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 cam out incredibly easily on cheap screws as might be found in many products from overseas. This is why I prefer Torx myself. Incredibly hard to get to cam out even with screws made of cheese, there’s only one size standard (though outside torx is, surprisingly enough, A Thing), and just about any good toolkit will include security torx drivers with the required hole in ‘em.
For resi construction, Robertson really is the way to go. Phillips has always been hot garbage.
Every screw/bolt head has its advantages and disadvantages. The styles that have the most advantages v disadvantages are more popular, but there are reasons for each to exist.
Flathead – people think these look the best when the head isn’t covered. They are also really cheap to manufacture. Their functional qualities fucking suck… suck real bad. But if you’re just putting a few into a switch plate its nbd.
Phillips – big or small, generally one or two drivers will drive all of these so they are super convenient. Also cheap to manufacture. These also generally don’t strip, the driver will pop out of the head before they do. Not to say you cant put all your weight into a Phillips head and strip the fuck out of it, but you kinda gotta mean to do it.
Torx – I think these are pretty, but who cares what I think. You gotta have exactly the right driver bit, and you gotta put it exactly right into the socket (Phillips kinda guides you in). But once you’re in… drive as hard as you like until you strip the hole or pop the god damn head right off. Expensive to produce.
Robertson – Similar to Torx but a square instead of a star, similar functionality. Expensive to produce.
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