Screw Head Bits

[jgrreed]

For anyone in Canada (I don't think there's Mastercraft in the US??), Canadian Tire always has great sales (sometimes 70% off) of their sets. The Mastercraft Maximum series is really nice to use, and great quality. I've never used Snap-on or Mac Tools, but I can't imagine they're THAT much better to justify 5x the price unless you're a pro.

-Jer.

 

[EddieWalker]

The biggest problem with most of the screw tips is the metal is soft and wears out quickly. Then they don't grip very well and cause the heads to strip out.

Like already mentioned, DeWalt tips are PURE JUNK.

Right now I'm buying Bosch and having good results with them.

Eddie

 

[randy41]

I bought a small package of 3 #2 phillips bits...they are either hitachi or bosch. They work very well but have a tendancy to break especially when driving a series of long 2 1/2"+ screws. But they were pretty cheap.

 

[nckubota]

I just finished 400 ft. of 3 rail fence with locust posts and pressure treated 2x6 rails. I used the torx 3" outdoor screws and I was impressed. With an 18 volt Makita drill / driver I did not strip out a single torx screw and if you kept the pressure on it would drive the screws completely through the 2x6. Toward the end of the project I ran out of the torx screws and I had some 3" phillips outdoor screws in the shop so I thought I would use them to finish up, well I had to pre-drill the 2x6's and the locust (seasoned locust posts are as hard as iron) to get the phillips screws to drive without stripping out. I also have a box of McFeelys stainless steel 2" screws with square drive heads, they drive pretty well- but if you let the square bit slip in the square head it is done and you either have to break the screw off or remove it with vice grips. So - In my experience the torx drive screws are the greatest thing since a shirt pocket and I will use them whenever possible from now on ! I found them at Lowes here in Franklin, NC

 

[weedsportpete]

Ditto on the Torx - I am also seeing more of these deck screws in Torx heads show up in the stores (Lowes) and I've been using them now for four months, and never had one slip. They are harder to find at Ace Hardware. I try to get Torx first before phillips.

Pete

 

[JB4310]

Home depot had exterior screws called Deck Mate I think, they had a special Phillips head, and came with a bit in each box. It was basically about the size of a #3 Phillips with a square center, they were the best, almost impossible to strip even when apply little pressure/push, now they switched to a torx head and I don't see an improvement so I'm sure it was done to save money as opposed to making a better product. No they don't slip/strip but seems to take more time/effort to engage the screw with the bit and have had to throw many away due to deformed or paint filled heads.

Heard all these references to Robertson screws, have never heard that term before (contractor for 25+ years?) was to embarrassed to ask what they were so had to google it and found they are what we just call square drive.

 

[J_J]

Robertson Screw
In 1908, square-drive screws were invented by Canadian P. L. Robertson. Twenty-eight years before Henry Phillips patented his Phillips head screws, which are also square-drive screws.The Robertson screw is considered the "first recess-drive type fastener practical for production usage." The design became a North American standard, as published in the sixth edition of Industrial Fasteners Institute Metric and Inch Standards. A square-drive head on a screw can be better than a slot head because the screwdriver will not slip out of the screw's head during installation. The Model T car made by the Ford Motor Company (one of Robertson's first customers) used over seven hundred Robertson screws.

 

[SteelDust]

For wood screws I've been buying a lot of the Deckmate product. They have a torx style head, and each box of screws comes with the appropriate bit. Which is nice, as I've found that most bits from any manufacturer are junk and drive well for about one box of screws anyhow.

 

[J_J]

For wood screws I've been buying a lot of the Deckmate product. They have a torx style head, and each box of screws comes with the appropriate bit. Which is nice, as I've found that most bits from any manufacturer are junk and drive well for about one box of screws anyhow.

Did you mean TORX, that has six sides, or this. Deckmate uses a modified Phillips head that uses a patented bit, but can use regular Phillips bits, or square bits.

Deck Mate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torx

 

[SteelDust]

Did you mean TORX, that has six sides, or this. Deckmate uses a modified Phillips head that uses a patented bit, but can use regular Phillips bits, or square bits.

Deck Mate

Torx - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You might find this interesting, found it browsing another forum. The Deckmate screws that I have been using over the past few months are definately a torx pattern. I've seen Deckmate screws with both patterns, the below clears it up. For what it's worth, I actually prefer the new style design that apparently Home Depot is only selling, to the old modified philips pattern.

Home Depot owns the name Deck Mate and we have worked with them
building
this brand name for over 11 years. This spring they chose to have a
different vendor supply the screws they put in the box. We built our
reputation on a patented drive system, our trademarked blue bit, and
quality. We were not willing to compromise this.

We are happy to say the Lowe's quickly took on the drive system under
the
brand Phillips II Square Driv. They have 5lb 2-1/2" and 3" in quarter
pallets in the lumber aisle in the stores this spring at a great
promotional price. You will recognize our box, our blue bit, and our
screws you have come to rely on. Other lengths and 25lb buckets are
available at Lowes.com.

We are working with Lowe's to transition our current Phillips II line
over
to this drive system this fall under the brand Phillips II Plus. This
way
our hardware aisle set will have all lengths and box types available at
your local store.

If we can assist you in receiving the fasteners you need, please do
not
hesitate to contact us.

Mary Strycharz for
Phillips Fastener Products, Inc.
1-888-332-6283