Where do I get bit for this screw?

[Randall Clark]

I am trying to remove some 40 plus year old cabinets, and I at first thought that the screws needed were square head. Upon closer inspection, the screws appear to be a rectangular head bit to remove them. Have you ever heard of this? Where can I get one of these rectangular head bits?

[Ole Anderson]

Could you just file or grind an old flat blade screwdriver to the correct size?

[Larry Edgerton]

Check at a mobile home supply or RV dealer. They used a screw that was a bow tie shape and that is the only place I have been able to find them.

Larry

[brian c miller]

It's probably a Robertson Drive.



Colour
Screw types
Fraction
Range


Orange (#00)
No. 1 & 2
1/16 in.+
1.77–1.80 mm (0.070–0.071 in)


Yellow (#0)
No. 3 & 4
3/32 in.-
2.29–2.31 mm (0.090–0.091 in)


Green (#1)
No. 5, 6 & 7
7/64 in.+
2.82–2.86 mm (0.111–0.113 in)


Red (#2)
No. 8, 9 & 10
1/8 in.+
3.34–3.38 mm (0.131–0.133 in)


Black (#3)
No. 12 and larger
3/16 in.+
4.81–4.85 mm (0.189–0.191 in)

[Ole Anderson]

It's probably a Robertson Drive.



Colour

Screw types

Fraction

Range



Orange (#00)

No. 1 & 2

1/16 in.+

1.77–1.80 mm (0.070–0.071 in)



Yellow (#0)

No. 3 & 4

3/32 in.-

2.29–2.31 mm (0.090–0.091 in)



Green (#1)

No. 5, 6 & 7

7/64 in.+

2.82–2.86 mm (0.111–0.113 in)



Red (#2)

No. 8, 9 & 10

1/8 in.+

3.34–3.38 mm (0.131–0.133 in)



Black (#3)

No. 12 and larger

3/16 in.+

4.81–4.85 mm (0.189–0.191 in)





The OP stated they were not square.

[Peter Kelly]

http://www.mcmaster.com/#screwdriver-insert-bits/=hk51ro

If McMaster Carr doesn't have it, you'll need to grind your own one.

[Randall Clark]

Robertson drives seem to be square head. The ones I am seeing are rectangular.

[Ron Natalie]

I think OLE has the right answer and that was probably how they were installed to begin with.

[Rod Sheridan]

http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/Clutch_Head_Screw_Bits_p/vts-578.htm

do they look like the bits in the above link?.................Rod

[Randall Clark]

232406232407 Here is a picture of this screw. What screw head bit do I need?

[Steve Kohn]

What you're holding is not rectangular if I'm thinking correctly. The sides are slightly concave. I believe if you look for a security screw bit set you may find what you need.

[Ivan Wolder]

I a bought a socket from Snap-On several years ago that fits that type head,if I remember correctly it was a special socket for Chevy trucks.I have been looking for the socket in my tool box but I have not yet found it.If i find it I will pass on the part number.

[Jerrimy Snook]

Looks kind of like a clutch head.

[Mac McQuinn]

I have not seen these in a while although we use to call them cam drives. I believe I still have a driver for these which fits a 3/8" ratchet, I'll check.

Mac

[Van Huskey]

I have been watching this thread with absolutely no input just interested in where it was going to lead, but I have to ask, HOW in the world did these end up being where they were. Were the cabinets kitchen cabs or were they from something else?

[brian c miller]

I would concur with clutch / cam drive... I didn't read the OP very carefully and retract my Robertson comment.

[Joe Scarfo]

I would just cut them off... unless you have a future need for the screws...

Good Luck
Joe

[Ivan Wolder]

If the head protrudes cut a slot in it with a dremmel and use a regular screwdriver.
If all else fails,the bigger the problem the bigger the hammer.

[Matt Meiser]

My parents had a late 70's Starcraft camper when I was a kid that used lots of these. My dad had a screwdriver he got at the RV dealer for them.

Our late 2000's Starcraft camper did not have them. But maybe a dealer would still have a screwdriver in stock?

[Joe Angrisani]

If sourcing one at an RV place fails, a Snap-On truck should have a 3/8" drive socket that might work. In the automotive world, they are used to hold the shaft of a strut or shock while tightening the nut. The inside of the threaded portion of some strut inserts have that female shape.

[Larry Edgerton]

That screw is the same as used on travel trailors and some mobile homes. I had an Avion that had about two million of them. Should be a no brainer at a good RV repair place. Its not rectangular, its a bow tie shape and actually a very good head design.

Larry

[Mac McQuinn]

I checked the tool box and still have one; Mines a 3/8" drive Proto #5235, measures .233 at tallest point although I believe this is considered a "1/4" size driver, Seems like I picked it up around 35 years ago for working on Holley or Carter AFB Carburetors, not sure. If you want it, PM me a address and I'll send it to you.

Mac

[Kevin Groenke]

McMaster Carr (http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/118/2825/=hled8v)

232451

[Floyd Mah]

Find a spare hex key. There's always a bunch of them lying around my work bench. Use a grinder or file and reshape the end, or both ends, to be the same as your screw head. This should solve your problem.

[Randall Clark]

They are holding up my kitchen cabinets in a 38 year old modular home.

[Thomas Hotchkin]

Clutch head screw, GM used them it there truck line in the 1950's. IIRC there was three different size's of the clutch head screws used in GM equipment. Sears had 1/4" tips, for the full line of clutch head screw in stock in the 60's. One of the thousand of different machine screws designs used in the transportation industry. Maybe if you were in the US Air Force, and worked on KC135 and remember Boeing high-torque screws, or really lucky and work on KC10 with the Tri-wing screws. The one good thing is that we do not see them to much any more. I looked in my old tool box and still have a couple bits left, send me a PM with your address and you can have then all. Tom

[Myk Rian]

Looks kind of like a clutch head.
It is in fact a clutch head screw. Used in the RV and BUS industries.
It's getting very hard to find the bits for them, but they usually show up in kits with many types.
You might have to buy 50 bits to get a couple that will work.

[Rick Lizek]

It is in fact a clutch head screw. Used in the RV and BUS industries.
It's getting very hard to find the bits for them, but they usually show up in kits with many types.
You might have to buy 50 bits to get a couple that will work.

You can buy individual clutch head bits at Mcmaster and others. I can't believe how long these threads can go on even after the correct answer is given.

[phil harold]

They are holding up my kitchen cabinets in a 38 year old modular home.

Then they will be a clutch drive bit
modular homes / trailer homes used to use these all the time
I think you can still get the bits at a hardware store or Borg
I have seen them lately on the shelf



http://www.stanleysupplyservices.com/product-detail.aspx?pn=660-490

[johnny means]

You can buy individual clutch head bits at Mcmaster and others. I can't believe how long these threads can go on even after the correct answer is given.


Just doing my part to near this dead horse:D

[Matt Meiser]

Hey, its got a Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_screw_drives#Clutch


There are two types of clutch screw drives: type A and type G. Type A, also known as a standard clutch resembles a bow tie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_tie). These were common in GM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors) automobiles, trucks and buses of the 1940s and 1950s. Type G resembles a butterfly. This type of screw head is commonly used in the manufacture of mobile homes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_homes) and recreational vehicles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreational_vehicles).

And incidentally, so does "flogging a dead horse": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flogging_a_dead_horse

[Rod Sheridan]

See post #9.................Rod.

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi Van, clutch head screws were common in the forties/fifties and sixties. I had a bunch of screwdrivers that I finally threw away a couple of years ago as I hadn't needed them in 20 years.......Bits are still common from fastener suppliers........Rod.

[Myk Rian]

I can't believe how long these threads can go on even after the correct answer is given.
Hang around for 6-7 years and it'll get bumped.

[Scott Kuykendall]

Here is a set that had every bit you will probably ever need and it does have the one you are looking for.
http://www.harborfreight.com/100-piece-security-bit-set-91310.html
Scott

[Randall Clark]

Mac,
I am sorry, but the one you sent me is too big. It may be the right type, but it's too big. Thank you, it was a great gesture to send it. I'll send it back.

[Darren Ford]

Hang around for 6-7 years and it'll get bumped.

Calendar event set.



Seriously though, this thread was interesting to me. Anyone know the story behind this head design?