How to deal with this type of screw?

[tomx]

Need to remove something. Any input is welcome!

Thanks,

Tom

[cruising7388]

Originally Posted by tomx

Need to remove something. Any input is welcome!

Thanks,

Tom

It's often called a Robertson drive fastener. It is a standard for RVs. It's a superior fastener because the square drive is less prone to cam out and damage to the fastener head. The drive bit for this fastener is available at most any hardware store. There are three different sizes, #1,#2 and #3. The bit almost always used for RV applications is the #2 bit.

[tomx]

Thank you! Will check home depot today

All the best,

Tom

[cruising7388]

Originally Posted by tomx

Thank you! Will check home depot today

All the best,

Tom

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/t...ps-head-screws

[BBQ]

.

You must have a Roadtrek (or one of the Canadian made RV).

Robertson is a Canadian screw head. You seldom find it in the USA.

[Bud]

Originally Posted by BBQ

.

You must have a Roadtrek (or one of the Canadian made RV).

Robertson is a Canadian screw head. You seldom find it in the USA.

Mine uses 2 different sizes.

Bud

[cruising7388]

Originally Posted by Bud

Mine uses 2 different sizes.

Bud

I'm not sure there is any industry hard and fast rule but what I've generally found is that 4-6 gauge fasteners use a #1 Robertson, 8-10 gauge use #2 and 12 gauge and above use #3.

[The Sticks]

The story goes that Mr. Robertson invented the square drive screw here in Canada in the early 1900's. Mr. H. Ford found out about the screw, and wanted to use it on his new fangled assembly line thing.

However, Mr. Ford would only use it if he owned it - and Mr. Robertson refused to sell. So Mr. Ford went back south of the 49th, and sourced out the Philips screw. Hence the (superior) Robertson screw stayed a 'Canadian' thing, and the Philips became the norm South of the line.

Because we pretty much only use the Robertson in construction in Canada, when we crate up set parts or props to send back to the studios in LA, they are put together with Robertson's. But being the nice guys we are, we make sure to include a Rotertson bit or two inside the crate...

Your useless trivia for the day...

Scott

[mumkin]

All of my rigs have been Canadian built, and the second and third came with a little screwdriver that has all the different bits in the handle.

Of course, I already had them from the first rig...

[Mfturner]

My 2008 TN built Trailmanor TT used them, and every last deck screw on my house has them, so they aren't that uncommon, but the bits are easy to find at any hw store. I seem to be able to cam out of them and destroy their heads too, maybe it's just me.

[cruising7388]

Originally Posted by Mfturner

My 2008 N built Trailmanor TT used them, and every last deck screw on my house has them, so they aren't that uncommon, but the bits are easy to find at any hw store. I seem to be able to cam out of them and destroy their heads too, maybe it's just me.

The origin of this fastener is Canadian but today they have widespread use domestically. I've used thousands of them. Every fastener on my house siding and big deck used them in the stainless version. Twenty years later they look like they were driven in yesterday.

The only time I have experienced a bit cam out with a square drive fastener is from either neglecting to fully seat the bit in the fastener before powering the tool or failing to remove detritus from the fastener recess resulting in diminished or offset bit seating.

[<<B-Guy>>]

Not relating to my patriotism as a Canadian Citizen (ex-Brit many many years before!) - I will say that they are probably my favourite type in comparison to straight slot or Phillips.

Much less likely to get b*ggered up when trying to remove if tight.

Probably you would be more likely to twist the head off then mess up the screw head!! But if hat happens, then you can hopefully take the broken screw out with vice grips!

Just the same, I don't think "Robertson" has ever really caught on outside Canada though!

Brian.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by Wingeezer

... ...Just the same, I don't think "Robertson" has ever really caught on outside Canada though!...

In the USA they are just called "Square Drive". They are available from many sources and I use them all the time. Much better that the easy to strip Phillips head fastners.

[The Sticks]

If the bit starts to wear, then they will definately cam out of the socket. People in construction trades always make sir to have a bit that it's in good shape in thier gun, and when the start camming, is time to change the bit

[peteco]

I joke with my Canadian snowbird friends in Florida that they have cost this American a lot of money.

1. Big bucks for my Canadian conversion Roadtrek 210P I bought 7 years ago.
2. Big bucks for the 5th wheel RV I just bought from a Canadian.
3. My not-cheap Canadian Tilley hat.
4. The 15 or so Canadian made Picquic screwdrivers I have bought, initially for the Roadtrek and its Roberson screws. But I liked the Picquic so much I have bought them for all my toolboxes and for my sons.

[kmgwood51]

The Sticks
VERY interesting about Ford!

Any chance you know the story on the Torx head?

[The Sticks]

Unfortunately, I don't... I saw a documentary a few years back on Canadian inventions, and the Robertson was probably the only one I remember.

Guess that one will have to be left to Google...

[cruising7388]

Originally Posted by kmgwood51

The Sticks
VERY interesting about Ford!

Any chance you know the story on the Torx head?

They have been around for half a century or so. It's a six point screw which permits greater fastening torque with more resistance to cam out or damage to the bit. It's sometimes described as a star fastener and to address a patent expiration it has more recently been slightly redesigned and marketed as a Torx Plus. (Shades of the pharmaceutical industry) There is also a security version that has a pin in the middle which requires a non-standard bit. It's a good fastener but an annoying characteristic of this fastener is that it may use up to 8 different bit sizes from T1 to T100 as opposed to the Robertson that requires only keeping three different size bits.

Here's a fun link to a description of a variety of esoteric fasteners.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/hom...trange-screws/

[Mat Mobile]

Originally Posted by The Sticks

Unfortunately, I don't... I saw a documentary a few years back on Canadian inventions, and the Robertson was probably the only one I remember.

Guess that one will have to be left to Google...

You forgot Ginger Ale?!? Shame on you!

[The Sticks]

Lol... As I get older, my memory retention module seems to be getting increasingly selective. Information seems to be retained in inverse proportion to its importance, and I love ginger ale, so that must be it.