Types of security screws | What are they, where are they used and which screws are the best?

It is becoming more and more common to see advertising screens, elevators or lighting systems on the streets to make our daily lives easier. But we are sure that you will ask yourself, how do we ensure that all these systems are not manipulated or even stolen? This is largely achieved thanks to a growing variety of screw heads called security screws or also frequently known as tamper-proof screws.

What is a security screw?

Security screws are screws specially designed for public environments where street action or vandalism can be a problem and require extra protection for their safety. This extra protection is achieved thanks to the special shape of the heads of these screws. To do this, if we want to assemble or disassemble these screws, we will need a special tool for each case. Making a comparison, we can say that it would be like using a flat screwdriver with a PH head; we could move the screw a little, but we all know that it is not the ideal tool.

How do you use a tamper-proof screw?

To use tamper-proof screws correctly, we will need the correct screwdriver bit for the head of each screw and a bit-holder handle to fit the bit. Once we have the correct screwdriver bit, we simply need to remove the screw.

Where are security or anti-theft screws used?

Security screws are frequently used in public spaces such as subways, elevators, and street lighting systems. But we can not only find these screws in public spaces, we can also find this type of anti-theft screws in the rims of our cars or even in electronic devices so that we cannot make modifications to them as we wish.

Which tamper-evident or security screws are best?

With security screws we cannot say whether there are better or worse screws, it will depend on the use and the place where we are going to install it, but we can say that the best security screw is one that can only be manipulated by one person, in this way no one will be able to access it.

Types of security screws

In the market we can find a wide variety of security screws of all sizes and shapes, but those mentioned in the following list are the most common:

TX tamper

TX tamper screws, also known as TX tamper-proof screws, are a very common type of screw and, although they are vandal-proof screws, they are screws that can be found fairly easily. Within the Bianditz range of security bits, we can find TX tamper screwdriver bits ranging from sizes T10 to T40.

TX TTAP

TX TTAP security head screws are very similar to TX tamper screws as the base of both is TX screws, but unlike tamper screws, which have a central piece facing outwards, TX TTAP screws have a kind of protruding central piece with a hole in the middle which makes them even more tamper-proof when used in anti-vandal systems. Within the range of TX TTAP security screwdrivers from Bianditz we can find sizes ranging from TT-10 to TT-30.

TX pentalobe

TX pentalobe screw heads are characterised by their 5-point star-shaped head and a central piece that gives them extra security, making them vandal-proof. In the Bianditz bit range we can find a series of TX pentalobe security bits ranging in size from IRP-10 to IRP-40.

Hexagonal security

Hexagon head screws are commonly known in the screw industry, but in this case an extra point of security is added, thanks to the central pin that this anti-theft screw head has. In the Bianditz catalog of bits for hexagonal security screws we can find the following references: Hex.3, Hex.4, Hex.5 and Hex.6.

T.Set extra

The heads of the T.set extra screws initially have a shape similar to the PH screw, but as we can see in the image, the slots are eccentric. This is why T.set screws are very interesting anti-vandal screws. Within the range of Bianditz T.set security screws, we can find sizes ranging from T.set 2 to T.set 10.

T.wing extra

T-wing security screws are a type of security screw with a somewhat peculiar shape. Although we are not going to handle this type of head very often, we can find it in electronic devices such as the Nintendo Wii. Within the range of Bianditz screwdriver bits, we can find sizes of the T.wing model ranging from 1 to 6.

Spanner extra

Spanner head screws or screws with 2 holes are another type of screw that we can easily recognize by their peculiar two-hole shape. This type of screw head is used in electronic devices, providing extra security due to their difficult handling. Within the Bianditz spanner bit catalog, we can find bits ranging from sizes Sp4 to SP10.

Tamper-proof Torx keys

Tamper-proof TX or Torx keys are an important tool if we want to remove a security screw. The use of this tip is widespread within the range of security screws and it is therefore advisable to use this tool if we are dedicated to manipulating tamper-proof screws.

Tamper-proof hex keys

How to remove tamper-proof screw?

If our intention is to remove a previously installed tamper-proof screw, we will undoubtedly have to use one of the tools with the screwdriver tips we have mentioned. In this way, the job of removing the tamper-proof screw will be faster and we will save a lot of time and money. Basically, with one of the bits and a bit-holder handle we can do this job without complications. As experts in the world of tightening, Bianditz offers a wide range of security bits that adapt to the needs of each client. If you have a specific type of head and need a custom-made bit, do not hesitate to contact our professional team.