Glen-L.com

Is there any difference, practical or otherwise, between Frearson screw heads and Phillips screw heads?

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I am presently constructing a Glen-L HERCULES, hull basically complete.Am going to fiberglass and paint bottom and then turn over. Sides to be planked with10mm yellow cedar edged bead and cove . Engine is Mitsubihi 4-cyl. 39 crankshaft hp.

Yes...don't use a standard phillips to drive Frearson screws as (from experience) you will end up stripping the heads of just about every screw. The Frearson driver is cut wider and deeper than standard phillips. I immediately noticed the improvement when I switched to a Frearson driver...very few stripped heads.

The two bits looks similar but are much different. Additionally, you don't have 0-3 sizes. The one Frearson driver I have drives every one of the different size screws I am using on my build.

Finally, it seems to me that I get a better grip with a Frearson set-up as opposed to Phillips...better driving consistency...no screw wobble...

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Bill

I told my wife we needed a three-car garage for my projects...she told me to ask her for permission next time before I buy a house.
http://www.unitybuild.net

From wikipedia, so take it or leave it..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_F._Phillips

Phillips head screws are " purpose made to cam out when the screw stalled, to prevent the fastener damaging the work or the head, instead damaging the driver. This was due to the relative difficulty in building torque limiting into the early drivers. "

Reed & Prince or Frearson
Similar to a Phillips but has a more pointed 75° V shape.[citation needed] Its advantage over the Phillips drive is that one driver or bit fits all screw sizes. It is found mainly in marine hardware and requires a special screw driver or bit to work properly. The tool recess is a perfect cross, unlike the Phillips head, which is designed to cam out. It was developed by an English inventor named Frearson in the 19th century and produced from the late 1930s to the mid-1970s by the former Reed & Prince Manufacturing Company of Worcester, Massachusetts, a company which traces its origins to Kingston, Massachusetts, in 1882, and was liquidated in 1990 with the sale of company assets. The company is now in business.

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Hey! I built a boat ! No Really, I did !
http://davesboat.blogspot.com/

Geeeez, all that cursing over the years and it was SUPPOSED to do that!!!!! Who knew!

bob

Thanks guys, now I'll pay more attentionto my driver bits.
Graham

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I am presently constructing a Glen-L HERCULES, hull basically complete.Am going to fiberglass and paint bottom and then turn over. Sides to be planked with10mm yellow cedar edged bead and cove . Engine is Mitsubihi 4-cyl. 39 crankshaft hp.