Stainless Steel Cheese Head Slotted Screw

1) What is a cheese head slotted screw & when should you use it?

A cheese head slotted screw is a cylindrical, tall head screw with a straight (slotted) drive. Compared to pan/round heads it has:

A tall, straight-sided cylindrical head

A flat top with a single slot

Smaller head diameter than pan, but greater head height

Use a cheese head slotted screw when you need:

A high head that is easy to grip and turn with a screwdriver or by hand (for assembly/adjustment)

A compact head diameter that doesn’t interfere with surrounding parts

A more “classic” or traditional look for old machinery, restoration work, panels, instruments, etc.

Typical applications:

Electrical and control panels

Instruments, meters, machine covers

Older machines / restoration / retro-fit work

Jigs, fixtures and clamps needing a tall head for access

2) Head style – why cheese head instead of pan / CSK / hex?

Cheese head (your product):

Tall cylindrical head, small-ish diameter

Easy to access in recessed areas where a wider head would clash

Suitable where head height is available, but head diameter must be limited

Pan / round head:

Lower, dome/pan-shaped with wider head diameter

Better for spreading load on thin sheet without washer

More modern appearance, but larger diameter may clash with nearby walls/slots

Countersunk (CSK):

Conical head, sits flush with the surface

Best where the surface must be flat, but requires a countersunk hole

Hex / Allen cap:

For higher strength and torque with wrench/Allen key drive

Used where strong tightening is more important than traditional slotted appearance

Choose cheese head slotted when:

You want a tall, visible head for screwdriver access

There is limited space around the head but enough space above

The design calls for traditional slotted screws (electrical/instrumentation, retro/industrial look)

3) Drive type – slotted head selection

Slotted drive:

Single straight slot across the top

Can be driven with a normal flat screwdriver

Common in panels, terminals, electrical & older industrial equipment

Pros:

Very universal tool availability

Classic appearance

Cons:

More prone to cam-out (screwdriver slipping) than Phillips/Pozi/Allen

Less suitable for very high torque or power-driver assembly

For your catalogue, cheese head slotted screws are ideal where:

Assemblies are hand-assembled or serviced manually

Torque is moderate, not extreme

A traditional, simple head is desired

Mechanical Properties (Guide) – Cheese Head Slotted Screw. The mechanical strength is governed by the material grade and thread diameter, not by the head style alone. The cheese head and slotted drive mainly limit the practical tightening torque.

Stainless Steel Cheese Head Screws (A2 / A4)

Typical minimum properties:

A2-70 / A4-70

Tensile strength ≈ 700 MPa

Proof strength ≈ 450 MPa

A4-80 (where available)

Tensile strength ≈ 800 MPa

Proof strength ≈ 600 MPa

Behaviour:

Good combination of strength + corrosion resistance.

Ideal for stainless panels, covers, equipment housings, clamps and fixtures.

Stainless threads are more prone to galling if assembled into stainless nuts/inserts – use:

Anti-seize / thread lubricant,

Metric coarse threads,

Controlled tightening.