The Battle Of The Screws: Pozi Versus Torx
Pozi Versus Torx
I’m a convert - and no, I haven’t gone teetotal. I’ve simply switched allegiance from Pozidriv to Torx screws.
When I started woodwork years ago, I used traditional countersunk slotted screws like everyone else. They worked brilliantly by hand with a screwdriver that fitted the slot exactly. Even now, I use polished brass screws for hinges and visible joints. However, they’ve become harder to find, which is frustrating because local ironmongers once stocked them in abundance. Sadly, those days have gone.
The rise of rechargeable drill drivers ended the era of slotted screws. No matter how carefully they were used, bits slipped and gouged the work. To prevent this, Phillips screws appeared with a star‑shaped recess. They worked better but suffered from cam‑out because torque was applied axially, not radially. As pressure increased, bits slipped, and we all heard that dreaded “rat‑a‑tat” as screws refused to seat. Bits and screws were often ruined.
Pozidriv improved things slightly, yet cam‑out persisted. Both designs shared cone‑shaped recesses, which caused slippage. Clearly, a better solution was needed.
Then Torx arrived. Its star shape remained, but driving lands were made parallel to the screw shank. Torque was transmitted radially, so efficiency soared. Screws drove with less effort, and cam‑out almost disappeared. Care is still needed because screws can sink below the surface.
Enter the Torx
Final thoughts...
After years of nursing chewed bits and mangled screw heads, Torx has proved - quite literally - a better driving force. With parallel driving lands that transmit torque radially rather than axially, Torx screws seat positively, drive with less effort, and all but eliminate cam‑out. The result is cleaner heads, fewer slips, faster assembly, and a neater finish - so effortless, in fact, that you’ll want to watch your depth to avoid sinking below the surface. Pozidrive still has its place for legacy fixings and general jobs, but after putting Axminster’s WoodSpur Torx screws through their paces in the workshop, I’m a convert. If you’re tired of the rat‑a‑tat of a bit skating in those last few millimetres, make your next box of screws Torx - you may never look back.
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