At first sight of a square drive screw I hated them, that was 18yrs ago on my first boat. Today that's all I will use.The worst thing about philips is removing them. On my current boat project I have removed hundreds of philips heads with much despair. I think philips heads strip much easier and are harder to remove (seems I can never apply enough down force). I buy Robertson & philips drive bits by the handfull. They can be used in either a universal screwdriver type handle (the type you can change bits) or a cordless drill. Its easier than carrying tens of screwdrivers. To remove glue and other material from screwheads I use a dremel with a small engraving bit .These are like a small ball end mill and work really well. I've found the best selection of square drive screws at McMaster-Carr http://www.mcmaster.com Jerry & Shary Morson m/v Slowride President 41 http://home.att.net/~j.morson/index.html

j.morson@worldnet.att.net writes: > To remove glue and other material from screwheads I use a >dremel with a small engraving bit Ah yes, the DREMEL. Don't leave the bunker without it!! Actually I have a small blade screwdriver(in the trade at Honeywell we called it a "diddler") that is just about exactly the width of a red Robertson. With that and a gentle blow from a ball peen hammer, the contents of the screwhead flies right out. May be I got lucky, but it works for me.

----- Original Message ----- From: "George Geist" <scaramouche@tvo.org> Subject: Re: TWL: Robertson square drive screws . Don't leave the bunker without it!! > Actually > we called it a "diddler> red Robertson. With a gentle blow from a ball peen hammer, > the contents flies right out. May be I got lucky, > but it works for me. > > > Ah yes, we learn the tactics of the Pros. The longer I live ---------- docmoss