this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2026
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hmmm
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For things that are "hmmm".
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The Japanese says "plus driver", which is a better name than "phillips head screwdriver" imo.
Japan typically uses JIS over Phillips though, right?
Apparently not since 2008, when JIS B 1012 was replaced with ISO 7864, which specifies a more universal cross-head screw drive designed to function well with both Phillips and JIS drivers, alongside a move away from cross-head screws in favor of ISO flavored metric Allen cap screws or Torx bolts.
Then there's Pozidriv, because Europe had the exact same idea as the Japanese: "Let's create our own, better Phillips that won't work with Phillips drivers. I'm smart and am helping." Technically better for all the same reasons Torx is, while being easily confused for Phillips.
Meanwhile, Canada's had it solved from the beginning with the Robertson drive. "Hey ya hosers, just make yer screwdriver square on the end dere. It's like poutine, it's simple and yet pretty good, eh?"
https://xkcd.com/927/ :)
I think I was going for https://xkcd.com/1474/
It is said, "There's always an xkcd." But in fact, there are always multiple xkcds. :)
Yeah flat-bottomed polygons are the best. The ONLY exception is flatheads, which should only ever be used on surfaces prone to repainting, because you can scrape paint out pretty easily.
flat-bottomed polygons make the world go round?
I want to ride my tricycle
Hell, we call it something like "star head screwdriver" and still everyone knows what it means (no, don't bring up more than 4 apexes (apices)). Imagine moving to a random country and they recommend you to buy an Intel layout keyboard or a Sony audio socket.
Sorry, I'm gonna. Where I live if people call something star head they're talking about Torx.
Fair enough, that could also be seen as a star. By "everyone knows what it means" I meant people in my country - I didn't try to suggest everyone else would, as well. But either way, star head still narrows it down less poorly than Philips does (to people who don't immediately know).