What are Tamper Screws?
What are Tamper Screws?
Tamper-resistant screws are designed to be difficult or impossible to remove. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the most common types and how they work.
Tamper-resistant screws are designed to prevent unauthorized removal or tampering. Their use has increased in recent years to deter theft, tamper with fixtures, and increasingly to prevent access to working parts of cell phones and other gadgets.
There are different levels of "tamper resistance". Some screws are strong enough to prevent accidental interference, while others are nearly impossible to remove without specific drivers. The "one-way" security screw is designed so that it cannot be unscrewed at all, making it ideal for permanent attachments that require no maintenance.
Some common tamper screw types are listed below:
Pin Hex head screws: Traditional hex head screws have a hex recess and are secured using a hex head or an Allen wrench. Hex pin screws use a similar drive, except that a pin is inserted in the middle. This means that these mounts require special tools to attach or remove, as traditional hex bits or similar won't work.
Pin TX Screw: Like the Pin Hex, the Pin TX has a pin inserted into a groove in the driver, most typically a 6-lobe or Torx® driver, but a more secure 5-lobe option is also available. These screws also require special tools to secure and remove.
Sentinel Screws: These are permanent fixtures with a unique drive design that only turns in one direction so they cannot be unscrewed. They can be mounted using crosshead or pozi drivers and are easy to install, making them suitable for high volume applications.
Clutch Head Security Screws: These screws work like Sentinel screws and can be installed with a standard flat-blade screwdriver. Also, once this screw is installed, it cannot be unscrewed, making it a permanent or one-way fixation.
2 hole or pig nose screws. These screws have 2 holes drilled into the head (looks like a pig's nose, hence the name) and requires a special drill to secure. This type of screw is primarily used where aesthetics are important.
