Charlie D Posted March 25, 2021 Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 Hello All, When I was a little bitty boy my granddad gave me cute little toy. No, it wasn’t “Silver bells hanging on a string” It was a screwdriver. I’m pretty certain that it was for simple straight, slotted screws. Wow… Now I could undo all the screws ever invented! (Or so I thought, at the age of 3.) Later on I discovered that some screw heads were called “Phillips”. Then some were called “Pozidrive” Along came socket headed screws (Needing an Allan key). Then Torks, And then… And then…… Oh, it just went on and on. You can probably double whatever the number was when you add in the “Security” versions of all the different heads. You know, the ones with a little pin in the centre, meaning that you have to go and buy yet another type of screwdriver to undo them. “Security” screw heads seem a bit pointless when you can go to a shop and buy a screwdriver to fit them. However, now at the age of 71 I finally thought that I had all the possible screwdrivers I could ever need. Then, last week, my wife asked me if I could fix a leak in the coffee machine. “Quite probably” I said, “I just need to take the covers off and take a look.” I turned the machine upside down, could see the screws, but was unable to see ANY sort of slot in them. They just appeared to be a round head on a round shoulder. All I could think of was that it must be some sort of magnetic coupling involved, but I soon dismissed that idea. Looking very closely at the screw heads and I could see that they were actually very slightly oval. So I had to buy yet another type of screwdriver to get them undone. I get the impression that these screws are unique to coffee machines. But WHY? I have come to the conclusion that every couple of years the “Worshipful Order of Screwdriver Manufacturers” (No doubt with an HQ in Geneva) have a meeting to work out yet another way to increase their members profits by introducing a new standard of screw heads. Anyone else come across this type of screw or any other oddity? Charlie. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Peter V W Posted March 25, 2021 Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 Charlie, Have a cup of tea instead. Regards Peter V W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted March 25, 2021 Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 Must admit I have never seen an oval headed screw. Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steves_TR6 Posted March 25, 2021 Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 Old Honda motorcycles have cross head bolts that are neither Phillips nor Pozi, they are Japan Industrial Standard ( JIS) many a restorer has bodged the original screws with an incorrect driver....... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D Posted March 25, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 (edited) Things are even worse than I thought. I just looked to see if there was a Wiki about screw heads and found this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_screw_drives It even includes a history of most of the designs. A geeks paradise. All those examples, and "Oval" isn't mentioned. 59 minutes ago, Peter V W said: Have a cup of tea instead. If it was for me, I'd say OK, unfortunately Mrs D. prefers thick black coffee without milk. Charlie Edited March 25, 2021 by Charlie D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ntc Posted March 25, 2021 Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 Try working on a American boat no screwdriver fits correctly Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted March 25, 2021 Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 2 hours ago, Charlie D said: Hello All, When I was a little bitty boy my granddad gave me cute little toy. No, it wasn’t “Silver bells hanging on a string” It was a screwdriver. I’m pretty certain that it was for simple straight, slotted screws. Wow… Now I could undo all the screws ever invented! (Or so I thought, at the age of 3.) Later on I discovered that some screw heads were called “Phillips”. Then some were called “Pozidrive” Along came socket headed screws (Needing an Allan key). Then Torks, And then… And then…… Oh, it just went on and on. You can probably double whatever the number was when you add in the “Security” versions of all the different heads. You know, the ones with a little pin in the centre, meaning that you have to go and buy yet another type of screwdriver to undo them. “Security” screw heads seem a bit pointless when you can go to a shop and buy a screwdriver to fit them. However, now at the age of 71 I finally thought that I had all the possible screwdrivers I could ever need. Then, last week, my wife asked me if I could fix a leak in the coffee machine. “Quite probably” I said, “I just need to take the covers off and take a look.” I turned the machine upside down, could see the screws, but was unable to see ANY sort of slot in them. They just appeared to be a round head on a round shoulder. All I could think of was that it must be some sort of magnetic coupling involved, but I soon dismissed that idea. Looking very closely at the screw heads and I could see that they were actually very slightly oval. So I had to buy yet another type of screwdriver to get them undone. I get the impression that these screws are unique to coffee machines. But WHY? I have come to the conclusion that every couple of years the “Worshipful Order of Screwdriver Manufacturers” (No doubt with an HQ in Geneva) have a meeting to work out yet another way to increase their members profits by introducing a new standard of screw heads. Anyone else come across this type of screw or any other oddity? Charlie. That looks as if something has broken off it. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
little jim Posted March 26, 2021 Report Share Posted March 26, 2021 You can relax. There's room for the vice grips to get in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deggers Posted March 26, 2021 Report Share Posted March 26, 2021 Had a similar problem with our Jura coffee machine, and found one of these. A "Jura proprietary oval head bit key service repair tool". (Trips off the tongue, doesn't it! ) Alternatively, sinch down on the screw head with the chuck of a power drill, and reverse it out. (Then replace with a set of regular Phillips) Cheers, Deggers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MilesA Posted March 26, 2021 Report Share Posted March 26, 2021 Its not just the range of screws and bolt heads but the lack of uniform use in the same environment. Removing the air feed and related gubbins to get at the battery in a Kuga, I think I counted 7 different sized screw / bolt heads! Miles Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D Posted March 26, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2021 6 hours ago, little jim said: You can relax. There's room for the vice grips to get in. 4 hours ago, Deggers said: Alternatively, sinch down on the screw head with the chuck of a power drill, Unfortunately the screws in question are at the bottom of a recess. I bet they designed it to make it as difficult as possible. 4 hours ago, Deggers said: A "Jura proprietary oval head bit key service repair tool". Ordered one the other day. £6. ish. But they do say it is made from "Best steel." Coming from Basingstoke. (Basingstoke, China I think.) Charlie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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