I don’t dislike this guy, but he’s one of the most long-winded tool guys on KZfaq. I’ve seen him give 3 minutes of info in a 25+ minute video multiple times.

I have been a general contractor for over 32 years. Torx and sq drive both work great. My favorite is sq drive because 90% of the time the number 2 driver is all you need. With torx you have T30, T25, T20, T15 & T10. I literally have 22 different driver tips in my truck to deal with different faster styles.

I live in Canada so Robertson is a no brainer. Cheap, available everywhere here, works perfectly, and can't get over the fact that the screws just stick to the bit, allowing you to drive screws in awkward places with only one hand. I don't mind torx though, I like them too. They're just on the expensive side and it seems there are way too much different sizes available, requiring a whole set of bits and screwdrivers, whereas a #2 Robertson is the only thing you need the vast majority of the time, with occasional #1's.

Coming from the automotive world Torx is hands down the best. I’ve been using the Torx wood fasteners for all my wood working projects and never had half the problems that I had with Phillips.

Gotta hate those long flathead screws in ceiling light fixtures. 😤

My girlfriend was handing me tools while I was working under her car. I asked for a screwdriver and she said "do you need a plus or a minus?" 🤣

Ever consider using the torque limiting clutch on your drill? That eliminates the over tightening issue, and then use a torx to avoid crappy Phillips fasteners

Been around tools a long time, but never considered “intentional cam-out”. Excellent safety feature because I have had to enlarge pilot holes because of it. Top notch vid my friend. Actually proof that there IS useful info on KZfaq.

Slot fasteners are hands down the worst, I will die on this hill

Torx is best. I won't last until he gets to the point lol

Thanks for making a video on this Vince... As I have explained this in detail quite a few times some of which have been in the comment section of your videos and I don't always explain things very well so a video was needed and you are always the right person for that!

I have been watching these videos off and on for quite some time. I do truly enjoy the enthusiasm that Vince shows.

Team Torx all the way. Phillips head is annoying but the worst is the flat slotted fasteners

Torx, Hex, and square screws are the best and the only thing I want to use. Flat heads should only be used in combination heads like on breakers to get extra torque. but torx is my favorite.

I've built alot of decks & used all 3 types of screws , for me I love the torx !!!!! Thank you for your show !! You do a great job !!👍👍🍺🍺

As a Seahawk powertrain technician and jet engine mechanic, I can say your reference to deliberate camout to prevent damage to aircraft rings true. It was covered in basic jet A school. I was completely surprised to see that was the tip that saves time and money, probably because I have known it for 30 years.

As long as it's not a flat head.

I call Phillips screws "thumpers" for the sound they make when the bit slips.

I definitely use all three in my handyman and electrical service work. I love the squares with the electrical panel covers and the circuit breakers. I carry a mix of all purpose Phillips head screws and sheet metal screws for variety of light duty fastening. And I tend to use the star heads or torx for heavy duty fastening, Especially all types of lumber work.

found Torx and never looked back, specially the rough ones, they even grab concrete

I will forever hate single slots....especially after yesterday when I sliced my finger with the bit. 🙂

Torx is my preferred head, although I've had more torx screws that were machined improperly and slow you down.

For sure homie I smashed the like! I tell this to the crew but not in such a engineering way but from experience, I tell them basically what works better for you in the application at hand. I love all options and trying out new or old methods and now with the newer cordless power tools we have more alternatives, God bless you and your channel keep up the great work straight spitting knowledge, peace out stay up!

Dang... didn't know that it's supposed to cam out. I'll admit to splitting boards and over driving screws past the other side of materials at times using Robertson and torx screws. This just forced me to learn how to predrill, countersink and use the correct settings on my tools, as well as refining my technique for all of the above. Rarely use Phillips other that drywall these days.

I prefer Torx screws, but unfortunately they are at least 4-5x more expensive than a Robinson screw here in Canada. So I usually end up going with Robinson. I'd won't touch a Philips screw unless it's for very low torque applications like drywall. Great video!

I dont need a bit that cams out when my drill has a clutch that tells me if im applying too much force. It aint 1970 yall

Fascinating!! Something I never thought about in such detail. It's easy to see now why these different types prevail in various applications. Very informative!!

That philips "feature" was probably made before drills had clutches. I'm guessing they cam out at a specific torque and the chances of that being the right torque for you are probably pretty low. Torx is superior in every way

This was such a delightful learning process for me thank you very much

I like how quiet and reserved he is. 😂😂

Good job with the screws. Even better conclusions. I had not put your conclusions into our manufacturing thought process, only the pressure vs setting of the screw. Your video gave me a good idea of what to make some issues better. Thank you. Good work.

I find I can reload Roberson screws way faster then Torx. Also, I find they grip the bit better. I appreciate the simplicity of the design. Torx shines when it comes to longer screws such as timber lock type fasteners. To sum it up. Robertson for everyday production work and Torx for high torque applications. There is only one trade where Philips screws are relevant and it’s Drywall. They take drywall mud better then and other screw type.

Robertson/square when I'm in Ontario and star/torx when I'm in Pennsylvania.

I thought I saw once the original patent application describe the Phillips head being impossible to cam out. Cam out can be violent and possibly damaging and should be avoided when working on aircraft. However, I agree with this video. Using cam out as a warning sign of something being off is a good tip.

I kinda knew that but never about the safety mechanism to cam out but never put it to words as you have , good job sir.

It's wonderful when it strips as you're trying to get the fastener out. That's always fun.

Great info that makes sense👍 I use torx and phillips all day long in my profession of building wooden gazebos and playsets and I also occassionally use the square drive robertson screw as well. I use phillips and robertson screws of varying lengths up to 6" and T40, T30, and T25 torx head lags of varying lengths up to 8" x 5/16 diameter. I will say that the torx head is the king of applicable torque which isnt surprising given its name, but I imagine the phillips screw will hang around for a long time as its the cheapest to make and buy and therefore reduces the cost of a build project. Since the tech of driving tools has come such a long way the advantage of safety camout for phillips is no longer necessary with clutched or torque adjustable driving drills and impacts imo. The last saving grace for phillips is theyre cheaper then robertson or torx. I suppose if cost wasnt a consideration then Id chose torx every time.

I have worked my entire professional career (1977 - 2019) in high end consumer, industrial, military and aerospace design engineering, hands down my favorite screw recess is the allen (hex) socket. I've had allen wrenches break, but I have never had a cam-out with one. As far as security screws, my pick is the center post tork recess. I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I have shoved a Phillips driver clean thru my hand when it cammed out on me. It might not have happened if the head could have broken off from the screw. For what it is worth, I did the same thing with a Robertson. Ouch.

Very interesting history and I appreciate the information. I also was surprised by the conclusion about the benefits of camout to prevent damage to material and even having fastener breakoff in your work material. I appreciate the work you put into assembling the video and making it interesting.

Torx and Robertson are my favorite followed by hex. Phillips are as much a pain as the straight slot. Cam-out and stripping are way too common for both.

I would argue that each of them has their own unique application and should be thought about being used in those specific situations to maximize their benefit.

Why do slotted/flat head screws still exist? I hate them...

Absolutely AWESOME video and discussion. I love deep dives like this one into the "why" of all things :)

Thanks for the great and informative video. I really appreciated all the information and research you dug up. Much love brother.

*Carpenters:* "Oh good, my Philips head stopped me from splitting this board." *Electricians:* "Impact go BRBRBRBRBRBRBRB" Great video Vince, honestly never thought about this but it makes a lot of sense!

I love star drive/Torx screws! Most are designed to self-drive into wood these days, reducing the need for a pilot hole. I've never once split a board with them.

Love this guy’s enthusiasm!! Keep up the good work bro 👍 love ❤️ from England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Im so glad you made this video! I feel like so few people understand this about philips screws. Also there is no "best fastener" there is only the best fastener for a specific job.

The guy that built the deck on my house used Robertsons and when I had to replace decking on it they were stripping out left and right. I have several drills and all have a clutch but these things were so soft. I ended up pulling them all out and replacing them with Torx and not one problem with cam out. I have never used my vice grip so much as I had to manually unscrew the Robertsons when they stripped. I won't use a single sloted fastener with a drill driver. Ever. Good video.

Recently repaired a fence with square bits (Robertson's) was really grateful for the self hold and reduced cam out. There was some wobble on some screws but honestly was a pleasure, I really enjoy torx and like the fact that torx bits can double as a hex for Imperial sizes when you only have metric hex bits. And I really wish drill screws for steel would change from Phillips to either torx of square. But considering that the head often breaks off with high force probably best to keep it as is. I hate seeing flat head screws, but you can put more force into electric terminals that Phillips. The 1 type I really hate is pozi. In my opinion the worst screw head.

Introduced to square drive trim head screws in 1998 installing window shutters and molding jamb assemblies. I prefer them strongly in any application. Really glad receptacle terminal screws have the square drive option! Hey, you forgot the pozidrive!

Never knew the phillips design was to have cam out in order to prevent disaster. Made me think of all the snapped fasteners, and damaged projects of the past that may have been adverted. As well as some projects that came out flawless. I have a new found respect for phillips now.

the fit on a torx or philips fastener varies wildly among bit manufacturers. in my experience robertson’s bits either fit or they dont. and for the same reason they consistently stay on the bit

Using long small diameter wood screws (finish screws - stainless versions) in both Robertson and Torx drive I have to say that Torx wins. I've never had the Torx version cam out but the Roberston has often cammed out and ruined the square in the head causing great difficulty in removing partially driven screws as well as later removal of fully driven screws to replace components.

I have been woodworking for quite a few years and yes I have went thru a lot of screw types, and when I found the torx that was the end of using any others.

Great information to know. Thanks Vince.

Nothing like a torx fastener. Having said that, Phillips DEFINITELY has a wider range of options, period. Slotted still has it's place for switch plate covers and receptacle covers. Oh, and as pry bars and chisels. Phillips also still dominates the jobsites with drywall and metal stud fasteners. Thank you for the topic, Vince. Peace and God bless! 😁👍✌

Screws seem like a mundane addition to a toolchest but happen to be critical!

I learned something today. Philips were designed to cam out when the torque required to turn the screw reached a certain point. That would explain why the only Philips heads you see on a job site (home construction) are on drywall screws. Despite the special drivers used by installers this design feature provides a back up to not over driving the screw too deep… which is messy in drywall. Up here in Canada, where the Robertson was invented, we are pretty happy with them. Have used torx on a couple of decks though and really liked them.

I've taken alot of things apart you are correct quite often the torks and fill-up screws were snapped off in the work,none of the flat head screws were probably done by hand .

Funny but just today I replaced a bunch of Philips screws with the eqivilent Robertson because the Philips make the simple task of fastening a magnetic catch to a cupboard a time-consuming, painful experience. I'm okay with Torx as well but Robertson screws and drivers are more common here. Absolutely love the fact that the screw stays on the bit long enough to get it in the screw-hole and that driving the screw to completion is easy without over-driving or cam out. It's no contest. BTW, how often do you encounter slotted screws these days? lol

I really enjoyed the history lesson along with this, and basically it all boils down to there is no one right fastener, use the one that best fits the job and the tool

This info has added another parameter of thought to my growing list of preventative perfection during oversights. Really...most people tell me, "Don't worry about it." I hate fixing other peoples SCREW ups...

I can appreciate the point you're making about a possible reason cam out "can be " beneficial but I usually just adjust the clutch ( if I have one ). Maybe the original thought concept was for tools that didn't have an adjustable clutch? I also just thought the Phillips Head design was at first meant as a improvement over the Slot Head & nothing more.

Torx all the way. Square head strips (cam out) as does phillips. Don't get me started on slotted.

After remodeling 2 aparmtents, I've worked with all 3 types. I'd rate them: 1: Torx (Never had any issues with cam out, and bit always feels very secure). 2: Robertson (although the bit looses the fastener much more often than with torx, it's still better than Phillips. 3: Phillips. The worst, just a lot of cam out and there is too much of a variation when choosing the right bit.

I kinda like the star bit i rarely need to do any kind of home improvement and have some fine motor issues so the fact that the bit stays in and i dont need to put a lot of force on the drill is a huge plus for me

First came across Robertson when working in the recreational vehicle field as most all fasteners used in them are Robertson. They stay on the bit, drive well and are easy to get out when rust or have had debris crammed in. I prefer them over torx because of the latter. I remove more torx when doing decking on trailers and you have to spend way too long to clean the crap out of all the little sides and then it strips or breaks. With a Robertson it usually in only takes air or a small flathead screwdriver to remove debris, they hardly ever strip however they will also break. Still like driving torx as well and sometimes better than Robertson depending on the job. Phillips can take a hike, any tradesman worth his salt will be able to drive whatever fasteners he has properly.

Torx all the way imo,thank u guys 👍

This may have been more helpful in the past, but isnt this a specific feature built into drill drivers with 'screw' functions? You switch to the screw function, set your torque lower or higher depending on the fastener material and the material you want to fasten to and voilà, problem solved while still using a superior drive head (square or star)!

Great video Vince. Very informative as always,

Cost, availability, specific application, and speed/logistics of assembly are all factors in selecting. All have their place. However, I do lean towards cost but everything being equal I prefer torx head but mostly since I've never broken one of those bits and I have severely damage philips bits in the past; in fact I'm expecting a 5 pack of #2s in my Christmas stocking this year.

I only use straight bits when I strip out a Phillips and need to cut a groove in it 😂😂🤭

But we have clutches in drills these days! I’d prefer to set my clutch than it cam out and chew the head of the fastener

Best "Ring That Bell" pitch I have ever seen. Absolutely loved it!

Now I know. Thank you. Very informative.

For me: Flat Slot - the worst....nothing but hatred for that Philips - fine for screws that are 2 inches or less in length Anything 2.5+ in length I prefer Torx....Robertson is OK too

Square drive has a good home in electrical, but Torx for everything else. Phillips and flat aggravated me my whole life. Funny note I found a Torx bolt on the seatbelt of my 70’s Ford truck, I didn’t realize they went back that far in auto applications. Great video Vince.

I am a recent convert to Robertson. The advantage of the Phillips is it cams out and stops overdriving in soft timber. My philosophy now is that screws from about 35mm below, use Phillips. Above that size use the Robertson to take advantage of the higher drive torque without the annoying camming out. I think there is room for both fasteners.

He is absolute right! Torx for torquing tighter and Philips For lighter and torque sensitive items. I worked on jets, I know

Just a wee observation ... the screw shown at 5:32, the one with the dot, is a JIS screw( Japanese Industry Standard.

This might be the most wasted 10 minutes I've ever given away.

I love my Kreg pocket hole jig and if you stay with Kreg screws they are all S2 or S3. They are kind of price and there are less expensive options but the Kreg sce is designed to work with pocket holes. Also, they are very nice screws which do not require pre-drillling.

Never realy thought about that. Good point

I've used all of these types of heads and I've never had issues with the hex head screws. I've had people round out the square heads and the philips is just crap altogether.

Gotta admit i didn't know what those square bits in my bit kit were until now. 😂

There is also a variation of the Pphilips with a shallower angle used traditionally on drywall skrews. It is about 15 degrees shallower that forces philips drivers out. Here in Canada Home hardware sells a good driver. If I remember they were called power drive until Philips used that trade name. Because of the variations available with Philips type screws that few people are aware of I now try to use Robertson as it is simple to use and even in an emergency resharpen! Try it just once and you will be amazed as to how fast you will be working!

If I'm worried about over torquing my screw, I will set the torque setting on my driver tool to avoid that. The advantages of Torx or Roberts drive is so great that I can exercise a bit of care to not over torque the screw.

Been awhile since I threw a wood screw into an airplane. I’ll have to test this theory out.

What always blows my mind is that the screws that hold a electrical socket trim plate in are the only screws who's screwdriver bit will kill u if u slip.

Retired electrician, Robertson has been used in Canada fore decades, one of my faves!

I am a drywall contractor, and when I set up stairwells with plank systems screwed to the wall with 2-4s or 2-6s and I am considering my life and well-being to depend on that plank system, I pre-drill a hole for the screw and always, always always use torx screws, that Way I can feel it tightening up or not and this know for a surety if I hit a stud which is critical and I always use Overkill and I have found I can use the same screws over and over

After one full minute I just had to escape.

@vcg, torx all the way. I only use grk fasteners now, over kill for many home uses but they will hold better then most.

Alright I smashed the like button. Now all my fasteners will drive straight and true. I didn't know fastener leprechauns are a thing. Thanks Vince! Love the channel!

Interesting , Thank You. Happy testing

Hey Vince good night I got in late , but I think the Star screws are some of the best screws made today. In The Bahamas they serve us well.

Torx all day baby. Torx with my Makita XDT16? Torx screws practically will themselves into the wood.

Very informative video I learned alot

So all those rounded out Phillips screws I have taken out with pliers because someone decided it was going in even if it was slipping, is a feature not a bug? I've snapped plenty of Phillips without damming out at all.