eli5: Why are there different types of screwnail heads? Does it really affect the strength or integrity of the screw if the head is a Phillips, Robinson or standard?
In: Engineering
Flatheads are easier to make, and in theory, if you have a deep slot on the screw and the perfectly correct screwdriver bit, you can apply more torque without slipping.
In practice however, people don’t use perfectly correct screwdriver bits so they end up just stripping the surface. Also, more torque isn’t always a good thing, it can cause the screwdriver or the screw to break.
That’s why the Philips head (and other similar designs) were invented. Even if you don’t get perfect alignment or use the perfectly correct screwdriver bit, if you press down while screwing, you’ll catch the screw holes eventually. You also can’t overtighten because the screwdriver bit will cam out.
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