This is a bit of a pet peeve of mine - it’s designed purely for automation. That’s why it’s tapered, to allow power tools to slip out before they break. That’s good for automation in the *1930s (EDIT: I’ve realised that in a few years it will be the 30s again and maybe I shouldn’t leave this so ambiguous in light of that), not so good for hand tools or any modern tool with a torque limiter.
You’re much better off with hex or torx, or even the square driver, which is much more tolerant of imperfect handheld tool usage.
The only reason phillips is still used is because it’s ubiquitous, it’s very much a historical oddity. It’s okay for many tasks but unfortunately the slipping out behaviour can destroy the screws very quickly.
I mean it’s conceivable they’d come up with something similar, and it would be weird to expect a props department to find different screw heads just to be lore accurate.
Edit: Plus it’s common today, which means from a prop design standpoint it communicates the idea that it’s hand-built, because just about everyone has a phillips head screwdriver, so seeing it tells you it’s something you can work on. I think that’s the main reason it would be there. Jedi are supposed to make their own lightsabers.
Fair enough, I’m talking about big H5 construction screws and impact drivers, so a different use case maybe. Also it turns out when ARRMA uses too much threadlock on their axle set screws you can strip them really easily, and I needed more expensive special hex drivers with tight tolerances to work with them.
This is a bit of a pet peeve of mine - it’s designed purely for automation. That’s why it’s tapered, to allow power tools to slip out before they break. That’s good for automation in the *1930s (EDIT: I’ve realised that in a few years it will be the 30s again and maybe I shouldn’t leave this so ambiguous in light of that), not so good for hand tools or any modern tool with a torque limiter.
You’re much better off with hex or torx, or even the square driver, which is much more tolerant of imperfect handheld tool usage.
The only reason phillips is still used is because it’s ubiquitous, it’s very much a historical oddity. It’s okay for many tasks but unfortunately the slipping out behaviour can destroy the screws very quickly.
https://www.ifixit.com/News/9903/bit-history-the-phillips
I mean it’s conceivable they’d come up with something similar, and it would be weird to expect a props department to find different screw heads just to be lore accurate.
Edit: Plus it’s common today, which means from a prop design standpoint it communicates the idea that it’s hand-built, because just about everyone has a phillips head screwdriver, so seeing it tells you it’s something you can work on. I think that’s the main reason it would be there. Jedi are supposed to make their own lightsabers.
A good balled hex driver is such a joy to use. Somewhat align it with the screw, and you can use it at weird angle.
I prefer to only use them when I can’t get alignment. They’re far more likely to round out the head in my experience, but they have their uses.
Maybe I didn’t use them enough yet, but I bought some Wiha balled hex driver and I haven’t stripped a screw yet, and I use cheap screws.
I also had to dismantle my 3d printer hot end with a lot of weirdly placed screws and it wasn’t even an issue.
Fair enough, I’m talking about big H5 construction screws and impact drivers, so a different use case maybe. Also it turns out when ARRMA uses too much threadlock on their axle set screws you can strip them really easily, and I needed more expensive special hex drivers with tight tolerances to work with them.