Screw Head Types

Modern screws employ a wide variety of designs to drive or extract them, each requiring a different kind of tool. Some types of drive are also only intended for use with automatic technology, for instance, on production or assembly lines. The most common screw drives are detailed below.

product information screw drive types

Slotted (or Flat Head)

Slotted screwdrivers are available with either flared or parallel tips. For the majority of uses, a flared tip is ideal but if the screw needs to be driven below the substrate’s surface, a parallel tip screwdriver should be used. With slotted screwdrivers it is always important to ensure that the driver’s tip matches the width of the screw slot, otherwise you risk damaging the screw head.

phillips cross head screwdriver heads

Phillips®

The Phillips® screw has four simple, tapered slots and is designed for use with a Phillips® tip screwdriver, which delivers increased levels of torque. Should the torque levels become excessive for the tip however, it will wind itself out of the screw. This prevents over-tightening and the risk of damage to the screw head..

hex socket screw head types

Hex Socket

A Hex socket screw has a hexagonal recess in the head and is driven by a hex wrench..

product information screw drive types
phillips cross head screwdriver heads
hex socket screw head types
pozi screw head types
torx screw head types star bits
pozi screw head types

Pozi

Pozi® screws may look similar in appearance to classic Phillips cross-heads but they are actually very different. Pozi® provides four additional points of contact and does not have the same rounded corners as a Phillips® screw drive. This enables is to offer reduced cam out and even higher levels of torque when used with the right tool in good condition. Pozi® screws can be easily distinguished by a line embossed in the screw head at 45° to the slots for the driver.

torx screw head types star bits

Torx® (or star bits)

Thanks to their design, Torx® head screws resist cam out much better than Phillips® or slotted screws. Where Phillips® heads have been designed to cause the driver to cam out to prevent over-tightening, Torx® heads have been designed to prevent this and to acheive a desired torque level consistently. Torx® head sizes are denoted using a capital letter ‘T’ followed by a number. A smaller point-to-point dimension of a screw head. Only the proper driver can drive a specific head size without the risk of ruining the driver or the screw.

Product Information

Short Video’s about our ForgeFast EliteFast-Start Woodscrews and other Fasteners and fixings available.

Screw Surface Finish

Confusing or what! Here we try to explain the different types of Screw surface finish in our range of Stainless steel, Nickel plated, Zinc Passivated, Electro brassed, Black Phosphate, Bright, Galvinised, Black Japanned, Galvanised, Sheridised screws

a4 stainless steel

A4 Stainless Steel

A4 (or Type 316) stainless steel is a higher grade to A2. Its improved properties, particularly in relation to corrosion and oxidation resistance, make it ideal for external marine applications

Electro Brassed

This process is the same as zinc yellow passivating except that a slightly different coloured dye is used.

A2 Stainless Steel

A2 Stainless Steel is the most common type of stainless steel. It is non-magnetic as well as corrosion and oxidation resistant (although it may tarnish). It is also resistant to foodstuffs, sterilising solutions, most organic chemicals and dyestuffs, as well as a wide variety of inorganic chemicals. As such, it is used extensively for many types of fixings and fasteners, particularly in sanitary or hygiene applications. In U.S., A2 stainless steel is called Type 304. It is also sometimes known as 18/8 because it contains approximately 18% chromium and 8% nickel.

elementech surface finish

Elementech

Forgefix and Zepfix is committed to pioneering new innovations in fixing and fastener design. Our forward thinking approach and unrelenting focus on continually raising standards has led to the development of our own unique and exclusive corrosion resistant coating, elementech.

zinc yellow passivated

Zinc Yellow Passivated

Zinc yellow passivation offers a step-up in corrosion resistance to zinc plating. The process is similar to galvanisation and zinc plating but entails the additional application of a passivation layer. This passivation layer can be clear, olive green (primarily used in defence and aerospace applications), black or in the case of ForgeFix products, yellow.

Galvanised

Galvanisation entails the application of a protective zinc coating to steel or iron to increase their corrosion resistance and prevent rusting. Galvanised fixings and fasteners are amongst most commonly used for exterior applications.

black japanned surface finish

Black Jappaned

With origins streching back to the 17th century, japanning entails the application of a coating, most often a heavy black lacquer, similar to an enamel paint. Ironware is often black japanned for decorative reasons. Black japanning can also be used to render fixings rustproof.

Bright

This is simply the basic raw mild steel material used mainly in nails without any coating or finish.

Sheradised

Named after its British inventor, Sherard Cowper Coles, sheradizing is a method of galvanising that’s also called vapour galvanising. It entails the application of a long term, high performance zinc-iron alloy coating onto iron and steel products to dramatically enhance their resistance to both corrosion and abrasion. Numerous fixings and fasteners can be sheridised including bolts, nuts and washers. However it is most commonly encountered on nails.

Nickel plated

Nickel plating entails electroplating a thin layer of nickel onto metal (typically mild steel or stainless steel) fixing or fastener. Nickel plating results in a bright, lustrous finish that is both aesthically pleasing and extremely hard-wearing. Nickel plated fixings and fasteners are amongst the most corrosion resistant available.

Black Phosphate

Phosphate coatings are made up of thin crystalline layers of phosphate compounds that adhere to the surface of the fixing or fastener. The phosphate crystals are porous and can be formed from zinc, manganese or iron phosphate solutions. Phosphate coatings offer good corrosion resistance and can readily absorb subsequent coatings which can be used to improve appearance, corrosion resistance and resistance to abrasion.

zinc plated surface finish

Zinc Plated

Zinc plating is one of the most widely used coatings employed to protect fixings and fasteners – including screws, nuts, bolts and washers – due to its cost effective nature and relative ease of application. Electroplating these products with zinc improves their resistance to corrosion by creating a barrier to possible oxidation. Zinc plating also improves the overall appearance of many metal products by giving them a clean, bright and shiny finish.

Screws
Screws

2 Products

Screw and Bolt Head Types

With so many options to choose from in our range of Screw and Bolt Head types, we offer brief product information on our countersunk heads, raised head screws and bolts, Bugle and Wafer Head, Hexaganol, Hex Flange, Pan Head and Round Head fixings.

countersunk head finish

Countersunk Head

Designed to sink flush into material to leave a smooth surface finish.

Raised Head

With a head that is both raised and countersunk, raised head screws are widely used for ironmongery, lighting, electrical fittings and other visible applications because of their strong aesthetic.

bugle head screws

Bugle Head Screws

A Bugle head allows to sink effortlessly into dry lining without the need for countersinking. This minimises the potential for surface damage.

Galvanised

Galvanisation entails the application of a protective zinc coating to steel or iron to increase their corrosion resistance and prevent rusting. Galvanised fixings and fasteners are amongst most commonly used for exterior applications.

hexagonal head type

Hexagonal Head

The Hexagonal head has been designed for use with spanners or sockets and offers maximum torque when used with these tools.

Hexagonal Flange Head

On these bolts, the flange acts as a fixed washer distributing the load under the bolt head. The hex head offers optimum torque when used with spanners or sockets.

pan head screw type

Pan Head

A pan head has a flat underhead surface. This helps to reduce surface deformation and make these screws ideal for use on sheet material.

Round Head

Thanks to their flat underhead surface, round head screws minimise surface deformation of a substrate and are ideal for use on all types of flat sheet material.

Screw Thread Types

Who’d have though there would be so many different types of screws threads, here you will find product information about the options we have available at Zepfix.com. Single thread, twin thread, fine thread, coarse thread and self-tapping thread screws.

single thread type screw

Single Thread

Single thread screws have been designed to offer higher pull out values and quicker insertion.

twin thread type screws

Twin Thread

Twin thread screws are designed to enable an easier start when driving.

Coarse Thread

Coarse thread screws (typically drywall screws) have an extremely sharp point designed to penetrate plasterboard skin. The coarse thread then eases into the board and subsequently timber baton/stud to provide a highly secure fix.

fine thread type screws

Fine Thread

Fine thread screws (again, typically drywall screws) have an extremely sharp point which not only pierces the plasterboard skin but that also enables the screw to drill and fix into metal studs.

self tapping thread

Self-tapping Thread

Self-tapping thread screws (and bolts) have a specifically designed thread pitch which enables them to self-thread into a substrate after being inserted into a pre-drilled and slightly smaller pilot hole..