It’s hard to keep track of all the different types of screws, fasteners, bolts, bits, and bobs that hold our lives together, from our fridges and phones to cars and planes. If you’ve ever poked around inside a gadget, you’ve probably come face-to-face with a 6-lobed, star-shaped screw.
That’s Torx. It and its new, high-tech cousin, Torx Plus, are the current kings of the screw hill. But what are they, and what makes them so special?
Although the original patents would dispute Frauenheim’s contention that one goal of the Phillips screw was to “cam out” (slip out when overtightened), that tendency remains problematic. Torx screws were introduced in the 1960s to prevent that behavior, utilizing six lobes with straight walls for a better grip. Torx Plus, developed in the 1990s, enhanced this design with elliptical lobes and perfectly vertical walls.
While this progression represents an engineering improvement, it creates a challenge for repair. Frauenheim says that standard Torx drivers will work (albeit not optimally) with Torx Plus screws, but Torx Plus drivers won’t fit in standard Torx screws at all. (Of course, Apple uses proprietary pentalobe screws and tamper-resistant tri-wing screws in addition to Torx and Torx Plus—I had no idea there were so many screw types.)
My main takeaway: it’s better to use a slightly smaller Torx driver than one that fits tightly, because the smaller one will reach the bottom of the screw socket and make more contact with the walls.
Oh there are so many screws of different types. My grandfather showed me his patent for a “Screwdriverless Screw.” It has a flat tip and is intended to be pulled from underneath with a pliers.
Amen to the recess. Discovered them 30ish years ago and wish I could just get every screw in that style.
Unfortunately, now I have at least 4 kinds of drivers (Flat, Phillips, Square/Robertson & Torx) in my toolbox. And a Pozi-Drive bit for the random Euro-screw I come across.
A good driver that supports replaceable bits, along with a box of assorted type/size bits is a good investment.
Something like this should have all the common types you’re likely to need. A set of assorted security bits may also be really useful for those weird screws you may run across from time to time.
If you do small electronic work, a kit like the iFixit Manta kit will likely have everything you’ll ever run across. But I wouldn’t put those bits in a power screwdriver - they’re meant for hand tools only.
Another really useful bit to have on hand is the ECX type. These are a combination of flathead and square-drive, designed to fit those combo (flat/philips/square) screw heads commonly found when doing electrician work.
A useful video for DIY home-owners about screws and screwdrivers:
It’s not just a nail. As the text describes, it’s meant for situations where the head is not easily accessible, but the other end is. It is threaded near the top, so after hammering it partway in, you can grab the other side with a pliers and then twist it to fully engage it.
I don’t think I’ve ever been in a situation where this would be useful to me, but it is certainly a novel concept.
Also intended for aircraft manufacture, where you need smooth screw heads to reduce drag. While hunting for the patent, I found an improved version with a long hexagonal post instead of a flat blade end. Put the hex end in a power drill chuck and spin it.
If you do small electronic work, a kit like the iFixit Manta kit will likely have everything you’ll ever run across. But I wouldn’t put those bits in a power screwdriver - they’re meant for hand tools only.
Beat me to it. I have a slightly smaller iFixIt bit and driver set, and I’ve yet to come up against a piece of Apple hardware I haven’t been able to open.
JIS screwdrivers are superior to Phillips tips. All I use now in my repair shop, especially for stubborn laptop screws. Lots of downwards force and even torque will loosen most screws.
I still have my Snap-on T15 SDTX1015 to open the Mac Plus…
The only special screwdrivers I do not own are the Japanese Industrial Screwdriver called JIS.
Never needed them from work.
Fasteners by design to mitigate or lessen damage to assembly/re-assembly was big deal with Apple. Pentalobe was also a secure bit, that limited torque. Also note that Apple’s fasteners for cases were tipped blue with loctite, to prevent screws from working loose. Who was an ACMT and remembers the Tri-Lobe driver for the batteries?
I still have my old ACMT tools like pentalobe drivers, tri-lobe, and security torx along with set of Wiha long drivers in the Ph0 -Ph000 range and demag/magnetizer. Even an old, very long, T-handle hex tool for Mac SE case screws and a case cracker; rolls of kapton tape, CRT tool for discharging the high voltage connector boot on the neck… I may have a Manta set but all ID of iFixit has been scrubbed off for my personal reasons (it was a gift set and I do not endorse Wiens company). Lastly, an old, freezer long gone, ice cube tray…early screw storage for a repair.
Do you know Kyle Wiens personally or do you feel there are problems with iFixit’s business model, culture, or mission? I’m asking in case your reasons for not supporting iFixit are relevant to people here on TidBITS.
