Why torx screws?

Allen type screws are terrible about rounding out the driver hole. Torx are a huge improvement. Slotted and Phillips are tacky.
 
Because they look more 'tactical' than philips, so they can charge an extra $5.

(I think all this snow is making me cynical)
 
Ditto on what Kit and Tom say.......
Although there are times I use a special type slotted head on some higher end folders.....but that's just me. When you have people the caliber of Kit and Tom suggesting why to use this or that....I for one will listen........as they'd say in Kit's neck of the woods....
Em boys knows what dey talkin bout!:D
 
Torx (tm) was originally developed and patented by the Camcar division of Textron Corporation for two reasons: First, you can apply more torque to a Torx screw than to a slotted or Philips. Modern screws made of high quality materials can withstand those higher torques. Second, Torx is machine-vision compatible. So is slotted, but slotted screws cam out to easily. Philips, because of its angles, confuses machine vision systems. Hex heads don't have good contrast, so they also can confuse machine vision systems. With the increased use of robotics in assembly (especially in appliances and automotive), machine vision compatibility is important. So, Torx, Screwlocs, and Posidrive were all developed by competitive companies. Posidrive and Screwlocs are both still used some, but Torx has emerged as the market leader.

One thing I like about Torx is that because of the way the driver goes into the head, it's very difficult to cam out and mar the screw head.

The big problem is that Torx does allow you to apply a lot more torque. Small screws, T4, T3, T2, etc., are easy to break the head right off of.
 
Heh... I had an '82 Pontiac Firebird (it was a hand-me-down from Mom to Dad to sis to me) and by the time I got it, it was only 6+ years old but already was a total piece of sh*t. I had to do some tinkering in the console, and there were little screws at the corners of it, designed such that they were visible on the face of the plastic housing. On close inspection, they revealed themselves to have Torx-type heads, which seemed strange to me. When I used a proper Torx bit to open them, I found that the crap-sh*t plastic that Pontiac used (and most likely still uses, since Pontiac is sh*t and does not care a whit about making a quality, durable product, only moneymoneymoneymoneymoney and profit margin created by a huge gap between materials cost and retail price)... ooops, I digressed. The plastic had deteriorated in consistency so that it was like a candy-cane will be a year after Christmas. It had gone soft and crumbly, and the bit tore the crap out of the screw heads, and they were useless.

So the utility of Torx screws is pretty limited by what they're made of.
 
Bottom line, the torx configuration provides more surface area for the driver to work with. providing a more secure fit and ability to apply more torque.
 
Slotted and Phillips are tacky
Click to expand...

If slotted screws are so tacky why are they used on most high end customs? I have never seen a $4000 knife with torx screws! Lets see, who uses them, Bill McHenry, Jason williams, Don Hansen III, Ralph Selvideo, Richard Wright, Stephen Olszewski and Me just to name a few! If you do a forums search for striped out screw heads you will find more than you can count on both hands. I've never had a slotted screw strip out, or the screw driver wear out.

I think that makers use torx so they don't have to try to index the screw heads. You tighten them down and they all look the same. Another disadvantage besides stripping out is that torx screws have a thicker head than slotted screws. You need a lot more material available to countersink them. If you have really thin scale material the heads will not sit all the way down, then what do you do? Get a slotted!
 
After years of using allen screws in the printing industry, torx is a breath of fresh air. Allen screws strip out much more easily. For very small screws, I'd choose torx every time. The difference is not as noticeable on larger screws.
 
Striper,
That's an easy one. Torx doesn't make gold screws, and makers can't make gold ones with Torx drive:)
 
Personally I don't think standard or phillips screws are 'tacky' at all. I think all the different kinds of itty bitty screws look kind of cute!:D

Torx is a major pain in the arse for me though, especially since I don't (and can't find) a torx key/screwdriver...:rolleyes:
 
That's an easy one. Torx doesn't make gold screws, and makers can't make gold ones with Torx drive
Click to expand...

Oh, I beg to differ. I've certainly seen gold-plated Torx screws.
 
When it comes to screws, torx screws are okay I guess, but I prefer the old slotted screw over any other. The best thing about a standard screw is that you often don't even need a screwdriver to tighten or loosen one, just a flat edge like a blade or coin.

I think I've stripped more phillips screws than any other type of screw.

Allen.
 
There is an even newer version called the TorxPlus. It provides even tighter tolerances. It is not compatible with the standard Torx.

I can understand the reasons for the use of Torx fasteners, but I have never understood why it is necessary for makers to use Torx screws smaller than T6, even on small folders. It might be for purely aesthetic reasons. The real tiny ones make me nervous.
 
Thanks everybody! I love the range of responses.

I asked this question because it took me a year and a half of looking in stores to find torx bits to adjust my folders. First, the clip screws on my AFCK came loose, and I couldn't find anything to re-attach the screws with. Sucks having a pocket clip folder that doesn't clip to your pocket! I finally found a set at Lee Valley Tools in December that has what I need. But I like how Emerson Knives uses slitted screws. Of course, I didn't know if torx were better mechanically than a slotted, so I thought I'd ask.

ANyone with Emerson knives ever have trouble with the scres on your knife?
 
dunno if they have Sears stores in Canada but they carry torx drivers individually. Just go in the store with your knife and get the certain driver needed.



dave
 
Gollnick,
I think Striper was talking about pure gold screws, not plated. IMHO, gold plated screws are like polyester pearl. :barf: :)
Several high dollar makers I know turn their own gold ones.
 
Goldplated screws are only as good as the plating thickness, or it'll wear off easily. Plating thickness might be pretty thin on a screw. That's not a problem with solid gold (or silver) screws. Solid gold will never look tacky, but beware, they may strip easily. But personally, if I had a knife with solid gold screws, I'd probably send it to the maker for any/all adjustments.

Torx screws shouldn't be a problem for anyone within driving distance to a decent hardware store. They do look cool. I'd suggest not buying a knife if you can't get the tools to adjust it now and again. That's why I don't buy knives with some of the unusual pivot pins. Without the tool, I'd be lost trying to tighten the blade.
 
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