On Sat, 24 Mar 2007 19:35:46 -0400, Gene Kearns
wrote:


Since everybody is posting OT, I thought I would revisit a topic that
we discussed a year or so ago.

I was doing some deck work and had bought some stainless deck screws
with the Robertson square drive. I thought they sucked, since they
were hard to drive and tended to strip out and break off.... others
suggested that I should be pre-drilling holes. That seemed like a
unnecessary and labor intensive task.

The local building supply has stopped carrying the Robertson headed
screws and now supplies an exterior plated screw (Grip Rite) with star
drive. They are excellent! I've driven a whole box of 4 inch screws
and not one single stripped head or broken screw (and no predilling,
either).

They worked for me.....

Were they the coated Grip Rite screws?

Those things are 'da bomb. Built my deck with them about ten years
ago.

Robertson square drive screws suck.

Did you know that the Robertson square drive screws were used long
before Phillips head screws and, I believe, Ford used them in building
Model Ts.

The only reason I know that is one of my friends here in town restores
Model Ts as part of his business.

He hates Robertson screws. :)

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 24 Mar 2007 19:35:46 -0400, Gene Kearns
wrote:


Since everybody is posting OT, I thought I would revisit a topic that
we discussed a year or so ago.

I was doing some deck work and had bought some stainless deck screws
with the Robertson square drive. I thought they sucked, since they
were hard to drive and tended to strip out and break off.... others
suggested that I should be pre-drilling holes. That seemed like a
unnecessary and labor intensive task.

The local building supply has stopped carrying the Robertson headed
screws and now supplies an exterior plated screw (Grip Rite) with star
drive. They are excellent! I've driven a whole box of 4 inch screws
and not one single stripped head or broken screw (and no predilling,
either).

They worked for me.....

Were they the coated Grip Rite screws?

Those things are 'da bomb. Built my deck with them about ten years
ago.

Robertson square drive screws suck.

Did you know that the Robertson square drive screws were used long
before Phillips head screws and, I believe, Ford used them in building
Model Ts.

The only reason I know that is one of my friends here in town restores
Model Ts as part of his business.

He hates Robertson screws. :)

Hold on...that's a quality Canadian invention and widely used up here daily
by electricians and other tradesmen.
http://www.sachys-robertson.com.au/b...w_history.html

On Sun, 25 Mar 2007 00:19:54 GMT, "Don White"
wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 24 Mar 2007 19:35:46 -0400, Gene Kearns
wrote:


Since everybody is posting OT, I thought I would revisit a topic that
we discussed a year or so ago.

I was doing some deck work and had bought some stainless deck screws
with the Robertson square drive. I thought they sucked, since they
were hard to drive and tended to strip out and break off.... others
suggested that I should be pre-drilling holes. That seemed like a
unnecessary and labor intensive task.

The local building supply has stopped carrying the Robertson headed
screws and now supplies an exterior plated screw (Grip Rite) with star
drive. They are excellent! I've driven a whole box of 4 inch screws
and not one single stripped head or broken screw (and no predilling,
either).

They worked for me.....

Were they the coated Grip Rite screws?

Those things are 'da bomb. Built my deck with them about ten years
ago.

Robertson square drive screws suck.

Did you know that the Robertson square drive screws were used long
before Phillips head screws and, I believe, Ford used them in building
Model Ts.

The only reason I know that is one of my friends here in town restores
Model Ts as part of his business.

He hates Robertson screws. :)

Hold on...that's a quality Canadian invention

Oh yeah - they are certainly "quality" screws.

And by quality I mean you go through three to get one to work.

and widely used up here daily by electricians and other tradesmen.
http://www.sachys-robertson.com.au/b...w_history.html

That explains a lot. :)

The only thing where square drive screws are usefull is in finish work. The
small head easy easily countersunk, and hidden with however the piece is
finished. Sure, the head is still bigger than a finish nail, but in an
application where strength is needed, the screw is the best.

--Mike

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 24 Mar 2007 19:35:46 -0400, Gene Kearns
wrote:


Since everybody is posting OT, I thought I would revisit a topic that
we discussed a year or so ago.

I was doing some deck work and had bought some stainless deck screws
with the Robertson square drive. I thought they sucked, since they
were hard to drive and tended to strip out and break off.... others
suggested that I should be pre-drilling holes. That seemed like a
unnecessary and labor intensive task.

The local building supply has stopped carrying the Robertson headed
screws and now supplies an exterior plated screw (Grip Rite) with star
drive. They are excellent! I've driven a whole box of 4 inch screws
and not one single stripped head or broken screw (and no predilling,
either).

They worked for me.....

Were they the coated Grip Rite screws?

Those things are 'da bomb. Built my deck with them about ten years
ago.

Robertson square drive screws suck.

Did you know that the Robertson square drive screws were used long
before Phillips head screws and, I believe, Ford used them in building
Model Ts.

The only reason I know that is one of my friends here in town restores
Model Ts as part of his business.

He hates Robertson screws. :)

On Mar 24, 7:01 pm, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:



Robertson square drive screws suck.

Really suck!


the "star" head screws. Gene I take it you mean "Torx" head ?

they suck too. at least in my line of work they do. they're fine,
untill some body brings in a really corroded starter motor off some
dry fertilizer machine. and the little "ears" in the bolt or screw,
are usually rusted away, or still think they are there, and route off
easily, then is when I have to find an allen tool of abotut he same
size and drive it into the screw head, and hope it works. if it
strips, well, that's one reason I carry new diesel starters.

Like the old term:

"If it jams? Force it!
If it breaks? it needed replaced anyow..."

Another favorite ohrase of mine is:
"You CAN NOT tear up junk!"