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Step 6Square Drive
Only Robertson makes Robertson screws and drivers, the others are generically called Square Drive and are made by several manufacturers and brands since the patents have expired on the Robertson. The Square Drive head is an American clone of the Canadian Robertson that has a square recess but not tapered and has very sharp corners. Likely this difference was to avoid patent infringements. The patented Robertson driver has a slight taper, and slightly rounded corners.
Two methods of fabrication are the machined one piece and the two-piece is a forged steel tip press fitted into a regular steel tip holder part. Several companies each with their own select brand name produce square Drive.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Square Drive
Due to the lack of taper, the hole must be oversize relative to the screwdriver, and is much more likely to camout than the Robertson. It is infuriating that Home Depot and the tool companies like Bosch and Dewalt bring square drive bits into Canada that nearly fit Robertson screws and are marketed as equal and are unmarked. For any Canadian readers that want bits that work, try to buy the bits that are color-coded red, green, black as well check the engraving is an R on the bit. Dont trust the cheaper bulk packs. Never trust a Robertson that says "Made in America"; it is likely a Square Drive. A "fresh" US square drive driver with a "real" Robertson screw head sticks so tightly that it can take a significant yank to get them disengaged. This is advertised as a selling point of the US Square drivers here in Canada. Unfortunately, if you have a pop out, the driver is usually means youre damaging the tool and is difficult to use from then on. Real Robertson drivers do not suffer from this with Robertson screws. So, while they don't stick quite so tightly, the drivers really do last a long time, and they're just as good at keeping grip under power. Bit sizes come in only four sizes and application and are rarely color-coded.
Two methods of fabrication are the machined one piece and the two-piece is a forged steel tip press fitted into a regular steel tip holder part. Several companies each with their own select brand name produce square Drive.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Square Drive
Due to the lack of taper, the hole must be oversize relative to the screwdriver, and is much more likely to camout than the Robertson. It is infuriating that Home Depot and the tool companies like Bosch and Dewalt bring square drive bits into Canada that nearly fit Robertson screws and are marketed as equal and are unmarked. For any Canadian readers that want bits that work, try to buy the bits that are color-coded red, green, black as well check the engraving is an R on the bit. Dont trust the cheaper bulk packs. Never trust a Robertson that says "Made in America"; it is likely a Square Drive. A "fresh" US square drive driver with a "real" Robertson screw head sticks so tightly that it can take a significant yank to get them disengaged. This is advertised as a selling point of the US Square drivers here in Canada. Unfortunately, if you have a pop out, the driver is usually means youre damaging the tool and is difficult to use from then on. Real Robertson drivers do not suffer from this with Robertson screws. So, while they don't stick quite so tightly, the drivers really do last a long time, and they're just as good at keeping grip under power. Bit sizes come in only four sizes and application and are rarely color-coded.
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Jan 4, 2009. 9:59 PMdlblair
says:
Well now I understand. I have had screws fall off and some so tight... I also stripped some screws and blamed it on the bit. I should have blamed the US ;-) I am going to check my bits and see the difference. Thanks for the info.
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Jan 3, 2009. 9:03 PMFast Eddie
says:
Agreed. Just today, I drove 20 "Robertson" screws. Got them at HomeDepot (US company) here in Toronto (Canada). Drilling downwards on a sheet of Birtch Lam, every screw fell of the driver. ??? Its funny that I read this, not 4 hours after I thought my bit was ruined. Damn you knock-offs!!!
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4
Jan 1, 2009. 10:32 PMThe Lightning Stalker
says:
We should really have adopted the Robertson screws here in the US. They're just superior in every way.
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