I’m trying to remove the legs off a non-standard-looking table, and I’m having no success. It looks like I need an Allen wrench, but every one I try is either too small or too big. I’ll eventually get the legs off, but it makes me curious about fasteners.
Why are there so many types of screws? Flathead, Philip’s head, star, Allen. There are probably some I’ve never heard of. Why do we need all these different ones?
It turns out there are dozens of screw head types; many of them are specific to an occupation. Still, why are there so many?
One reason is cost. Flathead screws are cheap to make, so they are common. Other types cost more so are used for special jobs.
Another reason is torque. Flathead screws work well with a handheld screwdriver, but Philip’s head is better if you want to use an electric drill. However, both of these types tend to slip and strip, so the torque has to be low. Thus other screw heads are used when higher torque is needed.
I guess these are good reasons, but I wish the table I’m trying to remove the legs from had standard screws. They didn’t have to be expensive or use high torque. Good thing I like a challenge.