Torx often ends up being the worst of both worlds imo. It grabs too hard and you can easily overdrive it and strip the hole in some material. And you can also still easily strip the head if you don’t get the bit seated all the way. I think the Robinson combo head is the best all around, since you have a Robinson bit for high torque applications and a Phillips bit for low torque and slightly off axis work. And then the “ecx” bit for “I’m going to friction weld this terminal screw shut” applications.
Philips heads are designed to intentionally cam over and limit torque, if you’re using the correct screwdriver that is quite a lot of torque. They certainly have a usecase, but that isn’t anywhere near me. I only use torx.
What makes torx crap? Unlike hex, you can still screw them in if your screwdriver is at an angle, which can be really convenient if you’re working at odd angles.
Yeah but with torx I don’t need an extra bit to handle that, it’s just a built in feature of the bit. It also doesn’t answer why torx apparently sucks? “Hex can also do that if you have a special bit” doesn’t make torx any worse.
better screws are torx
Torx often ends up being the worst of both worlds imo. It grabs too hard and you can easily overdrive it and strip the hole in some material. And you can also still easily strip the head if you don’t get the bit seated all the way. I think the Robinson combo head is the best all around, since you have a Robinson bit for high torque applications and a Phillips bit for low torque and slightly off axis work. And then the “ecx” bit for “I’m going to friction weld this terminal screw shut” applications.
Material matters, if you use poorly made screws that’s when the head gets blunted.
Philips screws are intentionally made to strip though. Even the best material can’t fully offset bad design.
Philips heads are designed to intentionally cam over and limit torque, if you’re using the correct screwdriver that is quite a lot of torque. They certainly have a usecase, but that isn’t anywhere near me. I only use torx.
I read that was just an afterthought to explain away why they strip out so easily, instead of actually redesigning them
Nah, Robertson. Torx is designed to destroy bits.
Better screws are hex. Torx belongs in the bin alongside slotted screws.
What makes torx crap? Unlike hex, you can still screw them in if your screwdriver is at an angle, which can be really convenient if you’re working at odd angles.
Robertson head screws are the second most popular fastener people pay me money to remove for them after they screw it up. Torx is third.
They make hex keys with ball ends to handle that
Yeah but with torx I don’t need an extra bit to handle that, it’s just a built in feature of the bit. It also doesn’t answer why torx apparently sucks? “Hex can also do that if you have a special bit” doesn’t make torx any worse.
Why would it be a separate bit? Most people I know just have a set of these
Unbrako and hex are great for bolts and machinescrews, on small headed woodscrews I’m a firm believer of the torx masterrace.