lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

Dico,

I use almost no phillips screws on my planes. All of my screws are torx which are MUCH easier to work with and don’t cam out like phillips. 100 degree countersunk, stainless, torx machine screws are available. I get ‘em at: http://www.microfasteners.com/catalog/products/SSCFCMXS.cfm

Bill Harrelson

N5ZQ 320 2,150 hrs

N6ZQ IV 50 hrs

From: Dico Reijers

Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 8:39 AM

To: lml@lancaironline.net

Subject: [LML] Robertson screws

Hi All,

I'm wondering why we don't use Robertson screws (http://joneakes.com/jons-fixit-database/418-History-of-the-Robertson-Screw) on our airplanes... namely on the cowls and other areas that are removed often. Having taken my cowling off and on about 15 times in the last couple months, the Phillips screws get chewed up pretty good. The Robby screws would be infinitely better I would think -- certainly cosmetically they would look better after many de-cowlings.

Is the main reason because the Robertson screws are Canadian and the Phillips are US and the airplanes are US? Or is there a technical (or other) reason we don't use them?

-Dico