The Greatest Tool

I never knew that square looking driver had an actual name. Thanks for enlightening me. Sometimes at nearly 80 years old, I learn something new daily.

@Gus posted:

I never knew that square looking driver had an actual name. Thanks for enlightening me. Sometimes at nearly 80 years old, I learn something new daily.

Don't feel bad, I have been in hardware stores before and asked for it by name and the employee didn't know what I was talking about.

https://www.thomasnet.com/arti...screwdriver-history/

Yes, and the size is a Robertson S2.

@TSR Campers posted:

Yes, and the size is a Robertson S2.

I couldn't remember which size mine is, it is marked "R2X4".  But it fits my screws.  Had it a long time from other campers prior to the Lance.

Robertson is a superior fastener design that never really took off in the USA. You see them at every hardware store in Canada. I suspect it's kind of an Edison vs. Tesla kind of story and in this case Phillips became the standard. Today you see hex drive and Torx drive, which are basically just variations of Robertson, which uses a tighter pressure fit to ensure the tool doesn't slip out under higher torque. Being moderately OCD, the appearance of a damaged fastener really bugs me!

I for one was impressed to see a lot of Robertson in use on Lance trailers. I have noticed as I have changed out certain components, like vents and fan, that the norm out there is still Phillips. I'm also not sure if I have seen Robertson at Ace Hardware, despite having all kinds of specialized fasteners.

In the USA they are frequently (incorrectly) referred to as "square drive". This is probably all rooted in some kind of trademarking/distribution/patent dispute.

So don't just replace your Robertson fasteners. Buy the proper tools and celebrate that what you have on your trailer is superior

And the only thing better than a Robertson is a bent Robertson!

Thanks for the history of Robertson.  I always enjoy reading what inspired inventors.  Working on a Volvo that we have I needed to get a set of Torx bits. 

If you are in need of a Robertson screwdriver while in a RV park look for a Canadian license plate and ask if you can borrow one of their screwdrivers, we all carry at least one of each size and probably a few Robertson screws as well

@MrFancypants posted:

Robertson is a superior fastener design that never really took off in the USA.

I never knew the name, but as a woodworker The Old Guys (tm) I learned from taught me that if I  ever needed to use hardware I should always always always use a "square drive" screw. And after using those, I refuse to go back. I know I'm in for a bad time if I see a Phillips head.

The electrical word uses Roberston screws quite a bit on outlets and boxes. Far superior to phillips and slot screws. My Klein 10 in 1 screwdriver has 2 different sizes.

Anything is superior to slotted screws I'm not sure a Robertson dry wall or sheetrock screw would be better than the present phillips screws and the correct power driver.

From “Mitchells vs. the Machines

https://fb.watch/6rrRpkiLle/

So, today while spending some time in cooler weather at Tillamook OR after leaving SCIO yesterday, I needed to do a few projects on the camper. In particular, the door striker plate needed R&R.

I found my #1 Robertson tip but not a #2. Off we go to Rosenberg Builder Supply where I decided to buy a complete set of various tips for Marcia @acmaintainer's tool bag. She loves me now but she knows bits will be missing after a period of time.

Anyway, I used my new found knowledge and asked the hardware man where the Robertson driver tips were. ??? You know, the square tips. Oh yea, square drivers and he pointed me to the correct aisle.

@Gus posted:

I never knew that square looking driver had an actual name. Thanks for enlightening me. Sometimes at nearly 80 years old, I learn something new daily.

@Gus:  My goodness, apparently some of the LOA folks missed my posts of a couple months ago on the history of the Robertson screw/driver. History of the Robertson screw and Henry Ford

Every Ford Model T was held together with 700 Robertson screws and if Henry had got his way the Robertson would have become the screw standard of the U.S.

The Robertson screw has long been a symbol of Canadian national pride for us Canadians of a mechanical inclination.  We enjoy chuckling when, unbeknown to an unsuspecting new RV owner, have their first encounter with a "square" screw and exclaim "what the ......!".🇨🇦

I've helped a couple of Rv'ers do minor repairs in our Desert Hot Springs winter park. I repair or install with Robertson screws and the guy just looks at me a scratches his head and then asks "how do I fix it myself". So Give him a Canadian ACE Hardware #2 Roberson screwdriver

I have a 2 screwdrivers with hollow handles for storing extra bits.  The sleeves that hold the bits are magnetized.  The one in my camping toolbox has Robertson and  torque bits.  When I bought a couple packages of deck screws, the  packages also contained the best quality Robertson bits I own. 

@CanAm1995 posted:

@Gus:  My goodness, apparently some of the LOA folks missed my posts of a couple months ago on the history of the Robertson screw/driver. History of the Robertson screw and Henry Ford

Every Ford Model T was held together with 700 Robertson screws and if Henry had got his way the Robertson would have become the screw standard of the U.S.

The Robertson screw has long been a symbol of Canadian national pride for us Canadians of a mechanical inclination.  We enjoy chuckling when, unbeknown to an unsuspecting new RV owner, have their first encounter with a "square" screw and exclaim "what the ......!".🇨🇦

Thanks so much Randy/Cathy. I did miss your previous post. Interesting...

I think every camper I ever owned had the Robertson type screws installed. When installing PVC type fencing bought from HD several years ago, bracket attachment aluminum screws were Robertson. I wrung the heads off a few of them while installing them with my screw gun.

@Bigboom338 posted:

The electrical word uses Roberston screws quite a bit on outlets and boxes. Far superior to phillips and slot screws. My Klein 10 in 1 screwdriver has 2 different sizes.

Cathy's dad was the electrical foreman at the Queen Elizabeth power plant,  located near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, until his retirement. His tool chest had the most complete selection of Klein tools I have ever seen. He swore by them.

That wore off on me so now I have amassed a small collection of Klein tools of that I would not want to have do with out.

This is the one that I consider the most important. There is not a project that I work on that I don't end up using it too!

Yeah but can you handle THIS!

If you can, they also make a version with the security pin in the middle to make it even more impossible to find the right tool!

We sold (or gave away) as many of these as any other Klein tool at Graybar Electric.  Including “square drives”! 🤫

Klein, Knipex and Fluke you can't go wrong.

@MrFancypants posted:

Yeah but can you handle THIS!

If you can, they also make a version with the security pin in the middle to make it even more impossible to find the right tool!

All the more reason to own my favorite Klein tool!

I got a set of these off Amazon, also a Canadian for invention.
   Picquic 48102 full-size SIXPAC Plus multi-bit screwdriver with seven bits, Bright Red Opaque https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077...83SSXVZN0RN6FQ7DXJJ1

I tend to forget to "look up" (unless it's an aircraft flying overhead).  I noticed both my Fantastic Fan and skylight used these screws.  ALL the screws were very loose, so were the additional Phillips screws in the Fantastic Fan.  Don't forget to LOOK UP!

@Glenn B. posted:

I tend to forget to "look up" (unless it's an aircraft flying overhead).  I noticed both my Fantastic Fan and skylight used these screws.  ALL the screws were very loose, so were the additional Phillips screws in the Fantastic Fan.  Don't forget to LOOK UP!

Glenn, thanks for the "check six" on looking up. Cathy and I are out at our trailer prepping it for our upcoming two month trip to Canada.  I checked my email, saw yours and stopped work on the trailer to read it.  

I just finished an inspection if the bathroom and looked up. The screw for the front right snap for the insulated vent fan cover was just about ready to fall out!

I have checked all the interior upper screws, thanks!

Geez, I forgot about all the Phillips screws in the cabinet latches!  They were loose too!

My boat was built with square drive screws and epoxy.

Thanks, purchased

This is my favorite tool