This Awesome Free Tool Helps REPLACE LOST BOLTS AND NUTS!

Check Out Our FREE GUIDE: *25 Must-Have Carpentry Tools...Under $25 Each!*

Have you lost a BOLT, NUT or MACHINE SCREW around the house? This video from The Honest Carpenter will show you how to easily find a replacement using this FREE TOOL in hardware stores!

A THREAD CHECKER is a gauge tool that helps determine engineering details about nuts and bolts and machine screws. It's also called a NUT AND BOLT CHECKER, and a THREAD GAUGE.

The THREAD CHECKER acts as a patterned guide for testing various fasteners on it's nodes and receptacles.

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:
FOLLOW US ON LINKEDIN:

Be sure to check out our other helpful videos:
CHISEL VS. BIG SCREWDRIVER:
11 DRILLING TIPS AND TRICKS:
DIY WOOD REPAIRS WITH EPOXY GLUE:

THREAD CHECKER HOW-TO:

1) If possible, bring in a bolt or nut identical to the one that you're missing. It may be another one that comes from the same piece of furniture or equipment.

2) Try turning the bolt into the threaded nut receptacles on the thread checker. If it's a nut, try turning it onto the standing bolt nodes.

3) Don't twist too hard! The fastener should spin down easily without deforming the metal threads.

4)When you have a match, take note of the little numbers below the receptacle.

5) The first number is diameter--measured in either inch fractions, standard gauge numbers, or metric.

6) The second number is Threads Per Inch (for Standard) or Thread Pitch (for metric.

7) Find the nearby fastener bin that displays numbers in the ranges that you need. Match the number from the Thread Checker with the number on the container.

8) Also measure for length! You can either do this by eye, holding your fastener up to others, or use the ruler on the Thread Checker.

WHAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A FASTENER TO MATCH WITH?

--Consider bringing in the entire piece of equipment that lost the fastener (if it is small enough to carry). You can try threading fasteners into it on the hardware aisle.

--Or, get a variety of fasteners that you think might work, bring them home and test them. You can return ones that don't fit.

SCREWS VS. MACHINE SCREWS:

--Just remember that this thread checker works for bolts, nuts and MACHINE SCREWS!
--Machine screws are not the same as normal screws. This is why:

--Normal screws have a sharp, pointed tip--they can be driven into a material or surface using force.
--Bolts, nuts and machine screws need a counterpart to work.
--So, machine screws have a blunt tip, and work more like bolts.

Thanks for watching the video!!

Be sure to check out our consulting service at The Honest Carpenter website. We're helping homeowners all over the country get answers to their most important questions:

(Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Apex, Cary, Wake Forest--North Carolina)

[SANDRACOLON-zsni]

As a 65 year old woman loving my own construction work. I thank you kindly for your much needed information. May you receive countless blessings for helping an up to date old lady. Thank you kindly

[johnkelley]

I have seen the thread checkers in a number of stores and you are right, they are a big help. This was a great tutorial and I appreciate you posting it.

[zmondone]

Just got a Job at Ace Hardware and helping ppl find screws can seem daunting. Especially since I'm not a handyman of any kind. Trying to learn so I can be a better emplotee

[bonnieadams]

Just wanted to say thank you for these straightforward videos. I am using them in my introductory metals class, which saves me a ton of time. I do not assign or even recommend outside videos lightly for so many YouTubers in this area are too flashy and to time-consuming always going off on tangents. You do a good job, thanks. The teacher.

[pamboatwright]

Thank you so much. I'm female and trying to "learn" about nuts, bolts, screws. You mentioning thread count, thread pitch, diameter. These are things I am looking to learn!

[MM-iyxu]

Thank you! Thank you! Just had this experience last week! The lady at Home Depot gave me the short version of your expertise! This was more thorough but thank goodness for the Home Depot lady!!

[nscalera]

thanks. I had no idea what to do - was getting ready to epoxy the hole over and drill a new one - LOL. This is MUCH better.

[franciscowilcox]

Thank you very much for your good videos, you explain very good

[jimlongley]

I work at a Home Depot and one of many things that amazes me about HD shoppers is the vast number of them who totally ignore that tool, and the sign pointing the way to the restrooms.

Our thread checker suffers from the other dummies who decide to force their fastener into the device, destroying the threads and rendering the checker useless.

[mariesacul]

I had no idea. Didn't use to need this. Now I might.

[Nanospear]

Thanks for making the video, saves me the worry about buying one of every bolt in the hardware store just to fit a thermostat and housing. 👍

[kamching]

I appreciate the information, did not realize how much I did not know!

[catherinecarillo]

I have used it before, but I never knew how to "REALLY " use it . thank you so much

[maxximumb]

One tip if you can't take the item with the missing fastener with you, take a couple of photos of the hole, nut or bolt the missing fastener attached to, with a clearly marked ruler next to it. Then you have a good visual aid in the hardware aisle.
Another way is to buy a cheap digital caliper. You can easily measure diameters of holes or bolts. You can also measure the distance between the peaks of the thread. Write all the info down and take your calipers with you to the hardware store.
One note, if you are taking your own tools into a store, mark them with your name or initials, this can save an awkward conversation with a member of staff.

[_ikimasho]

I work at a hardware store. Sometimes folks bring in bolts that are in-between two different sizes. The thread gauge tool has been used so much that I think some sizes don't work anymore or manufacturers are making "some other, unknown spec"

[sleim]

My wife got one for me for Christmas:)

[haroldmorgan]

Very clear explanation, thank you!
I've always wondered why "lag bolts" are not called "lag screws" because they have a pointed end like a screw. Any ideas?

[uktony]

What a great idea, I wish we had these in the UK.

[YukonHawk]

Nicely done. Ask this old House just had an episode like this.

[joshhykes]

This is helpful. However, I've started buying variety packs of various fasteners. That way I can save the trip to store. It is more expensive up front, but being able to find the size I'm looking for without needing to run to the store really speeds up projects.