We’ve talked a lot in past blog articles about screw extracting pliers and why Vampire Tools’ VAMPLIERS are the best screw extractor. Today we’re stripping things back to basics and looking at everything you need to know about screws.

What is a Screw?

A screw is a type of fastener used to dig in and wedge into a material when turned. It is usually made of metal (e.g. steel) and has a helical ridge or external thread. Wood, plastic and sheet metal are typically fastened by screws.

At the most basic level, a screw is an inclined plane that has been wrapped around a small cylinder (a nail) and together this design is a cheap and strong way to attach items to each other.

Types of Screws

While we are all familiar with Flat Head Screws and Phillips Head Screws, these are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many, many types of screws and different screw heads used for different purposes. Different screw head types require different screwdrivers; fortunately, VAMPLIERS screw extracting pliers will work on any kind of screw that needs to be removed.

Types of screws available include:

  • Wood screws
  • Machine screws
  • Sheet metal screws
  • Thread-cutting machine screws
  • Hex bolts
  • Carriage bolts
  • Log bolts
  • Socket screws
  • Set screws
  • Mating screws
  • Eye bolts
  • …and many more

Screw Head types include:

  • Flat
  • Oval
  • Truss
  • Pan
  • Round
  • Hex
  • Button
  • Hex washer
  • …and more

Screw Drive types include:

  • Phillips/Frearson
  • Flat/Slotted
  • One-way
  • Square
  • Combination
  • Socked/Hex
  • Torx
  • Clutch
  • Fluted Socket
  • MorTorq
  • Tri-Wing
  • …and more

Fun Facts

  • Bolts and screws differ. A bolt is an externally threaded fastener. It is designed to be inserted through a hole and tightened/released with a nut. A screw is an externally threaded fastener that is inserted into a hole and forms its own thread (or mates with a preformed internal thread).
  • The exact history of the screw in antiquity is a mystery, but we do know that around 700B.C. the Assyrian King Sennacherib used a screw pump for the complex water systems of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and Nineveh.
  • By 100B.C. wooden screws were commonly used throughout the Mediterranean region in oil presses, wine presses, and other similar devices.
  • Metal screws for fastening first appeared in Europe in the 1400s.

Come back next week for more information on the types of screws and their purposes, as well as more interesting and fun facts about screws. In the meantime, make sure you have the best screw extractor from Vampire Tools.