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
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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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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
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@EricLawton @Canadian_Eh I was told a story about a company I worked for years ago by someone who had worked there longer about Robertson screws. Apparently the company had several racks to ship to the U.S. (years before tariffs!) and when they got to customer, the customer couldn't open the panels because Robertson screws had been used! So the next shipment came with some screwdrivers. Packaged *inside the rack. FUBAR again!
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@EricLawton @Canadian_Eh I was told a story about a company I worked for years ago by someone who had worked there longer about Robertson screws. Apparently the company had several racks to ship to the U.S. (years before tariffs!) and when they got to customer, the customer couldn't open the panels because Robertson screws had been used! So the next shipment came with some screwdrivers. Packaged *inside the rack. FUBAR again!
@Dianora @EricLawton Heh, nice.
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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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@Dianora @EricLawton Heh, nice.
@Canadian_Eh @Dianora @EricLawton whoa whoa whoa you're all saying that all those screwdriver kits and impact driver bit sets in our hardware stores are created only for the Canadian market? Impressive.
Only somewhat related, but does anyone know a situation in which you would prefer to use a flathead screw? It's always seemed to me that they must only get used when cost is most important, or they want it disassembleable with only a butterknife.
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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.
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@Canadian_Eh @Dianora @EricLawton whoa whoa whoa you're all saying that all those screwdriver kits and impact driver bit sets in our hardware stores are created only for the Canadian market? Impressive.
Only somewhat related, but does anyone know a situation in which you would prefer to use a flathead screw? It's always seemed to me that they must only get used when cost is most important, or they want it disassembleable with only a butterknife.
@rndeon @Canadian_Eh @Dianora @EricLawton
As far as I know, the only actual choosing of a slotted screw over less strippable drives is for cosmetic reasons. i.e. Robertson being universal in construction in Canada, but socket/switch box covers are still always slotted.
I don't find Robertson or other drives visually unappealing, but apparently lots do? Maybe only old fogies who grew up with slotted as the universal drive?
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@rndeon @Canadian_Eh @Dianora @EricLawton
As far as I know, the only actual choosing of a slotted screw over less strippable drives is for cosmetic reasons. i.e. Robertson being universal in construction in Canada, but socket/switch box covers are still always slotted.
I don't find Robertson or other drives visually unappealing, but apparently lots do? Maybe only old fogies who grew up with slotted as the universal drive?
@cazabon @Canadian_Eh @Dianora @EricLawton interesting, would never have considered the aesthetics of screw heads.
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@cazabon @Canadian_Eh @Dianora @EricLawton interesting, would never have considered the aesthetics of screw heads.
@rndeon @cazabon @Canadian_Eh @Dianora @EricLawton I was taught to align my switch plate covers so that the screw heads align all the same horizontal direction. Its a nice way to show attention to detail
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@rndeon @cazabon @Canadian_Eh @Dianora @EricLawton I was taught to align my switch plate covers so that the screw heads align all the same horizontal direction. Its a nice way to show attention to detail
@layertrade @rndeon @Canadian_Eh @Dianora @EricLawton
I do the same, but vertical! You're right, seeing a 4-gang switchplate where every screw is at a different position of the clock is a loud "some electrician didn't GAF".
