# Mysterious "No Loosen" screws **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 8, 2001, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-no-loosen-screws/68081 "2001-06-08T17:48:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-no-loosen-screws/68081/1 "2001-06-08T17:48:55Z")
The last time I was in a public restroom I noticed that the stalls were held together with screws that had heads fashioned so that they could be tightened, but not loosened (presumably to prevent vandals with Swiss Army Knives from removing them). I’ve been obsessing over them all morning now. What are these nifty screws called? Is there a special tool involved when you do have to remove them? I originally thought maybe you could use a wrench on the head’s edges, but then I saw they were recessed into their fittings, so that’s not possible. [Here’s a quick representation of one](http://www.fathom.org/inky/screw.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-no-loosen-screws/68081/2 "2001-06-08T18:05:11Z")
I wish there was some fancy name for them, but I’ve only seen them referred to as “vandal resistant screws”. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-no-loosen-screws/68081/3 "2001-06-08T18:09:29Z")
They’re called security screws. FYI, I started a thread on this subject (re: why use them in bathrooms, not what they’re called) about six months ago in GQ. Search for that thread and you’re likely to learn all you want to know. Happy huntin’. ---
**Author:** ![Threadkiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@Threadkiller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Threadkiller)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-no-loosen-screws/68081/4 "2001-06-08T18:38:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stuyguy \* > They’re called security screws. > > FYI, I started a thread on this subject (re: why use them in bathrooms, not what they’re called) about six months ago in GQ. Search for that thread and you’re likely to learn all you want to know. Happy huntin’. [Why do they use security screws on public rest room stall partitions?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=47163) ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-no-loosen-screws/68081/5 "2001-06-09T00:24:07Z")
Which brings up the question: How does one go about removing them for legitimate purposes? (say, if the panel has to be replaced) ---
**Author:** ![pmh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@pmh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pmh)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-no-loosen-screws/68081/6 "2001-06-09T00:48:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gunslinger \* > **Which brings up the question: How does one go about removing them for legitimate purposes? (say, if the panel has to be replaced)** There is, in fact, a special tool for them. It’s like a screwdriver, but instead of a normal blade, it has two small cylindrical projections. lame attempt at ASCII art representation: ```auto ----------------- |] | |] ----------------- ``` this would look better single-spaced. Since the material the screws are made from is softer than the tool material, the projections dig into the screw heads and allow them to be removed. If you look closely at one that has been re-used, you will see small, crescent shaped indentations in the “sloped” area of the head. ---
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mysterious-no-loosen-screws/68081/7 "2001-06-09T05:31:09Z")
Thanks all. “Security screws” huh. Well, you learn something new every day. And what’s more, now I have something new to distract myself with while I’m trying to “get the stream flowing” (instead of thinking about the molecular structure of grout).