Certain things like bikes, cars, and furniture use hexagonal bolts for fastening. Hex bolts can only be used with the right diameter key and they don’t slip like Phillips and Flatheads. Also, the hexagonal tip keeps bolts from falling so you don’t need a magnet to hold your fasteners. Furthermore, it’s easy to identify which Allen key you need for each fastener, and you can use ballpoint hex keys if you need to work at an angle.
Since the hex bolt design is so practical, why don’t we use this type of fastener for everything? Why don’t we see hex wood screws and hex drywall screws ?
Edit : I’m asking about fasteners in general (like screws, bolts, etc)
In: Engineering
Hexes are more expensive and much easier to overtighten. You can easily break wood or drywall with them. You need to use the right size driver for each size of fastener or you’re liable to round it which is a problem, especially if you have both imperial and metric tools around. Slotted screws are the OG and they are nice because you can make a slot in a damaged head and even use a handy bit of flat metal if you don’t have a screw driver. Phillips are an abomination. Robertson screws are great but:
“Robertson had licensed the screw design to a maker in England, but the party that he was dealing with intentionally drove the company into bankruptcy and purchased the rights from the trustee, thus circumventing Robertson. He spent a small fortune buying back the rights. Subsequently, he refused to allow anyone to make the screws under license.”
When Henry Ford wanted to use Robertsons he demanded an exclusive license in the US. Robertson told him to go pound rocks so you don’t get them much in the US either and instead have to make truck with the Phillips and it’s spawn.
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