Screw Types & Sizes

I remember the first time I bought a pair of screw-back earrings online. They looked amazing in the photos, the kind of statement piece I thought would really tie my look together. But when they arrived, and I tried to screw the backs on, it was like wrestling with a tiny, stubborn gremlin. They either … Read more

I remember the first time I bought a set of interchangeable knitting needles. I was so excited, thinking I was upgrading my entire knitting game. Then, disaster struck. I tried to swap out a needle tip, and it just… wouldn’t screw in. At all. It felt like I’d bought the wrong size something, but they … Read more

I remember building my first cedar deck. I was so excited, picturing myself lounging on it with a cold drink. Then came the screws. I grabbed what looked good at the hardware store – shiny, coated, and seemingly solid. Fast forward a year, and I was staring at rust streaks bleeding down my beautiful cedar … Read more

I’ve spent more time than I care to admit wrestling with anchors and screws, trying to hang shelves that felt like they’d defy gravity. There’s always that moment of doubt, staring at a bag of fasteners and wondering, ‘Will this actually work?’ One question that pops up way more often than you’d think is: are … Read more

I remember the first time I wrestled with a plumbing project that went south. It wasn’t the pipes themselves, but the fiddly bits – the valves. Specifically, I was trying to sort out an old industrial shed’s water system, and I stumbled across this thing called an ‘a and kb type screwed diaphragm valve’. It … Read more

I remember the first time my favorite reading glasses decided to spontaneously combust – or at least, that’s how it felt. One side hinge went loose, wobbling like a drunk sailor. My first thought was, ‘Easy fix, I’ll just grab a tiny screw from that generic multi-tool kit I bought last year.’ Spoiler alert: it … Read more

I remember the first deck I ever built. Fresh out of my apprenticeship, brimming with confidence and a brand new miter saw. I wanted it to look perfect. So, I splurged on those fancy camo deck screws, thinking the color would just disappear into the wood. Big mistake. What a waste of money that was. … Read more

I used to think that every screw I grabbed from a random jar was basically the same. Slap it in, give it a spin, and hope for the best. I’ve learned the hard way that assumption can cost you time, stripped screw heads, and materials that end up looking like they survived a badger attack. … Read more

I remember the first time I tried to replace a burnt-out bulb in my old shop lamp. Grabbed what I thought was a standard bulb from the garage, twisted it in, flipped the switch, and… nothing. Just a sad, dead click. Turns out, not all screw bulbs are the same size, a fact that cost … Read more

I remember the first time I really needed a specific screw, not just ‘a screw’. I was building a custom shelf for my workshop, and the plans called for M4 machine screws. Easy enough, right? I grabbed a handful from the assorted bin, thinking, ‘how different can they be?’ Turns out, a whole lot more … Read more

I remember staring at that tiny screw, practically invisible, that had popped out of my favorite pair of glasses. Panic set in. I rummaged through my dad’s old toolbox, a veritable graveyard of orphaned fasteners, convinced I’d find a perfect match. I didn’t. Not even close. It made me wonder: are all eyeglass frame screws … Read more

I remember the first time I decided to rebuild a carburetor on my old dirt bike. Seemed simple enough, right? A few screws, a bit of cleaning, new gaskets, and bam, back in business. Except, that is, when I got to the tiny little o-rings that seal the air-fuel mixture screws. I figured, ‘they’re all … Read more

I remember the first time I tried to hang a heavy mirror. I grabbed what I thought was a decent wood screw, black finish and all, from the bottom of my toolbox. It looked the part, sure. But when I started driving it in, it just… spun. Then it snapped. Took me three tries and … Read more

I remember staring at a pile of fasteners one afternoon, trying to hang a ridiculously heavy mirror. The instructions called for a ‘1/4 inch lag screw,’ and I grabbed what I thought was that. Turns out, I’d grabbed a standard machine screw. The mirror ended up on the floor (thankfully, it didn’t shatter) and my … Read more

I remember the first time I realized just how much tiny hardware can screw up a project. I was trying to reattach a delicate bracket on an old radio I was restoring, and I needed something small, something precise. I grabbed a handful of what I thought were the right screws, but none of them … Read more

I swear, the last time I tried to fix my reading glasses, it felt like I was performing microsurgery with a butter knife. I needed a tiny screw, and what did I have? A handful of assorted screws I’d scavenged from old electronics, none of which were even close. It’s a common frustration. You drop … Read more

I remember the first time I tried to bleed my brakes. Felt like a rite of passage for any DIYer with a wrench. I’d read all the forums, watched the YouTube videos – seemed simple enough. Get a buddy, pump the pedal, open the screw, close the screw. Easy peasy. Until it wasn’t. I grabbed … Read more

I remember the first time I needed a tiny screw for a delicate project. I grabbed a handful from my miscellaneous jar, confident one would fit. Spoiler alert: none of them did. It was a frustrating lesson in specificity. You’d think something as simple as a 4-40 x 1/2 machine screw would be straightforward, but … Read more

I remember staring at a wall of screws at the hardware store, feeling utterly bamboozled. They all looked the same, but the guy behind the counter insisted there was a world of difference. He was right, of course, but the initial sticker shock and sheer variety made me question everything. Especially when I just needed … Read more

I remember the first time I stripped a Torx screw. It was a T20, naturally, on a cheap piece of furniture I was trying to assemble. Frustration boiled over as I wrestled with a tool that just wouldn’t bite. This whole ordeal got me thinking: are all Torx T20 screws the same size? The short … Read more