The screw’s working function dictates the design of its main part. There are different shapes made for screw heads, and each comes with certain uses. But the head comes in two main types: countersink and non-countersunk. The countersunk head screw sits flush with the surface where connected. Countersink screws are made for taper so they can self-tap in fastening material. The basic example of this category is a flat screw head.
The other is a non-countersink screw that comes with protruding heads but not a taper. Countersunk screws have high chances to result in damage since the tapered part is wider as compared to the shank that is called the body of the screw. Non-counter-sunk screws do not face these issues. Non-countersunk head screw design also comes in different shapes. Let’s get started with different types of screw heads and their practical uses.
Types of Screw Heads
Flat Head Screw
- These screws come with a flat head, and the internal facing is tapering. That helps that flathead screw easily merge into the surface without facing a stuck problem. So they are cleaner and good-looking wooden surfaces. The design of flathead screws is used for providing more stability to connected objects where connected.
The main types of flathead screws are as follows.
82-degree Flat Head Screw
- Flat head screw comes with an 82-degree angle standard countersunk screw made for sit-flush material where connected. That design helps provide a smooth, flat surface when connected, and they are best to use for applications where sleek and clear finishing is needed.
100-degree Flat Head Screw
- This flat head screw comes with a 100-degree angle. They are made for use with thin materials where standard 82-degree screws are not easy to connect. This larger angle helps the screw to apply pressure on the larger part in a good way. It provides good finishing without affecting material quality.
Raised Heads
- The raised head is also called oval-shaped heads and comes with an angle as a flat screw, but it is a dome-like shape. These screws are round-shaped and elevated heat that stands over the material surface.
- The main features for these screw heads are easily tighten with tools and more secure than flat heads. Its common uses are automobiles and projects where high torque is needed
Bugle Heads
- The bugle head screw comes with a tapered, ball-shaped head, and it provides a smooth connection with materials. These screw heads are part of screws made for drywall and plasterboard. Their design is like a flat head, but the below surface heat angle helps to provide less damage for the connected surface. They have self-drilling features in place of pilot holes. They provide uniform pressure for a larger area than flat screws.
Binding Heads
- Binding head screws are round-shaped and come with a wider base design. It can easily be connected with less force and using any certain tool. Its unique design is made to be used for different projects and surface connections. They come with a domed head and easily screw to each other. Short binding screws are part of holding larger manuals and also bind books. It also helps to connect holding leather.
- Its disadvantage is that its holding strength is less than other screws.
Domed Heads
- This type of screw head is commonly used. and it is used for applications where the screw head is not completely hidden as flat heads are. The dome-shaped head has a good design for the surface, and the flat side is behind the dome for making strong connections.
Flange Heads
- Flange head screw comes with a wider and flat collar below the head. It increases the larger surface area. Its head is of high importance for an equally spread pressure.
- The design of these heads comes with a built-in washer, such as a flange below the head, that provides a larger area for load distribution.
- For flange heads, there is no need for separate washers that provide strong holding.
- Flange head screws are best to use for plastic and wood and also part of heavy-duty jobs such as machines.
Truss Heads
- Truss head screw, also called mushroom head,” comes with a low-profile domed head that provides a larger surface area than other designs. This head easily applies pressure to a larger area and easily handles different loads. They are part of applications where strong security is needed and reduce the chances for damage. Its limitation is that its larger head is visible, which is not good where clean finishing is needed.
- It is good to use for plastic and wood. With that used for electrical devices and furniture.
Button Heads
- It is small in size and round in shape, and its design is like a button and has a flat upper part. They are used for low-profile design and provide good-looking design. Its design makes it useful for hexagon sockets and Torx drivers and provides a good connection.
- Its main features are that it is used for low-torque applications and is also easy to connect.
- It is not used for high-strength and high-pressure applications. It is good for light-duty devices and decorative installation.
Pan Heads
- The pan head screw comes with a rounded shape and also has a domed-like upper part with a flat bearing surface. Its main uses are for low-profile and larger contact applications. All flat surfaces on the bottom of the head are pan head screws.
- The common uses of this head are in metals, plastic, and wood, and it is also used for structural purposes.
- It has strong connections where connected.
- It is not used for later surface area since it has a small flat bearing surface.
Round Heads
- Round screws come with a round-shaped upper part. They are made with different materials and have different designs with length, but the overall structure is a round shape.
Fillister Heads
- This screw head is also round-shaped at the upper part and higher as compared to the standard round head and also has external threads over the edges.
- It has good surface connection and part of projects where flush finishing is needed. Its main limitation is that the high head does not sit flush with the surface for some uses.
- It is used for woodworking and light machine component connections.
HEX Head
- External hex heads are coming out from the surface and come with a flange, and others have a hexagon shape on the full head. This screw can easily be connected and removed through the use of a wrench.
- Internal hex screw uses an Allen wrench for connections and also for removal. It is used for furniture.
Socket cap heads
- The socket head cap screw comes with a cylindrical head and hexagonal design. This special feature needed a hex wrench or Allen key for connecting and loosening screws. This screw comes with a small cap on top of the head. It comes in different lengths and materials, and all have heads like wearing caps.
Slotted Heads
- It is a simple head with a string slot that can be connected with the use of a standard flathead screwdriver. It is easy to use, low cost, and part of all toolboxes.
- It is used for light-duty work and part of furniture assembly and DIY projects. But it has low torque efficiency and has chances for damaging the screw head.
Phillips Heads
- This screw head comes with a cross-shaped recess and provides better torque than a slotted head. Its main features are that it has high torque transfer, minimizes the chance of slipping, and is easy to tighten. It is part of automotive electronics and provides reliable fastening. It can be damaged if not accurately aligned.
Phillips Tamper-Resistant
- The Philips tamper-resistant screw is like the Philips drive screw and comes with a small pin in the middle of the screw drive that avoids tampering.
- They are not easy to use for high torque applications and are not made with high strength standards.
Combination Heads
- These heads come with both slotted and Phillips recesses and provide features to use with any screwdriver. It can easily be installed with slotted and Phillips drivers. It is not good for transferring torque than certain head types. Its uses are for assembly lines and household fixtures.
Square Recess Heads
- The screw comes with a square recess design that is used with square drive tools. It has good grip and high transfer torque and reduces slipping. It needed special square drive tools but was less common as compared to Phillips or slotted heads.
- It is used for woodworking and structures and where strong fastening is needed.
Square Recess Tamper-Resistant
- This square recess drive is like regular square recess screwdrivers and comes with a small pin in the middle that avoids tampering like tamper-resistant Phillips drive screws.
Quadrex Head
- It is a mixture of phillips and square recess features with 4 connection points for good grip and transferring torque. Its main features are to reduce slipping and offer good torque.
- It uses special driver tools, but is not used as commonly as a Phillips head.
- It is used for high-torque applications and machines with appliance manufacturing.
Pozidriv Head
- They are like Phillips heads with having more auxiliary cross-shaped slots for reducing slippage. It has better torque features than a standard Philips head and minimizes chances of slipping.
- It is used for electronics, woodworking, and part of high torque use. This head needed a Pozidriv screwdriver that is different from a regular Phillips screwdriver.
Star-shaped heads
- This type of head comes with a different design that makes a star-like design. The double square driver comes with two Robertson squares that make an 8-point star design. We can use a Robertson bit for connecting it or use a special double square for providing high torque uses.
- There is a tripe square with 3 Robertson squares making a 12-point star. Triple squares are used where a high level of force is needed without stripping screws.
orx Head
- The screw head comes with a star-shaped recess, and 6 points provide good torque transfer. It has good torque transfer features and minimizes slipping and parts where high torque is needed.
- It is used for automobile electronics and machines for high torque.
- But it needed a special Torx tool that is less commonly used than standard screwdrivers.
Torx Plus
- It is like a standard Torx head with a good shape and has a contact point and provides high torque transfer. It has high torque capacity, reduces slippage, and increases the tool’s working life.
- It is used for high-load and torque-needed industries, but it needs special Torx pulse tools that are not as common as standard Torx tools.
- It is also part of machines and automobiles.
Tri-Wing Head
- This screw head comes with 3 wing-shaped grooves like a triangle. Its main features are that it’s not easy to remove with regular tools and has good security features. It uses certain tools for installation that make it limited. Main uses for this screw are in airplanes, electronics, and military gear.
Spanner Head
- The screw head comes with two holes and needed spanner tools. It has high security and avoids unauthorized disassembly.
- It needed special spanner tools and was less common to use. It is used for machines, electronic devices, and also for high-security applications.
Pin Head Screws
- This head comes with a small round head and a pin in the middle for avoiding tampering. Its main features are a highly secure connection, and for unscrewing, there is a need for a special tool. Its main limitation is that it needs a certain type of driver.
- It is used for high-security applications like in military equipment.
Sentinel Head Screws
- It comes with a deeper and small recess in the middle of the screw head and provides more security. It provides good tamper resistance for avoiding removal. There is a need for certain tools for installation and removal.
2 Hole Head
- It comes with two small holes opposite to each other and needs two-prong tools for connections. It has good tamper resistance and a strong connection with a slotted head.
- It needed special tools not used with a regular screwdriver.
- It is used for furniture and certain devices to provide tamper resistance.
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