Weird screw

[PerranOak]

I found a weird screw but was chuffed to find that my screwdriver bit collection had a driver to match!

I undid one screw - perfect. I tried to undo another and one "leg" of the driver snapped - see photo.

Can a kind soul please tell me what these are called as I need to get the other screws out.

Cheers.

[wraper]

spanner head screw

[tunk]

Do a web search for this: security bit

[langwadt]

screw driver and angle grinder

[jpanhalt]

Is this what it looks like? (attachment)  It's really not that uncommon.  Various ways of making your own wrench for them too.

[PerranOak]

Thanks all.

The screw I have looks like the attached. Not the same but functionally similar I guess, jpanhalt.

Anyway, it's just that I didn't know what is was called; I've ordered some bits for my collection.

[Mechatrommer]

i'm sick of those security bits. if i dont find a driver for them, i'll bring my mini hand drill tool around and deduce them to a flat screw driven...

[james_s]

I don't know why they bother making up new types of security screw, each time a new one comes out it is practically no time at all before anyone can go buy a screwdriver that fits them. I usually manage to get them out by abusing various other tools, then replace them with standard screws.

[jpanhalt]

The one-way or tamper resistant screw, aka prison screw, is an example of a pretty simple device that is hard to remove.
https://www.mcmaster.com/tamperproof-screws/tamper-resistant-one-way-rounded-head-screws/

When the vandal trick of removing privacy barriers in toilets became popular, that type of screw became more common.  Hence, "prison screw,"  which is one place it is used.  (So, I have been told, but can't vouch for having seen one there.)

[james_s]

They're not that hard to remove, a file makes quick work of it, or if they are not countersunk you can just grip the edge of the head with vice grips.

[jpanhalt]

The voice of experience trumps my inexperience. 

[Mechatrommer]

I don't know why they bother making up new types of security screw

my latest encounter was when my wife's sister asked me to repair her MacBook, what an abomination!

[TimFox]

Probably the best choice for the proliferating security screws is to buy 1/4" hex driver bits as the new versions come out.

[Monkeh]

The one-way or tamper resistant screw, aka prison screw, is an example of a pretty simple device that is hard to remove.
https://www.mcmaster.com/tamperproof-screws/tamper-resistant-one-way-rounded-head-screws/

When the vandal trick of removing privacy barriers in toilets became popular, that type of screw became more common.  Hence, "prison screw,"  which is one place it is used.  (So, I have been told, but can't vouch for having seen one there.)

Generally those are so soft that a sharp bit and some pressure will back them out with no bother. Just treat it like a stupid phillips screw and they behave quite normally..

[eugene]

A Dremel with a cutoff wheel will turn those into ordinary flat blade screws.

[wraper]

A Dremel with a cutoff wheel will turn those into ordinary flat blade screws.

After you have already unscrewed them. But by that time you could just replace them by normal screws.

[AndyBeez]

I don't know why they bother making up new types of security screw, each time a new one comes out it is practically no time at all before anyone can go buy a screwdriver that fits them. I usually manage to get them out by abusing various other tools, then replace them with standard screws.

Agreed. Mobile phones are a jungle of freakish heads. A snowflake head? Please just stop.

I can understand why a designer specifies a torx with pin for medical kit, for example, but on my vacuum cleaner handle which contains zero parts inside? Maybe there is a production line reason for these oddities? The OP's weird screw, is all too common on mains products. Sometimes the head is two inches down a tube; which means the factory had a special tool just for that screw.

My nomination for most annoying profile goes to the triangular socket bolt head.
Why? Did it stop me gaining access to the inside of your product? Hell no.

If you want your products tamper proof, sonic weld them together.
Will that stop me gaining access to the inside of your product? Hell no.

[PerranOak]

Probably the best choice for the proliferating security screws is to buy 1/4" hex driver bits as the new versions come out.

I did this in the end!

[tooki]

I don't know why they bother making up new types of security screw, each time a new one comes out it is practically no time at all before anyone can go buy a screwdriver that fits them.

Yyyeah, but realistically, the point of security screws isn’t to flawlessly keep a determined person out.  It’s to prevent casual opening of the device. On things like power strips, it’s for safety. On seat belts, to make it harder for someone to defeat. And in mobile phones, to keep curious people from opening them and then causing severe damage. It makes sense to add a bit of a hurdle.

As for availability: with the internet it’s now easy to get them. But that wasn’t the case in the past, and even today you still have to know they exist, and what the one you need is called. For many people that’s enough of a hurdle to make them give up, and THAT is the point.

[james_s]

I don't know why they bother making up new types of security screw, each time a new one comes out it is practically no time at all before anyone can go buy a screwdriver that fits them.

Yyyeah, but realistically, the point of security screws isn’t to flawlessly keep a determined person out.  It’s to prevent casual opening of the device. On things like power strips, it’s for safety. On seat belts, to make it harder for someone to defeat. And in mobile phones, to keep curious people from opening them and then causing severe damage. It makes sense to add a bit of a hurdle.

As for availability: with the internet it’s now easy to get them. But that wasn’t the case in the past, and even today you still have to know they exist, and what the one you need is called. For many people that’s enough of a hurdle to make them give up, and THAT is the point.

I never found it to be much of a hurdle though. Many times I have opened something up by jamming some other screwdriver into the screw, or the tip of a knife or some other implement. I see no reason to provide hurdles to try and prevent curious people from breaking their own stuff. The more you try to idiot-proof something the better the idiots become.

[tooki]

Then you haven’t understood what I was trying to say. People like us are determined. But most people are not, and simply give up. Stopping them is the point. And I gave you two examples of very sound reasons for stopping casual device opening.

[PerranOak]

Update.

I got the bits and unscrewed the screws. On first use, one of the bits broke! They've gone back to Amazon. 

I'll just jam any old screwdriver in next time.

[tooki]

Next time buy quality bits. Good ones don’t do that.

[Mechatrommer]

or make one youself from a flat head screw driver and hand drill with sanding disc. flat head screw driver is much tougher or carbonized tempered or some sort. i usually found more luck by diy'ing instead of buying ready made shithunglow.