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  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Default Slot head or Phillips?

    So what is the better of two? And obviously re firming one or more pieces of timber together be it ply/plank/board or holding hinges? Aesthetically a slot head screw seems to win almost always but can a phillips screw do just as admirable a job?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
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    Canberra
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    Well, you can power drive a Phillips head without too much worry of long spiral scratches from a bit that slips out of the head.

    Other than that, I don't think there's too much in it, performance wise - it's not like the head type indicates much about the actual performance of the screw shank.

    You can generally get more torque on a slotted head, but that's really unnecessary (or getting towards the 'oops, broke half the head off' side of things) if you drill the right size hole to start with. And aesthetically, you have more options with clocking phillips head screws as you only ever need to turn them an extra 90 degrees, maximum.

    However, you can't open a paint can with a phillips head screwdriver!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
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    Queensland
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    Phillips or square drive for me.

    Slot heads are fine so long as the slots and driver are matched - thickness as well as whether the blade is tapered or hollow ground. Slots are more prone to slips as I'm trying to push down as well as trying not to slip sideways out of the slot.

    Have no trouble "dressing" the phillips/square drive screws if exposed but usually plug or button exposed screws so not really an issue.
    Regards,
    Bob

    Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    Tallahassee FL USA
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    Default Slotted screws

    An uncle and a cousin (not father and son) were electricians. They told me they were instructed to always place the screw slots vertical in switchplate and outlet covers. They didn't know exactly why.

    As a practical matter, the vertical slots don't collect dust. As an impractical matter, the vertical slots tell the next sparky that you knew the secret handshake.

    Cheers,
    Joe
    Of course truth is stranger than fiction.
    Fiction has to make sense. - Mark Twain

  5. #5
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
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    Wouldn't give you tuppence for either. Square heads are the go, and for setting they look good as a diamond.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

    COLT DRILLS GROUP BUY
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  6. #6
    rrich Guest

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    Quote Originally Posted by Master Splinter View Post
    However, you can't open a paint can with a phillips head screwdriver!
    It is, however, possible to open a can of paint with a chisel.

    (I could not resist.)

  7. #7
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    Aug 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default

    Slot or Phillips? NEITHER!!
    Pozi-drive or ASSY for me.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Canberra
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    Is this where I say I have a Ryobi Airless 18 Gauge bradder??? Can't open a paint can with that, either!!!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2012
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    arthurs creek
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    Quote Originally Posted by rrich View Post
    It is, however, possible to open a can of paint with a chisel.

    (I could not resist.)
    Yes. But you may be thrown out of the Union

  10. #10
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    Nov 2006
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    Melbourne
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    Quote Originally Posted by gordo 350 View Post
    Yes. But you may be thrown out of the Union
    Been a member for 3 years, so I can't really say welcome aboard, but I will anyway,
    Welcome aboard.
    TM

  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2012
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    Has it been three years? I was a lurker for a while but then lost my phone and passwords etc. Then started building a house and life keeps getting in the way. But thanx for the welcome

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Bowral
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    I've been doing a lot of screwing lately. With screws, I hasten to add. I never use slot heads unless it is for hinges that will be seen on boxes. I find them too fiddly and my screwdriver skills too feeble to cope with slot heads. And I've come to detest Philips heads - I've been trying to line my shed lately, without the aid of an impact driver, and trying to drive screws through timber then into the metal of the shed with Philips heads is more difficult than my middle-aged muscles can cope with. For all of the timber attaching I've gone with square headed screws, and I find them a quantum leap better. Much less slippage of the driving bit, and a much tighter fit with the screw head. So I'm sold on the square drives.
    Bob C.

    Never give up.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
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    Tasmania
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    Some interesting & fun replies. Being a former sheety (from the 60s) i got used to using slot heads over phillips. As a restorer of a vintage caravan i`ve kept faithful to slot head replacements. I succumbed to using phillips heads on some new internal cabinet framework only. Judging by what i now read here i`m of the mind to trying out these square heads as i will be fitting new frames & cabinets in the galley which thinking about realistically won`t look out of place given that it is believed to being australias first commercial built DC3 aircraft ali clad teardrop.

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