JIS Cross vs. Robertson
Comparing 2 standards across 11 specifications. 11 key differences identified.
JIS B 1012 is a Japanese Industrial Standard cruciform screw drive commonly found on Japanese motorcycles (Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki), cameras, and consumer electronics. Visually similar to Phillips, it features a shallower center pit and parallel 90-degree cross-wings engineered not to cam out, which easily strip when turned with standard Phillips screwdrivers.
The Robertson drive (Square socket / SCRULOX, standardized under ANSI Type III / CSA B35.4) is a 4-sided tapered square recess drive invented in Canada by P.L. Robertson, patented in 1906-07, with a 1908 manufacturing refinement (cold-forming the socket) that made it commercially viable. Known for its distinct tapered geometry that locks the screw onto the driver bit for one-handed operation, it is the dominant construction and electrical fastener across Canada.
Specification Comparison Table
11 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Cam-Out Tendency
|
Zero (Engineered to stay fully seated under high torque) | Near Zero (Straight square drive walls resist climbing) |
|
Standard Specification
|
JIS B 1012 (Cruciform cross-recessed screws) | — |
|
Visual Identification
|
A single small raised circular dimple or dot stamped into the head face | — |
|
Flank Geometry
|
Parallel cross walls with a flat, shallow bottom recess (no cam-out slope) | — |
|
Common Sizing Tiers
|
JIS #000, JIS #00, JIS #0, JIS #1, JIS #2, JIS #3 | — |
|
Primary Applications
|
Japanese motorcycles (engine cases, carburetors), Shimano bicycle components, Nikon/Canon cameras | — |
|
Standard Specifications
|
— | CSA B35.4 / ANSI Type III Square Recess / ASME B18.6.3 |
|
Drive Geometry
|
— | 4-sided square recess with a slight interior conical taper (approx. 3° taper) |
|
Self-Holding 'Stick-Fit'
|
— | Yes (Taper friction-locks screw onto driver bit for horizontal/overhead 1-handed driving) |
|
Color-Coded Sizing System
|
— | #00 Orange, #0 Yellow, #1 Green, #2 Red (dominant wood/deck size), #3 Black, #4 Brown |
|
Primary Geographic Usage
|
— | Universal in Canada (electrical/framing/decking) / Pocket-hole woodworking globally (Kreg) |