Square drive screws brace for comeback

Just u lrcn ytru tlrourht tlre sqrr:rle drivc screrv had disappeared. it surl'accs rvith ncw and iniprovcd l'ealurcs.

Squarc drivc scrervs, also kno',vn as the Robertson hcacl, were dcvclopecl in Canada during the early 1900s lor thc industrial and cornrrrercial nrarkcts. They rvere cornntonly used rn the furniture and ntr.rbile horne nrarkcts, hut eventually tailecl in retail due to poor markcting ancl lor.r.' consunrer a\\'arcNESS.

"lt's the li.odncy Dan-ucrl'icld of screws; it docsn't get any rcspcct." says a spokesperson for Prudential Building Materials, Atlanta. Ga., rvhich is banking on this changin-u ',r'ith its introduction ol a ncw squarc drivc ceranric-coated exterior dcck scrcu'.

Squarc drivc screws have rnany aclvantagcs ovcr thc traditional Phillips heacl screrv, including the elirnination trl' lterrtl spin-out. rtllrxirnurrr p,tsitivc drive rrrrtl. il nccdc.i. ci.r)) s!'r('\\ l)lr\'koul. Phillips he u.l s. r'err s r'Jn stl if ()r spin out dulin! instnllation. rcu)()\'in!: tlrc hclrd's u c:rtlrer-rcsistlrnt c,rlrting and exposing barc nretirl rvhich can rust irnd corrodc. A square drivc hcad enlthlcs thc stluure hit trr hertel ellllrre in thc scrcw head l'or increased torque to lhc screw lirr a tighter.joint. It alscr becornes cluitc clil'l'icult to rcrnove a strippcd Phillips head scrcw.

Nerv featurcs may position thc square drivc screrv l'or ii conrcback: a flat head rvith countersinking nibs to aid in a ncat, llush countcrsinking applicatir.rn; a 2-to- I thrcad ratio for drarv tight installation; Iiigli coarsc tl'rrcads lirr superior holding po\\'cr; u slottcd shlnk tip to lid in rvood penctnrlion. and l plltinuln -grccn ccratriic f inish to plovide lltl cxtra la1'cr ol corrosion protcction. l'hc scrc* is idell lirr pressure trcatecl and cr,cn plastic cornposite lunrbcr.

NEW deck screws have square drive heads.