In article , "Larry Smith"
writes:


Doing a little work on old Cessnas for fun these days and have to tell you I
don't like Phillips head screws. The slightest corrosion and they stick
and freeze. Then your Snap-On screwdriver (make sure it fits) wallows the
head out, as you grunt and cuss. Then you have to pull out the old die
grinder and disc a groove in the dam* thing and go pull out your common
screwdriver. Last night taking off a set of wheelpants where corrosion
thrives, I had screw after screw frozen up and had to pull the compressor
out on the ramp several times --- cause it had to go back to the shop for a
recharge.

Time to go to Allen screws. Yes. The entire Phillips head screw
population is held in contempt. They ought to be banned.

Not Allen head, but Torx. Those are by far the best-gripping
socket head ever. Commonly used on automobiles, from headlight
retaining screws up to seat-belt and brake caliper bolts. Allen head
screws aren't much better than Philips when they're seized or
overtight.
We have Henry Ford to thank for the Philips mess, as I understand
it. A Canadian, Robertson, invented the square-socket head screw many
years ago, and Ford wanted exclusive distribution rights in the US.
Robertson wouldn't give it to him, so Ford was able to keep the design
out of the US and only recently it's shown up there as a
"square-socket head" screw. We've been using it here in Canada for
generations (I have seen it on antique furniture) and it's popular
with carpenters and so on. Much better than Philips.

Dan