If you’ve worked with tools in the past, or work with them on a daily basis, you’ve probably dealt with screws. But when you pick up a screw, have you ever noticed that not all screws look the same?
Check out our EZ Screw Builder to build your custom screw!
If you’ve noticed that all screws aren’t identical, you should know that they aren’t alike for a reason. Let’s take a look at why they aren’t the same, but first let’s talk about the number of screw heads out there.
There are dozens of screw heads out there. Original screw heads were slotted in shape, but now, they’ve completely evolved. You now have screw heads such as the Robertson, the screw drive, and square socket, just to name a few. If you’re just using custom screws for an everyday project, you may only be familiar with the two basics: the Phillips and the slotted head screw drives. But, it’s clear that there are so many more options out there.
Since you’re probably familiar with the Phillips and slotted screw, let’s take a look at what these types of screws are most commonly used for. In the United States, they’re the screw heads that are the most universally used in furniture making and cabinetry. The next time you’re sitting in a chair or opening up your kitchen cabinet to grab a glass, take a look at the screws. You’ll probably recognize the ones you see. The U.S. screw, nut, and bolt industry employs 131,949 people, and they supply these, as well as many other types of screws to the people who need them.
Now, when you get into how many different types of screws there are, it’s important to include micro screws in the list. Even though they’re tiny, they must have specific types of screw heads in order to be placed properly. For example, common U.S. screw heads like the Phillips head might not work with some micro screws because they don’t necessarily translate well to electronic insertion.
Each screw head can be used with and for different projects. The Phillips and slotted screw heads are good for furniture and cabinetry but necessarily the best fit for an electric screwdriver. That’s where other types of screws come into play. At the end of the day, each type of screw head serves a totally unique purpose.
Now that we know all about screw heads, it’s time to learn about screw points. Continue on to Part Two for more information.