Why Do You Use So Many Types of Screws?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 มี.ค. 2023
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Sheetrock screws, Self-Tapping screws, Phillips screws, Panhead screws- Have you ever wondered why there are so many types of screws available? In todays episode of Electrician U, Dustin talks about a few of the most popular types of screws and what their uses are for.
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Let’s talk about the most popular screw heads first. Those are Phillips head and Slotted head screws. These are the oldest and easiest to produce so they tend to be the most popular. Originally designed to be used with screwdrivers (one of the tools an electrician ALWAYS has on hand- pun definitely intended!!). However, with the advent of electrical drills, and in more recent years cordless impact drills, they can be prone to stripping out of the heads if too much torque or speed is applied during the installation process. Still, you can find these types of heads in every screw type available- from metal, to wood, to concrete.
The Robertson head screw was developed to combat the inherent design flaw of the Phillips and Flathead screw heads of stripping out due to speed/torque during installation time. The recessed portion of the head is square and offers much more surface area and they tend to blow out less (although not completely impervious to it!). Allen and Torx head screws are also much better at not stripping out during installation and are very popular in todays screws as well. Pro Tip- if you are using an Allen headed screw and it has blown out, try using a Torx head tip to back it out. It is relatively close in shape and the points on the Torx tip will dig into the wallowed-out sides of a blown out Allen head screw. You can usually remove the damaged screw in this fashion and replace it with a new one. Pan-head screws offer a smooth rounded finish that doesn’t tend to snag on things after its installed. Hex head screws are also popular. You can find these in the fine coarse machine type screws as well as their coarser threaded cousins usually found in wood screws.
The screw shaft can also be found in different flavors as well. You have fine coarse thread machine type screws for metal work. An example of this would be the 6-32 screw us electricians use to install devices. The 6 portion of the screw designation is telling us it is 6 gauge (how thick the shaft is) and the 32 portion is referring to how many screw threads per inch. These types of screws are meant to be installed in metal, through a hole that you drill (slightly smaller than the screw shaft itself) and tap to the screw thread dimension.
The main difference between wood screws/sheet metal screws and machine screws are the threads. While machine screws are fine thread, wood/sheet metal screws are much coarsely threaded and rely on the wide threads to apply the holding pressure to the material. They do come in many of the head types we mentioned above. There are bolts also to consider in our travel through screw types. The difference between screws and bolts is generally diameter. Bolts usually have a much larger diameter and are usually finer thread. Wood lag bolts are the exception to this rule- they still are made in a larger shaft than most wood screws but share the same coarse threads. Lag bolts are meant to hold something that weighs a lot to the woods surface. Carriage bolts are also in the bolt family. The interesting thing about them is that they lack a head you can put a tool on and are meant to be fastened/tightened with a nut on the end. When you tighten the nut against the opposite side of the head, it brings the shoulder of the screw into the material holding it tight.
It is good to keep a selection of machine screws and wood screws available to work with in varying lengths, head types, and diameters. Make sure to have on hand a good selection of washers and nuts to go along with them. Many manufacturers make kits you can purchase with common sizes/lengths so you do not have to buy them all individually.
We hope this has been helpful in understanding some of the many screw types available to electricians. Is there a topic you would like to see discussed? Leave us a comment in the comments section and let us know. Please continue to follow Dustin and Electrician U as we are constantly updating our content to assist our followers in becoming the best electricians that they can be.
#electrician #electrical #electricity #why #are #there #so #many #types #of #screws
Flat head screws should be illegal. It's 2023, lets make it happen
For a country that hasn't gotten into metric units for over 50 years when the rest of the world is, that likely won't happen.
@@estynusca4006 We also should all be on metric, I agree
Flat head screws pissed me off back in 1976 when I was a teenager. They should’ve been banned then.
besides cover plates I totally agree
I agree
I used to work with a guy who would pick up any spare screws he could find on sites and mixed them all up in his bags. He got one of those multi bit driver adapters and would use whatever he pulled out of the ol’ mystery bag. Yes, he made more enemies than friends.
😂 that sucks I can only imagine having to redo some of his stuff😂😂😂
Good primer on screw types, thanks. You could make a sister channel on screw types, maybe call it Screw U 🙂
Ha Ha Ha ! Robert that is so perfect.
Torx is literally all we need in construction. There might be some decorative uses for flathead, but Torx does it all, baby!
Wait, it's spelled "torx"? All this time I've been hearing it as "torques."
@@eyesofthecervino3366 Then I really hate to tell you about "QuikTrip", bro.
“Flathead” refers to the shape of the head, not the type of drive. A screw with a flat head can be used to make a flush finish.
@@GH-oi2jf Sorry. "slotted"
My mentor was known for his light hearted sarcasm. He told me that to be a good DYI electrician, I should ALWAYS use sheetrock screws - no matter what. Use the right screw for the right application.
But I thought the Sheetrock screw is the right screw for every application.😂
We've often used carriage bolts on doors that need fixed such as walk in cooler/freezer units
What does drive me up the wall is when an equipment manufacturer uses flathead screws on one part of the unit and then switches to Phillips on another part
No reason to have anything but torex head screws. Screws not threaded all the way, is designed to pull two boards tight together. The head of a screw can be anything but the drive hole being torex just makes sense.
Great video as usual! The non threaded portion at the top of the torx screws is to NOT grab the top board so it can move tight into the second board
6:07
Simple added information about screws and bolts..
The difference between a screw and a bolt, is that the screw as pointy tip and it makes its own way into the surfaces to be bonded together. And bolts have flat tip because they dont make their hole, they need a predrilled hole in both surfaces, and a nut on the other side to hold the 2 surfaces together.
And for "machine screws" , they are in between screws and bolts. They dont need nuts on the other side, but they cannot be driven directly into the materials. They need to have predrilled holes, but the hole also has to have matching treads.
You can use a scew in a treaded machine screw hole, but not a machine screw as a screw.
7:42
Since this type is made to make its own way into the material, it should'nt be called a screw. The right term is "lag screw" .. ( pointy tip = screw ).
Self tappers are good at making their own holes, but I've found that it's often faster to drill pilot holes before using self-tappers. I've had more than a few handsfull of self-tappers go dull at the point before breaking through.
I'd love to see a video discussing the differences between sheet metal and wood screws.
So, Peter, I am curious if when you say self tappers if you are referring to just sheet metal and wood screws, or if you are counting self drilling and tapping screws (like Tek screws ) ? And also the hardness of the materials that are making them dull before breaking through. I assume you know different screws are designed for different hardnesses. Not trying to be a butt here, just asking.
I use self tappers and burn those up then stick a pilot bit in. No one is gonna miss the self tapper
Definitely agree. Self tappers will do the job but it's really faster and more efficient to just slap that pilot hole. Sheet metal isn't bad but any kind of actually steal definitely. We tested it at work. I had a impact and a drill set up and my coworker just took an impact and I was putting in 5 to 1 through 1/2" steel
@@dallasarnold8615 Specifically I'm thinking of the kind of screw with the chisel point meant to cut its own hole in mild sheet steel.
The ECX head format is simi;lar to a Phillips head but is a much better fit than the Phillips head. It is used and found often in the electrical trades.
It’s a superior screw head in my opinion
A youtuber who calls himself "The History Guy" did a 15 min segment on the history of the driver types. Very interesting.
Love The History Guy!
Another huge annoyance is how many sizes of screws there are. We don't need 1mm differences, let alone 1/32 or 1/64 differences *ever*!
I like how Honda did it. 10, 12, 15, & 17 mm is all you need for the whole car, not a set from 4 to 19!
Just add 14, 19, and 34 for the axle nuts.
@@ctrlaltdebug Never did those. Good to know. Concept still holds, though the 14 & 15 is silly
It takes 100 nails to build a crib but one screw to fill it.
Excellent!!
Amazing thank you!
Could you add to the video's Description a link to a list of applications and their recommended screws (or bolts)? With recommended screw sizes too, of course. Thanks in advance!
Years ago we had a ten million dollar state of the art custom made German machine that had all.metric hardware. I had to drill & tap a couple dozen holes to install indicating luminaries. My boss wanted me to tap SAE holes but I refused because mechanics that worked on machine everyday only carried metric tools. I tapped metric holes & mechanics appreciated it.
You are a gem and they should protect you at all cost. I come behind guys that will be on the same run of pipe and can't even use the same screws. 1/4" 5/16" 3/8" just randomly slapped up
I like to keep the people behind me on their toes.. Philips here, torx there, a couple robertsons, a few hex (rounded over of course), and then the good old one way security screw for the finally
One reason I like panhead screws is you can move your fixture around to the desired location before tightening if you don't get the pilot hole in exactly the right location; it won't center the hole and move your fixture. One thing I hate though is the constant mixture of imperial in metric- at least millwrights and machinists can generally choose what they use which is one or the other.
They do make these cool allen heads that let you use them on an angle and are much easier to put in and take out. Don't know about torquing them though.
You had me smashing that like button at 5 seconds in
Good video 👍🏾
This was a good video for newbies. But several incorrect descriptions if you really know your fasteners. Like all bolts do not have a smooth shank portion as indicated here.
There’s always some type of error in each video without fail.
"They (Phillips and straight slot) were not designed for drills, they were around waaay, longer than drill motors" Not true, the Phillips recess was patented in 1933, and it was designed precisely because straight slots didn't work well with powered drivers on assembly lines The patent application specifically mentions powered drivers. " "failure of the slotted screw to retain the blade-driver, especially in power driven operations, is not only dangerous to the operator, but is likewise, always injurious to the work,"
Also Robertson was not invented in response to Phillips stripping. They were invented about the same time. Phillips was designed to cam out so it wouldn't break screws. The US adopted Phillips over Robertson because he was willing to sell his patent cheaper. They were always inferior to Robertsons.
@@AnonYmous-yi4zy The Robertson drive was invented well before the Phillips drive (1908 vs 1933) Robertson screws were used by Ford on Model T's. For what it's worth I believe that it is a myth that the Phillips was intentionally designed to cam out to protect from over torquing. Obviously, they *do* cam out under certain circumstances, but I haven't been able to find any support for the claim that this is an intentional design feature. Yeah, you can google up a whole bunch of websites which make that claim, but I haven't seen any which support that claim with any sort of reliable source. There are 7 patents for the Phillips driver recess issued between 1933 and 1936, none of the applications for those patents m list limiting torque through cam-out as one of the listed benefits to the invention. In fact, the application for patent # 2,046,839 lists the opposite as a benefit: " ... and such tool will have little or no tendency to cam out of the recess of the screw in driving the same" (verbatim quote) I believe that this whole "Designed to cam out to limit torque" idea is just one of those myths which began with an erroneous claim, and has been repeated so many times that many people now believe it's true.
@@andrewalexander9492 good stuff. Thanks!
bro question can i use black scew to secure romex with zipp tied in drywall ? why or why not ??
Yeah I knew some of this, but like always you learned me
Lag bolts are screws, and machine screws are bolts. The difference is that screws have a point and bolts have a flat end.
Philips heads were designed for early electric drills that were crazy powerful and had no clutches or protective features. The screw was literally made to cam out so you didn't over drive it and damage the workpiece.
Square heads were actually invented before philips heads but, for the reason above, fell out of favor.
I've got one of those early Dayton drills. No clutch, low RPM ( little lower than DeWalt's low speed setting). If that thing "grabbed", you would get a seriously sprained wrist, if not broken.
Square never got picked up since it was a Canadian design and the owner didn’t want to let ford use it so ford stuck with Phillips. Square is more popular in Canada.
@@FishFind3000 Judging from Ford now, Square was ahead of its time.
Great video, as always. I think you should have touched on screws allowable usages. For instance, 6-32s are not rated for fixture support. That is why 1G boxes have them for devices. But, octagon and 1900 boxes have 8-32s which are rated for that.
Where can someone find information about that subject?
@Erick Rojas Honestly, I am not sure. That little tidbit is something that every journeymen has told me as a helper. I was hoping he would reply with info I haven't been able to find. Lol
Early drills were huge and not variable speed just on off. Phillips head was invented for these drills because you needed the head to slip or the drill would strip the threads or break the screw.
Torx for the win 😎 👍🏻
Is it possible to get 240v by combining the neutral from 2 standard 120v power inverters?
Ask reddit
Try it and let us know.
The holy Trinity of fastener bits are Robertson, 5/16 hex and Phillips
Bolts absolutely can be threaded all the way up to the head. Look at a 3/8” bolt that is 1” long. It’s all threaded.
“Point screws” in light gauge framing. “Self-tappers” (self-drilling) in heavy gauge.
The plain shank on bolts is to take large shear loads.
Yeah Canada, we love the red(#2) robbie.
square or torx screw have a positive connection
A bolt is a screw that is used with a nut. If you turn the fastener, it's a screw. There are 1" hex head cap screws (HHCS). Carriage bolts are bolts because they are used with nuts.
You're forgetting structural screws, which are similar to lag bolts but have much better specs both in actual specs and as in more detailed specific specifications. Everyone I've seen hold them as distinct from lag bolts and other than sometimes cost better.
I will not use non-self tappers in metal anymore unless the hole is pre-drilled. The last time I did that I ended up putting the screw through the metal and into my thumb in the other side. Had to back it out. I’ve had and seen similar injuries when people are not using the right tool/material for the job. The 99 times you didn’t get hurt don’t matter. It’s the one time you did get hurt that costs time and money.
Pro tip- don’t put your thumb on the other side of the material you’re drilling.. also, please never use a nail gun
Here’s the screws I get: Electrical Co.-Natural Gas Co.-Auto Gas Fuel-Food Market-State Tax Collector-IRS-Phone Service--Auto, Home & Medical Insurance to name a few.
Go over security screws
Let's end the Philips screw too. They had their day. I'd 100% rather use power tools with a Robby bits and screws. So irritating and frustrating switching between Philips and Robertson.
Now I will always use hex head for difficult installations, like hard materials. They just don't strip. And can be tightened painlessly with leverage from a ratchet.
Lag screw with a 9/16" hex head is for a 3/8" lag screw. Better off using two 1/4" lag screws as to not split the thin edge of a 2 by anything.
I got so many different screw and lengths not to mentions bolts... A shelf full of them and two different Milwaukee organizers on old Staley organizer and the mystery box... 🤦🤣
Our factory produces and exports screws.
I read that the flat head screw are such because they are intended that you don't screw it too deep for what ever you are fixing it into. The idea is that it is supposed to slip out to prevent driving it too deep.
Jeremy, whatever your source was is wrong. Flat heads came into being from originally being hand formed by blacksmiths. Easiest head to make by simply driving a flat bar into it while hot. And if you don't already know, carriage bolts come from when horse drawn carriages were being built, hence the name.
I think he’s talking about why they’re still in use not why they made
I think he’s talking about why they’re still in use not why they made
@@dallasarnold8615 And then their are stove bolts. Don't know if they make them anymore.
Yeah, flatheads don’t slip.
The smooth part of the bolt is called the 'shoulder' or 'shank'. No idea how I know that
Fun fact the robertson was actually used before the square head
My favorite piece of screw knowledge is that the Phillips screw was invented by a guy named John Thompson.
(I'm fun at parties)
Here's a question that I haven't found an answer to yet. Why does wire gauge get larger when the gauge number gets smaller?
My guess is that it's because when they decided on the convention, improving technology was giving them the ability to make smaller and smaller wires. So I think they wanted the ability to keep counting higher as wires got smaller.
“Gauge” derives from the process of manufacturing the material, wire or sheet metal. It originated as the number of draws through successively smaller dies.
Different screws are optimized for different purposes.
The old joke is that f there are 15 competing standards and then one proposes an universal standard to replace them. The result will be that there will be 16 different standard.
The most confusing is Pozidriv vs. Phillips. For long I though all cross heads were Phillips. I had seen screwdrivers marked PZ but dismissed those as unnecessary.
Viva Canada Milton Ontario
9:12:
Me: go..on
"slipping" out is actually called cam out
That screw up man!😅
Holy 💩,
You have way to much crap in your van bossman. It looks just like my car😆
What's a Type U screw? My Journeyman always screams at me asking for a Screw U
Just find out what the proper fastener is and use that
Nice job screwball
I wish I watched this video a year earlier 😂
i would be 100% onboard with never using a Philips head screw ever again
Who calls carriage bolts "carrier bolts"? That's just wrong. They came from the horse carriage industry a couple centuries ago.
Good job Dustin, Sounds like you have some loose screws? Waa, waa, waa, haha, just kidding, really?
simpson strong tie screws - these are structual screws,, and for electrical boxes, nothing but stainless screws,
I seen the thumb nail and thought what a NUT !
Firsttt
First
First reply to first comment.
Super Pro Tip: You don’t need an impact driver for every screw.
Shouldn't ECX be mentioned in this electrical context?
The difference in a machine screw and a bolt is technically how it's fastened. Machine screws are intended to be secured into a tapped hole. A bolt requires a nut and a through hole