Deck Stairs Rotten

[PILOON]

As with most things there are different qualities.
With the bits, generally those that the square tip is an insert are much tougher and don't round out.

Then comes the screws themselves, some are so soft that you are lucky if they are useable and the square hole is shallow.
Generally the soft ones are found in 'ready to assemble kits'.

Most all the coated 'deck screws' are good ones.

A good Robertson screw will not fall off of a non magnetic driver bit even at arms length at the horizontal position.
And that is where Robertson outshines Phillips.

 

[TomSeller]

A good Robertson screw will not fall off of a non magnetic driver bit even at arms length at the horizontal position.
And that is where Robertson outshines Phillips.

Yep. I wish they were more common. Much better than Phillips.

 

[ultrarunner]

It's been around for a longtime...

Model A Fords built in Canada in the 1930's have Robertson fasteners... the first time I encountered them was in the 60's on some electronic equipment from England.

 

[PILOON]

The Robertson screw is a Canadian invention. Mr. Robertson, no less.
Supposedly he refused to donate the patent to the war effort which led to the Torx design.
The slot and Philips screws really don't lend themselves to air tools and automation all that well and so the Torx design came into being.
While I never looked up specs I am sure that Torx design can handle much more torque than any other design and possibly as much as some graded bolts.