I admit it — I wish husbandry projects to be straightforward and clear - cut . I wish projects that can be complete smoothly and efficiently , which means that have the right-hand tool to do the job is important . But even if you have all the right tools ( and all the right accessories ) , your efficiency effort can be defeated if the job requirestoo manytools . illustrate this detail is screw types .
One of my pet peeve is the lack of uniformness when it come to the various types of screw heads . Each one requires a differentscrewdriver or drill bitto use , so working with too many different kinds of screw types can quick become a pain . Here is a list of nooky types that you might encounter . pic by J. Keeler Johnson
Phillips
A common screwing case with a head shaped like a plus ( + ) preindication . There are other similar type that go by different names and have slenderly different designs .
Slot
Another coarse type featuring a head teacher shaped like a minus ( - ) sign . Slot recitation bit and screwdriver can often be used with some types of Phillips - head word screws .
Square
A simple screw type drive by a square - shape bit ; it ’s right touch on to as a Robertson . Some piece of tail combine the Robertson and Phillips shapes into a jailor that can be driven by either case of exercise morsel .
Star
Officially know as the Torx screw , this screw type is shaped like a six - sided star .
Note : There are many other type of ccrew headland as well , but these are among the ones you ’re most likely to come across .
Why Less Is More
problem rise when you ’re trying to work on a project ( usually a repair project , such asreplacing fence parts ) and discover that someone used more than one type of piece of tail during the original construction . Even if the pilot used a unmarried type of screw , it ’s not rare for subsequent resort to have introduce other types of screws ( whatever was handy ) .
This means you ’ll need many dissimilar drill bits on hand to void find a screw type you ca n’t handle while you ’re far out in a field somewhere . Not only is it inconvenient to take so many drill snatch , you ’ll also be incommode by a constant motive to switch the bit back and forth .
So my advice is to prefer one type of screw head and use those screws for all of your husbandry labor . Over fourth dimension , you ’ll apprise the simpleness that comes from using a single screw case for everything — no matter what you ’re working on , you ’ll know what drill bit you involve .
And one more sentiment : If you send to using screws , stress not to use nail in place where screw would work as well or near . That way you wo n’t find yourself throw your carefully - sorted exercise moment by while search for a pincer power hammer .
Photo by J. Keeler Johnson
