# Worst use of a tamper-proof screw **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 26, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829 "2005-11-26T19:43:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/1 "2005-11-26T19:43:12Z")
I have a space heater that recently met an unfortunate end (It was up on my bed as I was sweeping, it fell, the fan stopped working). Naturally, since I was raised by an engineer and having nothing else to do, I had to take it apart and take a look around. On the back panel of the casing there was a little rectangular hatch, held closed by one of those tamper-resistant screws, the type with a little triangle as the slot. Obviously, I had to see what could possibly be so important in a space heater that they didn’t want to risk us seeing it. My attempts at undoing the screw failed, and, after a few attempts, I just gave up and pried the little panel open with the blade of my pocket knife. Inside was… nothing. Absolutely nothing. It’s just this little empty plastic space. If the heater ran on two double-A batteries, it would be just about the right size for them. Only…there is absolutely nothing in there. No electronic components, no secret treasure, no maps to secret treasure…nada. Zip. Nothing whatsoever. I’m hugely disappointed by this, and therefore, felt that it was nessecary to share. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/2 "2005-11-26T19:45:07Z")
Maybe that’s where they store the magic smoke. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/3 "2005-11-26T21:21:58Z")
When you took the screw out, did your butt fall off? I hear that can happen sometimes when you take out screws you’re not supposed to. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/4 "2005-11-26T21:25:26Z")
Perhaps another model of heater uses the same chassis and has a thermostat or a tilt switch there. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/5 "2005-11-26T21:28:48Z")
I read the thread title as **Tampon** proof screw! ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/6 "2005-11-26T21:45:21Z")
> [@Dolores Reborn](#): > > I read the thread title as **Tampon** proof screw! Since I’ve never tried one for hardware removal, I can’t claim that one wouldn’t work-but if they did, there would be Craftsman brand tampons at your local Sears. ---
**Author:** ![VegaBean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ee7513/32.png) [@VegaBean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VegaBean)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/7 "2005-11-26T21:45:50Z")
I’m glad there wasn’t an ordinary screw there. Then you would have written a less interesting plaint. (Oh, yess, I’m sure you would have written one. It’s written all over you) I’ll share with you a similar story. We have a commercial washer in the building with a whining belt that I wanted to fix. And there was a special lock with a circular key to open the lid. I went to everyone to locate the key but nobody had it. So, I had to give up and call a repair man. When he was done I asked how he got past the lock. He said "Oh, that was a decoy. Just there to keep idle hands who tend to steal anything that’s not lock down. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/8 "2005-11-26T21:50:23Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > …there would be Craftsman brand tampons at your local Sears. Then they would have a lifetime guarantee! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/9 "2005-11-26T22:00:25Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > Inside was… > > nothing. Haven’t you ever heard of Pandora’s box? Maybe this was Pandora’s space heater. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/10 "2005-11-26T22:06:51Z")
> [@Campion](#): > > Haven’t you ever heard of Pandora’s box? Maybe this was Pandora’s space heater. Does Pandora’s Box use Craftsman tampons? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/11 "2005-11-26T22:12:14Z")
Was it manufactured by Geraldo Rivera? ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/12 "2005-11-26T22:13:33Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Does Pandora’s Box use Craftsman tampons? Traditionally, Pandora’s box contained all of the world’s ills, plus hope (the only thing left when stupid Pandora slammed the lid back down). So perhaps yes. And if you were using “Box” in the wicked sense, delicate flower of femininity that I am, I have no idea what you’re talking about. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/13 "2005-11-26T22:16:00Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Does Pandora’s Box use Craftsman tampons? And if so, would that provide a tamper-proof screw? Sorry, once you get started, it’s hard to stop. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/14 "2005-11-26T22:29:12Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > I’m hugely disappointed by this, and therefore, felt that it was nessecary to share. Sharing is good. That’s what we’re here for. You are enriched by it. In all seriousness – in contrast to my earlier posts – it occurred to me that the heater might be put together with only one kind of screw, and it would have been a greater manufacturing cost to use two kinds even tho the tamper-proof variety wasn’t necessary in all holes. The repairability of many cheap devices is rarely a manufacturing concern, but the cost of assembly, even a penny more per unit, is. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/15 "2005-11-26T22:50:50Z")
> [@Campion](#): > > Traditionally, Pandora’s box contained all of the world’s ills, plus hope (the only thing left when stupid Pandora slammed the lid back down). So perhaps yes. Hey, that’s the only reason we still have hope around today, buster. 😛 (Sorry, just can’t see a fellow ancient Greek babe slighted, you know how it is…) ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/16 "2005-11-27T08:12:07Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Does Pandora’s Box use Craftsman tampons? I’ve only chatted with **Pandora** a few times and our conversations haven’t encompassed those personal matters. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/17 "2005-11-27T14:17:37Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > On the back panel of the casing there was a little rectangular hatch, held closed by one of those tamper-resistant screws, the type with a little triangle as the slot…My attempts at undoing the screw failed, and, after a few attempts, I just gave up and pried the little panel open with the blade of my pocket knife. Shoulda called me. I have a triangular drive wrench. I made it out of an Allen wrench using my Dremel and a grinding bit in order to open up a McDonald’s toy that needed a battery change. Dunno why they decided the battery inside a stupid little toy needed such a level of security, but there you have it. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/18 "2005-11-27T14:34:13Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Dunno why they decided the battery inside a stupid little toy needed such a level of security… Because it was intended for children? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/19 "2005-11-27T15:14:54Z")
I was unable to purchase tamper proof screws yesterday. I tried Canadian Tire and Home Depot. I guess they are classified and restricted, so a pleb like me can’t get my hands on any and cause unknown amounts of mayhem. (Yah, I know that the reason they don’t carry them is lack of demand, for one brief moment, I had the makings of a conspiracy. Rather than visit a fastener supply, I’m just going to use regular screws and then grind them). ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829/20 "2005-11-27T18:57:19Z")
Update: We got the first snowfall of the year last night (and I say _fnally!_, about friggin’ time!) There’s still about two inches on the ground. Obviously, the little Secret Compartment on the back of my space heater was holding all the snow. I only bought it (well inherited it, but that’s a Long Convoluted Story in and of itself) last year _after_ snow had started falling. For a brief moment yesterday, I was a weather goddess. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-use-of-a-tamper-proof-screw/332829.md?page=2)