Robertson vs Phillips Screws?

[pooch]

I have had good success with making screw heads .

Steel is easy as it is to be painted, but when I want special shaped chrome headed screws, I just dollop the head of the philips or whatever headed screw with 316 stainless MiG and grind/shape/polish to suit.

I have even made hybrid screws/bolts , where I have not been able to get the right length or thread, and dolloped the SS right over the head on a full steel screw/bolt .

After all you only see the head .

Quite satisfying making nice polished screws/bolts out of modern crap.

[Terry, NJ]

Same thing around here! I go to the flea market and buy them for a buck or two. I find a lot of very interesting hardware, some in the boxes and some are random in jars or cans. I was talking to a local furniture restorer a while back and he told me the same thing. People want "Drivable" screws today, Slotted screws are not "drivable".
Terry

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

Around here it's getting hard to find flat head screws with slotted heads. Every body carries only Phillips flat head wood screws.

I just got back from the local Ace Hardware (to buy some #10 wood screws to replace the Phillips Head screws that are already installed). "Well, we could order you some, come in a 100 count box"...

[Y-Blockhead]

I found what I was looking for at Amazon.com of all places from ASMC International. http://www.asmc.net Still had to buy 50 screws... @ 4.99 + shipping

[Mike Peters]

I never knew that NO Phillips head screws were used on Model A's from the factory. They only turn up on repro parts we buy. Thanks for that! One of the many reasons ford Barn is great.

Speaking of Philips vs Robertson, I've worked on equipment with Robertson head screws years ago , and no matter how rusty the Robertsons were, they always came loose with no trouble, so long as you had the correct Robertson driver. Phillips, on the other hand are miserable if rusty, because they slip and wallow out no matter how hard you push or how sharp your Phillips screwdriver is. One vote for Robertson here.

[Y-Blockhead]

Mike, One thing I learned a long time ago while turning wrenches on Japanese Motorcycles is to ALWAYS use an Impact Driver to loosen phillips head screws (Japanese Phillips are made of butter). As you hit the Impact Driver with a hammer it not only drives the bit into the Phillips head for a good grip but turns the screw at the same time.


I've had this Snapon Impact Driver ~40 years...

https://store.snapon.com/IMPACT-DRIV...S-C795597.aspx

But OUR A's shouldn't have Phillips...

[Hoogah]

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Are Robertson screws still made and available?

[BudP]

Widely available. Google it. Amazon.com among others sell them. Check http://www.robertsonscrew.com/

[Terry, NJ]

I've built decks and a shed using stainless steel, Robertson drive screws that I bought at Home Depot. I find there's good news and bad news with Robertson drive. The good news! The square drives tend to hold tighter. The bad news in that the square drives are too small and tend to round off as you are tightening them in wood. Just as small Allen sizes will do. I've never worked with Robertson drive machine screws. I basically like them. However. If we were to make Phillips gripping slots deeper, I think it would be an improvement as well. Deeper slots in slotted screws would help them as well.
Terry

Originally Posted by Hoogah

Are Robertson screws still made and available?

[1oldtimer]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

I found what I was looking for at Amazon.com of all places from ASMC International. http://www.asmc.net Still had to buy 50 screws... @ 4.99 + shipping

To add to a older post I just bought some screws from Bolt Depot, you can buy it by the case, box or individual and the price is good. I was looking for stainless slotted oval head sheet metal screws and McMaster only sells wood screws in that form. I'm going to order some more soon as I find a Model A trim fastener book.

https://www.boltdepot.com/

[HoarseWhisperer]

Drivers are readily available here in Canada for the #0, 1, 2, 3 size Robertsons.

What's not so readily available is the #4 size which is used in the Roadster lower stanchions.

It was necessary to order directly from Robertson to get a #4 bit driver as the hardware and fastener retailers never heard of it.

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by Roadster62

The sheetrock screws are the worst! Bob

What !? Your door and lick panels aren't dry-walled ?

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by 1oldtimer

To add to a older post I just bought some screws from Bolt Depot, you can buy it by the case, box or individual and the price is good. I was looking for stainless slotted oval head sheet metal screws and McMaster only sells wood screws in that form. I'm going to order some more soon as I find a Model A trim fastener book.

https://www.boltdepot.com/

That's who I use!

[grantsauder]

I'm restoring a 30 Tudor from the ground up and found that both Robertson and slotted screws were used in this Canadian Tudor. I understand that when Robertson could not supply enough screws then Ford used the slotted ones. Grant.

[Tudortomnz]

Grant, usually Robertsons are found on the body & mounting all the trim pieces [unless replaced by slots later] but you will find slotted screws , where applicable,on the chassis& engine.
I believe they were used on the last Model T's but Ford Canada finished with them on the Model A & did not use them for 1932.
There were some US assembled bodies mounted on Canadian chassis which used slots; I have seen here an early Business Coupe ; AA Budd Cab & '31 Deluxe Tudor which have slots.
Hope you enjoyed your time here in NZ.

[mot]

heres some period Robertson screwdrivers
the handles are color coded
P.L.Robertson Co Ltd
Milton Ont Canada pat in Canada 1933
socket screw
green is #4
black 10-14 ?
red is 7-8-9 ?
i dont know why they have multiple numbers on them for the size

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by mot

i dont know why they have multiple numbers on them for the size

Originally there were only three sizes of Robertson drivers. You have all three. The numbers on the shank referred to the screw sizes served by that driver.

Presently there are six sizes:
Orange #00 - screw size 1 & 2
Yellow #0 - Screw size 3 & 4
Green #1 - Screw size 5, 6 & 7
Red #2 - Screw size 8, 9 & 10
Black #3 - Screw size 12 & 14
Black? #4 - Screw size 16 & up

You will notice some driver/ screw size change from your three originals. I have no clue what would be used for a #11 screw, should such a thing be made in Robertson drive! Although each driver fits multiple sizes, the engagement depths vary dependent on screw size.

Now, where did I put my Pozidriv screwdrivers? I've got some GM trim screws to replace that somebody chewed up with a Phillips driver!

[Tudortomnz]

Great pic. Mot.
I was lucky enough to be given the 3 green ones, which are small sizes & do not fit any Robertsons on my Tudor but would probably do the Fordor window frames & rear frames on a Roadster or Phaeton.