[glynnw]

I have never used a Speakon connector so I went to the Neutrik site to make sure I was on the right track.  Their instructions say I must use a Pozidrive #1 bit to tighten the connectors for the 4 wires.  It says to not use a Phillips.  Looks to me like a Phillips will work.  I'd rather not delay this build while I try to find the correct Pozidrive  bit, which I will probably never use again.  What have others done in this situation?

[corndog71]

I use a small Phillips. 

[mlundy57]

I have never used a Speakon connector so I went to the Neutrik site to make sure I was on the right track.  Their instructions say I must use a Pozidrive #1 bit to tighten the connectors for the 4 wires.  It says to not use a Phillips.  Looks to me like a Phillips will work.  I'd rather not delay this build while I try to find the correct Pozidrive  bit, which I will probably never use again.  What have others done in this situation?

They're not that hard to find. Here's an Amazon link  http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW2069-1-Inch-Pozi-Drive-3-Piece/dp/B000BPF0G8/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1420775595&sr=1-1&keywords=Bit%2C+Pozidrive

Your local Lowe's, Home Depot or Dewalt repair center may have them.

This type of bit is also used some types of decking screws

[Captainhemo]

I just used a  high quality phillips as well, no issue

-jay

[HAL]

Just did a pair myself with a jewler's Phillips head screwdriver.  Worked well.

[Phil A]

I've done many using a Phillips head as well.

[stevenkelby]

Phillips is perfectly fine as long as you use the correct size.

[Peter J]

Phillips is perfectly fine as long as you use the correct size.

One can get a Phillips to turn a Pozi-drive and even vise versa, but there are significant differences between the two. For years I didn't know this and boogered more than a few screws because of it. A Pozi-drive screw is easily identified by the tick marks radiating from the crux of the X. Phillips never has these.



Treat yourself to something that works better. Easy to do now that you can get interchangeable tips like Mike posted.  Try it and see!

This copied from one of my supplier's web pages:

Pozidrive screws answer the Phillips shortcomings. The differences are subtle. At first glance it appears to be a Phillips, but on closer examination you'll notice a second set of cross-blades at the root of the large cross-blades. These added blades are for identification and match the additional makings on the head of Pozi-drive screws, known as "tick" marks. So, the marks are for identification.

Two features of the Pozidrive screw and driver combination make it unique, and superior to the Phillips. First, the tip or the Pozidrive driver is blunt, which also helps it to seat better into the recess in the screw, unlike the Phillips which comes to a sharper point. This becomes a problem as the tooling that forges the recess in the head of the screws begins to show signs of wear. The recess becomes more and more shallow, which means the driver will bottom-out too soon and will cause the driver to cam-out.

The second unique feature is the large blades on the driver have parallel faces, where the Phillips blades are tapered. The straight sides of the driver allow additional torque to be exerted without fear of cam-out.

Knowing this, we can see why a Phillips driver will have problems driving a screw with a Pozi-recess, as a Pozi-driver would have little luck driving a Phillips head screw. One more tip. In a pinch it is possible to drive Pozi-drive screws with a Phillips driver, but you will need to grind down the tip slightly, and expect some slipping to occur.

Take a look, which is the Pozi?




And there are three common sizes to both, #1 #2 and #3. #2 being the most prevalent. I've encountered more #1 on audio gear than anywhere else.

All that FWIW 

[mcgsxr]

Replace it all with robertson and be happy!

[stevenkelby]

Thanks Peter, all good points and true, but with a Speakon connector, a Wiha #1 Phillips will strip the thread before it cams out, nothing to be gained from a Pozi driver there.

In other applications you're right of course, a Pozi is the "correct" tool for a Pozi, but in #1 size especially, a Phillips is fine IMO. In #3 size with high torque, I would only use a Pozi for a Pozi

My point is, if you have a good #1 Phillips, you don't need to buy a #1 Pozi, at least, not for Speakons.

[Peter J]

Thanks Peter, all good points and true, but with a Speakon connector, a Wiha #1 Phillips will strip the thread before it cams out, nothing to be gained from a Pozi driver there.

In other applications you're right of course, a Pozi is the "correct" tool for a Pozi, but in #1 size especially, a Phillips is fine IMO. In #3 size with high torque, I would only use a Pozi for a Pozi

My point is, if you have a good #1 Phillips, you don't need to buy a #1 Pozi, at least, not for Speakons.

My apologies, Steven. I wasn't targeting your post even though I quoted you. It was more of a general info post. Perhaps because I was in the dark for long time. And I don't have any experience with Speakons, so I'll bow to yours.

And to mcgsxr; spoken like a true Canadian. My understanding is that Robertson was developed in Canada or maybe adopted more fully there. Gees, one can still easily buy slotted heads around here, even though they suck in comparison to anything else!

[stevenkelby]

No need to apologies Peter, your post was great and informative!

I also like Robertsons, they stay stuck on the bit as you put them in place, great for building a pergola etc.

[srb]

My point is, if you have a good #1 Phillips, you don't need to buy a #1 Pozi, at least, not for Speakons.

If you don't have a high quality #1 Phillips, many of the very cheaply made ones seem to suffer from too sharp of a point and can usually benefit from flattening the tip a bit with a file.

Steve

[glynnw]

Thanks to all for responding.  I will use a jewelers phillips and go slowly.  If I screw up  and damage the connectors, I'll replace them with the solder type and move on.   

[Captainhemo]

Replace it all with robertson and be happy!

Amen 

-jay

[mlundy57]

Amen 

-jay

I always called them square drives. Never knew they had another name.

Mike

[glynnw]

I have already built the cabinet using all square drive screws from McFeely's.  Is the Robertson just a square drive?

[srb]

Is the Robertson just a square drive?

Yes, and the taper on the bit and recess wedges in and holds the screw on the end of the driver nicely without need for a magnet.

Steve

[Hank]

Agree - I've been using square drives (from McFeely's) for years on all my drivers.

[Captainhemo]

Kind of an interestin story behind the Robertson
http://www.robertsonscrew.com/history.html

-jay