Why do they even make slotted screws?

Question

Phillips screws is the only type design that makes sense to me. What gives? And hows about using some kind of thread dope when installing anything people! Nothing like not being able to remove a bolt or screw cuz somebody wouldnt take the time. Jerks!

Answer 1

Up here in Canada we used phillips for drywalling and Robertson(square) for the rest. Robertson is just getting around now as it was patented in Canada and not availible too much elsewhere. With a good bit you can drive one right through a 4X4 post!!!
Slotted screws get removed and tossed out every time I work with them. The only time they are of any good is when painted. They are the easiest to clean out, remove and then throw away and then replaced with a Robertson.

Answer 2

When Mr Ford was building his Model T he required thousands of screws, the car being mainly constructed of wood.. The workers could only put in a certain number of screws per day, a guy on the other side of the border who was manufacturing screws gave him some screws, and Henry never looked back, as production soared.. The Robertson screw has a square in the head which has REVERSE camber, ( The bottom of the hole is bigger than the top) so there is tremendous torque using hand pressure.
I live in Ireland and the electric company have gone over to the Robertson as have electricians, plumbers, window-blind installers, because of their ability to go where a Philliops & slotted won't go. You can always get that extra 2 turns.
For the life of me I cannot understand why anyone would want to use anything else.. DUMP THE PHILLIPS

Answer 3

I'm going with the'you can put more torque onto a slotted screw" answer, as I've stripped hundreds (even more?) Phillips screw heads then I ever did with slotted screw heads. Slotted screws were the first type of head for a screw, then came square and hex-type heads, usually on bolts; Phillips are relatively recent. Lubricating screw threads, yes, a great idea...but even better, in my opinion, is drilling a pilot hole for a screw, ESPECIALLY in hard woods. Part of the problem with stripping screws comes from cheap metal used to make the screws, but much of the problem comes from user-error. I've found that when using a power drill, making sure that the drive-bit isn't nicked from over-use is key to happy drilling...add to that a pilot hole and some lubrication (I prefer bee's wax rather than soap) and enough user-pressure, most screws will 'go home' nicely. And yes, slot-head screws don't work well with power drivers, but they do have and will continue to have their rightful place and usage for a long time to come. Good choice of screws for your fence: they hold better and make repair or replacement of boards much easier.

Answer 4

Don't forget about torx, allen, and square head screws!

I think you can place a little more torque on a slotted screw than a phillips, and being old technology the manufacturing cost run cheaper than any of the others.

Answer 5

for high force applications slotted or common screws are superior to Phillips screws. Robertson drive screws beat Phillips all to hell in low force general applications.

Answer 6

So that people can strip them because they used the wrong sixed screwdriver. Then they can make profit selling replacement phillips head screws.

They also sell them to create a new vocabulary...&*%$%^ cheap screw.

Answer 7

Did you ever strip out a screw head? a saw blade can only make slotted screws!

Answer 8

Boy do I agree with you on this. Wish I had a dollar for every slotted screw that I have stripped.

Answer 9

There is nothing better than screws that can be put in with a drill attachment. I don't understand nails either. When the guy came and told me he was going to nail my fence together, I told him no thanks - screws or nada. . . .

Answer 10

Because there are a lot of old people who refuse to step into the 20th century and buy a Philips screw driver.