Screws may be commonplace, but that doesn't mean they're simple. A screw is any shaft with a corkscrew groove carved around its surface and, regardless of their design, screws are usually used to ...

Which is why I keep the Phillips head. In a life full of things designed to make life faster and easier, this small act of friction feels like resistance. It insists that time deserves my attention.

If you've ever mistakenly grabbed the Phillips head screwdriver when you needed a flat head, you've probably asked yourself why there are different types of screws. Let's start at the beginning. The ...