What's the point of flathead screws?

[LennyM1984]

We're currently renovating (well, more redecorating, it's nowhere near as bad as I had thought) a house. Every single thing attached to walls or built out of wood has been screwed together with flathead screws.

I hate them as they are a pain with power tools and difficult to locate the driver when you can't see what you are doing.

So my question... What is the point of flathead screws? Do they serve a purpose that a Phillips/cross cannot?

[Simes205]

It’s what folk used before pozi.

[Zio Di Roma]

LennyM1984 said:

We're currently renovating (well, more redecorating, it's nowhere near as bad as I had thought) a house. Every single thing attached to walls or built out of wood has been screwed together with flathead screws.

I hate them as they are a pain with power tools and difficult to locate the driver when you can't see what you are doing.

So my question... What is the point of flathead screws? Do they serve a purpose that a Phillips/cross cannot?

They stop the majority of properties over 100 years old from falling down!

[megaphone]

They 'look' nicer, often still used when the screw head is on display. Door furniture etc.

[markymarkthree]

They look "period correct" in older property's, you wont find one on view in my 95 year old house.

To me its the same as using Torx/allen bolts on an old British motor.

[kambites]

I suspect they're also slightly easier and hence cheaper to manufacture?

You can arguably also make an argument that Pozi is pointless compared to Torx.

Edited by kambites on Thursday 20th February 08:35

[Monkeylegend]

The little bit at the other end of the threaded bit.

[Simpo Two]

Simes205 said:

It’s what folk used before pozi.

And when they could use a screwdriver. Power tools are a relatively new invention, as are cross-head screws.

markymarkthree said:

They look "period correct" in older property's, you wont find one on view in my 95 year old house.

And that. Recently I visited what had been my parents' house 40+ years ago. To my surprise the 1950s door handles were still there, but now held on with cross-head screws; it looked cheap, nasty and wrong.

[Baldchap]

kambites said:

You can arguably also make an argument that Pozi is pointless compared to Torx.

When I started renovating properties I only used Torx as I think they're far superior to pozidrive but the challenge is you're constantly swapping bits, as everything already there is a cross head of one sort or another.

In the end I have relented and now just use pozi because it's just easier. Can't say I'm proud of it.

[InitialDave]

A period correct head which is functionally much better would be Robertson square taper, but they're a rare sight outside of Canada.

[Panamax]

Only on PH...

A "flat head" screw can have any form of drive. Flat refers to to the flat top of what is usually a countersunk screw (or bolt) of some kind.

Something that takes a flat screwdriver is called a "slotted screw".

[Simpo Two]

Panamax said:

A "flat head" screw can have any form of drive. Flat refers to to the flat top of what is usually a countersunk screw (or bolt) of some kind.

I'll meet you halfway, cheesehead

[Fatboy]

InitialDave said:

A period correct head which is functionally much better would be Robertson square taper, but they're a rare sight outside of Canada.

Oddly, they were common in Northern Ireland for a while - late 90s/early 00s complex my mum liven in for a while seemed to have used them everywhere...
They're nice to use, wonder why they never caught on over here?

Simpo Two said:

Panamax said:

A "flat head" screw can have any form of drive. Flat refers to to the flat top of what is usually a countersunk screw (or bolt) of some kind.

I'll meet you halfway, cheesehead

No need to get personal!

Edited by Fatboy on Thursday 20th February 10:47

[DonkeyApple]

LennyM1984 said:

We're currently renovating (well, more redecorating, it's nowhere near as bad as I had thought) a house. Every single thing attached to walls or built out of wood has been screwed together with flathead screws.

I hate them as they are a pain with power tools and difficult to locate the driver when you can't see what you are doing.

So my question... What is the point of flathead screws? Do they serve a purpose that a Phillips/cross cannot?

Yup. Can be a real bane. The 100 year old stuff is often OK. Use the correct sized bit and they will come out but anything you find from about the 70s on does have a tendency to be made of chocolate. Agree with others that there remain visual uses where flathead is superior but if it's not going to be on show then I'll definitely use something superior.

[Peterpetrole]

The original crosshead (the real Philips) is better looking, it's the posidrive that's ugly (but usually best).

The screw connoisseur might well appreciate nicely aligned Philips on view in a house, however the yellow neophyte might not. Depends on the caliber of your house guests:

[Byker28i]

megaphone said:

They 'look' nicer, often still used when the screw head is on display. Door furniture etc.

Especially if all lined up?

[Simes205]

PH ometer

Torx allow more torque.
Pozi less so.
Phillips - crap.
Flat head less torque

[Simes205]

Byker28i said:

megaphone said:

They 'look' nicer, often still used when the screw head is on display. Door furniture etc.

Especially if all lined up?

Yes!

[Gladers01]

Simes205 said:

PH ometer

Torx allow more torque.
Pozi less so.
Phillips - crap.
Flat head less torque

Bucks council are using Kwik Fit garages to fit anti tamper screws to number plates free of charge in an effort to reduce cloning, they have a weird looking head so you can turn them clockwise to tighten but not anti clockwise. They also throw in a free ice scraper, had some fitted a couple of days ago.

[Simon_GH]

I think these are anti-tamper / security screws. Bought a cheap wall anchor for push bikes years ago and it came with those screws.- the anti-clockwise faces are ramps so you can’t gain purchase.

I can’t imagine you’d get much torque on a plastic bumper though - surely a pair of pliers could remove them?