stupid slotted screws and I hate them.
@javensbukan @hennichodernich Ouch. I know that pain.
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@javensbukan @hennichodernich Ouch. I know that pain.
@Canadian_Eh @javensbukan @hennichodernich It’s interesting as I think all the front facing screws on light switches are slotted. I have to wonder if it’s a cosmetic thing.
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The three points of the driver could be a bit rounded. The three (relatively) broad faces would provide enough contact to move the screw after losing a bit of meat on the corners.
@angela_underscore @f800gecko @Canadian_Eh I think the problem with a triangle shape is that you don't have a symmetrical force on the other side of the point of rotation which facilitates the rotation. When turning a Phillips or a Robertson screw, there's a "doubling" of the force from each opposite corner (Imagine how difficult it would be to unscrew a tire nut if your lug wrench didn't have opposing arms to increase the torque).
It's just my gut feeling though. I haven't "Googled it" yet.
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@Canadian_Eh @javensbukan @hennichodernich It’s interesting as I think all the front facing screws on light switches are slotted. I have to wonder if it’s a cosmetic thing.
@Chigaze @Canadian_Eh @hennichodernich Yeah that's my thought too. Maybe because you can make slotted very small and shallow?
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@angela_underscore @f800gecko @Canadian_Eh I think the problem with a triangle shape is that you don't have a symmetrical force on the other side of the point of rotation which facilitates the rotation. When turning a Phillips or a Robertson screw, there's a "doubling" of the force from each opposite corner (Imagine how difficult it would be to unscrew a tire nut if your lug wrench didn't have opposing arms to increase the torque).
It's just my gut feeling though. I haven't "Googled it" yet.
Good point.
I wonder if there is a parallel with the Wankel rotary engine (which those of us of a certain age will remember being in Mazda vehicles) versus a piston engine.
