Get to Know the 15 Most Important Types of Screw Heads and Their Uses
Generally, as their name implies, screw heads is the head or the top portion of a screw with the slot for the end of the screwdriver. They are present to allow for the driving and tightening of the screw using a tool. They likewise dictate what kind of tool needed, influencing how easily can the screw be fastened, thereby affecting the strength and longevity of the connection.
However, did you know that there are literally several types of screw heads? Officially, there are 15 various kinds of screw heads, and you will get to know them here.
1. Cap Heads
This screw head type is notable for its unmatched strength, making it a cornerstone in precision engineering and assembly. They are characterized by a cylindrical and flat top, paving the way for the application of a higher torque. Use them with hex sockets and Torx drives.
2. Button Heads
Meanwhile, button heads are incredibly versatile. Use them for hexagon sockets and Torx drives as well, for they got a very low-profile design and stand out for their aesthetic appeal.
You can easily spot one for its round and low-profile top, allowing it to blend with surfaces. It’s a balance of durability and look with this screw style.
3. Pan Heads
Versatility is a pan head’s middle name. Among the different kinds of screw heads, this one’s very versastile and are noted for their practical design. Its desig features a rounded top and a flat bearing surface beneath, letting the screw just sit above the surface of the material, offering a secure fastening in a clean way.
Use pan heads with a Phillips, slotted, and Torx drivers, perfect for a wide range of applications.
4. Countersunk Heads
Not as common as the previous kinds of screw heads enumerated here, but countersunk screw styles are engineered for instances where a smooth surface finish is duly essential.
A coutersunk screw head features a conical top that lets the screw sit flush with or underneath the surface of the material into a compatible tapped hole wih a countersink.
Use them with almost every kind of drive, such as Torx, socket, slotted, Phillips, and so much more, very compatible for your projects.
Galvanized Drill Tail Screw Metric Measurement Self Drilling Screws Countersunk Head Inside Plum Drill Tail Screw with Wing
More Details5. Raised Countersunk Heads
There are the countersunk screw styles, then there are the raised countersunk heads. As their name suggests, they combine the flush surface perks of the former with the aesthetics of a slightly protruding dome.
Their defining attribute is their smooth, tapered surface that moves toward a slightly rounded top. This design is perfect so it can sit almost flush with the surface while maintaining its appeal.
Use them with Pozi, Torx, Phillips, and slotted drives, combining aesthetics and function.
6. Hexagon Heads
Hexagon heads are among those types of screw heads used for heavy-duty machinery. They work best for this function because of their six-sided head, providing a firm grasp for those tools.
This design of theirs is compatible with wrenches and spanners, providing industries with a direct approach to assembly and maintenance. Use them for both industrial and residential settings. Very versatile.
Customized self drilling screws Din 7504 galvanized flat head drywall screws course thread
More Details7. Cheese Heads
Hilarious as they sound, but they’re here for some serious business. Cheese heads are named such because their shape resembles the wheel of a cheese, a head that mimics the shape of a disc, alongside a tapered outer edge and uber-flat top.
Use them with slotted drive types, offering the perfect balance between simplicity and applying it with torque. They are crafted to distribute loads evenly.
8. Fillister Heads
Fun and very functional, Fillister screw heads are characterized by their cylindrical layout. The gaps look like a cheese head, but this top area of theirs features a slightly domed curvature, offering both strength and versatility.
This design features a slotted drive as well, allowing for them to be used for higher torque applications, also capable of distributing load evenly.
9. Grubs (Headless)
Ironically speaking, grubs, grub screws, or set screws are actually headless. As one of the special types of screw heads here, these fasteners commonly feature an internal driving mechanism like a socket or Torx drive.
That said, their headless design makes them perfect for use with sitting flushes or those below the surface of the component they are fastened to. They are also ideal for precision engineering, specifically for securing parts without the need for too much force.
10. Carriage or Square Undercut Heads
You can easily visualize this screw head type for it being undercut. True enough, the head does not have gaps and is curved, designed for use with wood and metal assemblies.
Under the head slot is a square section with a square-shaped hole in the substrate, preventing the screw from turning while driven, which is functional for applications where access to tighten the bolt is very limited.
11. Mushroom or Truss Heads
This screw head type is like an undercut head, but with a gap or cut. They are recognized for their broader domed head, but low-profile, offering a bigger surface area than most other profiles.
This particular design allows them for the distribution of applied torque over a wider area, useful for situations where literally perfectly even load is needed.
With their low-profile dome, they facilitate a less intrusive finish on the assembled pieces, so you can smoothly use them with slotted or Phillips drives, also very versatile.
12. Eye or Hook Heads
Meanwhile, eye or hook heads are specialized fastener head styles. They feature a loop or hook at one end, ideal for attaching cables, wires, or other items needing support or the ability for hanging. They look like a magnifying glass, but instead of a glass, it’s a hole.
Also, these screws are usually threaded on the other end so they are secured into a tapped workpiece, otherwise fixed using nuts, offering a strong anchor point.
13. Hand Grip Heads
Hand grip heads are shaped like your Reese’s chocolate, seriously. With this unique design, they’re best for manual tightening and loosening, thanks to their textured or molded surface in the head area, providing a secure grip.
This layout also eliminates the need to use tools during installation and adjustment, making them compatible for applications that need quick and frequent modifications.
14. Flanged Heads
Flanged heads are modified from the designs of the other types, featuring a distinct design with a washer-like flange beneath the head, built-in. Thus, they provide a broader surface area for the distribution of load.
Use them and their design for various kinds of screw heads, such as pan, button, hexagon, and a whole lot more. With this screw head, you won’t need a separate washer, simplifying assembly and enhancing load in critical applications.
15. Captive Shafts
Lastly, captive shafts or screws are designed and engineered with a design that prevents them from getting fully removed from the a panel. This way, they are kept attached even when loosened.
With these features, captive screws can be used to prevent loss or misplacing during maintenance and assembly phases, making them highly functional in industries where component security and safety are number one.
Several schools of thoughts about screws and engineering may further add to this list, but these 15 types of screw heads are the most commonly and popularly used.
Our brand, CNRL, is here for a purpose. Headquartered in China, we serve the world with our industrial fasteners and precision parts. Established in 1996, we have managed to catapult ourselves and build a reputation to become award-winning in our niche. For more information, contact our team today.
