 Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
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In 1908, a Canadian fellow by the name of Peter L. Robertson came up with a better screw, commonly known (in Canada at least) as the Robertson screw. The design was superior in many ways to the slotted screw and quickly revolutionized an industry. For one reason or another the design never left Canada until recent years and so I'm wondering... wondering if any of our members here throughout the world have heard of, or are using the Robertson screw.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robertson_screwdriver#Robertson
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Jan 2007
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My Canadian made RoadTrek has them. Was a B trying to find a screwdriver here to remove the window screens. Harbor Freight to the rescue (again).
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Apr 2008
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Loquacious
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Your kidding, right?
Being a carpenter by trade, I've used these (we call them sure lock or square lock head) screws for over three decades in Florida.
Commonly come in a #1, 2, or 3 head. Also come in "finish" screws with a tiny, #1 head for trim.
The preferred head.
The bits for these screws come in ALL bit assortments I've ever seen.
Are you referring to some OTHER feature of the screw?
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Adjunct
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I gotta agree with Mr. Earl on this one, I've been screwing decks with those things for years.......Dang I need a girlfriend!
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Aug 2009
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Never knew they where called Robertson Screws, I just call them square head screws, practically the only wood screw I use! http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stor...ocStoreNum=2615
'04' Black America
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Mar 2009
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Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
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Nope, not kidding Erle. When I worked on a construction job down your way near Tampa in... oh, what was it... somewhere in the early 70s, no one was using them. Safe to say by your response they've shown up on hardware shelves since then.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Quote:
I gotta agree with Mr. Earl on this one, I've been screwing decks with those things for years.......Dang I need a girlfriend!
Well Robert, for your sake, I sure hope when ya DO finally find a girlfriend that she ends up bein' a little more into the "Robert screw method" than the "RobertSON screw method"...if ya know what I mean!!! 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Now you've got me thinking about the screws used in travel trailers back in the 60's, before they went to the hex heads. They were sort of a figure 8 shape. Anybody remember those - or what they were called?
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Aug 2009
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Clutch heads 
'04' Black America
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Mar 2007
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Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616 |
We (in my company) call them fixture screws. We curse them only when we don't have the "square" bit to fit them.
SOLD: 07 Black BA, 39mm FCRs, TPUSA stage 1 head, TPUSA 813 cams, TPUSA 10.8:1 pistons, TTP #3 igniter, Specialty Spares Long Cannons, Tsukayu Hard Bags. 82HP/55tq
NEW: 19 Goldwing Tour DCT
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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They have been commonly used in camper and RV construction for as long as I can remember and much much longer here in the US. I have never used them on a deck but they are readily available for that purpose at hardware stores here. I always used phillips head screws for decks. I even have an automatic screw gun for that purpose that takes clips of phillips screws. Never heard of them being called Robertson either.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Clutch heads
Thank you! 
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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The story goes that Mr Robertson licenced the manufacture of his invention to a French firm who tried to drive him out of business. He regained ownership of the devise but then got gun shy of others so refused to licence it again to his folly. Too bad, it beats the heck out of most other drive patterns for general usage. http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Ontario/robertson_screws.htm
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,616 |
Quote:
The story goes that Mr Robertson licenced the manufacture of his invention to a French firm who tried to drive him out of business. He regained ownership of the devise but then got gun shy of others so refused to licence it again to his folly. Too bad, it beats the heck out of most other drive patterns for general usage. http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Ontario/robertson_screws.htm
Sounds like he was paranoid... I wonder what caused that 
SOLD: 07 Black BA, 39mm FCRs, TPUSA stage 1 head, TPUSA 813 cams, TPUSA 10.8:1 pistons, TTP #3 igniter, Specialty Spares Long Cannons, Tsukayu Hard Bags. 82HP/55tq
NEW: 19 Goldwing Tour DCT
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
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Quote:
Your kidding, right?
Being a carpenter by trade, I've used these (we call them sure lock or square lock head) screws for over three decades in Florida.
Commonly come in a #1, 2, or 3 head. Also come in "finish" screws with a tiny, #1 head for trim.
The preferred head.
The bits for these screws come in ALL bit assortments I've ever seen.
Are you referring to some OTHER feature of the screw?
this would have been my exact answer too, except for the being old part in Florida 
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Dec 2006
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New Tires
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New Tires
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Been screwing sub-floors down with the screw pictured for 2 decades.
For the last decade I have been screwing composite decking down with button head screws with the square slot.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Mar 2009
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Stickman Yogi
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OP
Stickman Yogi
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Okay... so now I know the Robertson screw infiltrated the US, but I am curious about other parts of the world such as Europe or Australia. I was having a related conversation with a friend I'm working with on a renovation project. We both wondered where beyond our borders this screw type is being used. Would love to hear from all you guys outside N. America!
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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The Dog is right, these have been used for years in the conversion van industry since early 70's.
Also remember seeing them in RV interiors.
Tony G
'03 America
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Old Hand
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Old Hand
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Kreg pocket screws are all square drive as are most siding screws. Senco drivers normally come with a #2 phillips and a #2 square bit.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Apr 2008
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Quote:
Your kidding, right?
Being a carpenter by trade, I've used these (we call them sure lock or square lock head) screws for over three decades in Florida.
Commonly come in a #1, 2, or 3 head. Also come in "finish" screws with a tiny, #1 head for trim.
The preferred head.
The bits for these screws come in ALL bit assortments I've ever seen.
Are you referring to some OTHER feature of the screw?
this would have been my exact answer too, except for the being old part in Florida
The word "old" NEVER showed up in MY post! 
(Out Of The Mouths Of Babes) 
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Apr 2008
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
The story goes that Mr Robertson licenced the manufacture of his invention to a French firm who tried to drive him out of business. He regained ownership of the devise but then got gun shy of others so refused to licence it again to his folly. Too bad, it beats the heck out of most other drive patterns for general usage. http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Ontario/robertson_screws.htm
Soooo, I guess it was Robertson who got screwed. 
And you may see me tonight
With an illegal smile
J. Prine
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Adjunct
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I've never seen them in the UK - it's mostly Phillips or Pozidrive screws over here
CHAOS, MAYHEM, DISORDER ................................ my work here is done
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Yep they are available downunda. Though I only found out about them yesterday.
My son just replaced the railings and pickets on his back verandah, and he was telling me about these screws. He chose them because they were powdercoated and looked the deal for use in his application.
The most difficult task he faced was lining the sockets up to give a neat finish.
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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When I bought this house 13 years ago that was the first time I seen them used, had to go get a driver for them, and that was not easy to find. even alot of hex bit sets over here still dont have them. they are more popular now.
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Mar 2009
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Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
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Okay... so they're starting to show up in parts outside N. America. That's what I was wondering...
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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Quote:
Quote:
The story goes that Mr Robertson licenced the manufacture of his invention to a French firm who tried to drive him out of business. He regained ownership of the devise but then got gun shy of others so refused to licence it again to his folly. Too bad, it beats the heck out of most other drive patterns for general usage. http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Ontario/robertson_screws.htm
Sounds like he was paranoid... I wonder what caused that
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they're not really out to get you.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,248 Likes: 64 |
Quote:
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they're not really out to get you.
I used to have a T shirt that said that, I used to wear it with my tin foil hat.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 593
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Quote:
Yep they are available downunda. Though I only found out about them yesterday.
My son just replaced the railings and pickets on his back verandah, and he was telling me about these screws. He chose them because they were powdercoated and looked the deal for use in his application.
The most difficult task he faced was lining the sockets up to give a neat finish.
Wow, now that is attention to detail..... 
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Re: Screw it Mr. Robertson!
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 593
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Quote:
The story goes that Mr Robertson licenced the manufacture of his invention to a French firm who tried to drive him out of business. He regained ownership of the devise but then got gun shy of others so refused to licence it again to his folly. Too bad, it beats the heck out of most other drive patterns for general usage. http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Ontario/robertson_screws.htm
Reminds me of Robert Kearns and his intermittent wipers. Coming up with a great idea is only half the battle. You then have to find someone to market it and possibly defend your property in court. I can see why Mr. Robertson became a little gun shy.
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