How it works · Accuracy & data
Know the screw. Skip the guesswork.
Place a screw against the visual outline, mark its edges, and compare it with a carefully sourced catalog. The result is a practical starting point—not engineering advice.
The identification flow
Start immediately. Add precision when you need it.
Measure four dimensions
Move two handles to each edge. Calibration improves physical accuracy, but estimate mode is always available.
Describe what you see
Choose simple visual traits. Specialist thread details remain optional.
Compare likely matches
Review ranked catalog records, dimensional differences, sources, and confidence.
Calibrate when useful
Match a real credit card or known length once and reuse that scale on the same display.
Measurement accuracy
CSS pixels do not have a guaranteed physical size. Display density, zoom, operating-system scaling, and browser behavior can all change apparent measurements. Without calibration, the workspace is clearly labelled as an estimate. Screw Identify saves one local pixels-per-millimetre calibration and warns when detectable display characteristics change.
Why calibration is manual
Browser information can describe the display context, but it cannot reliably tell whether a screen is physically 14 inches or 27 inches. Matching a real credit card or known length establishes that physical scale. Calibration is recommended, never required.
Catalog quality
The pilot separates verified records from examples and keeps source references with each variant. Unknown characteristics never become hidden assumptions.
Images and links
Reference images are stored locally and include source and licence metadata. External purchase links are non-affiliate, clearly marked, and may change after their verification date.
Screw identify chart
| Screw type | Distinguishing features | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|
| Wood screw | Pointed tip and coarse thread | Timber, furniture, and cabinetry |
| Machine screw | Uniform threaded body for a tapped hole or nut | Appliances, brackets, and machinery |
| Sheet-metal screw | Sharp screw that forms or cuts threads in thin material | Sheet metal, ducts, and light brackets |
| Drywall screw | Bugle-shaped head with coarse or fine thread | Drywall board attached to suitable framing |
| Socket-cap screw | Cylindrical head with a hexagonal recess; ISO 4762 examples | Tools, fixtures, and precision assemblies |
| Thumb screw | Enlarged grip for adjustment by hand | Covers, jigs, and adjustable fixtures |
Use this chart as a visual starting point, not a complete size list. These families are represented in the current catalog, but not every size, material, or head variation is available. Typical uses describe common applications; they do not establish load capacity or suitability for your project. Follow the linked references for further details.
Wood screw
- Distinguishing features
- Pointed tip and coarse thread
- Typical uses
- Timber, furniture, and cabinetry
Machine screw
- Distinguishing features
- Uniform threaded body for a tapped hole or nut
- Typical uses
- Appliances, brackets, and machinery
Sheet-metal screw
- Distinguishing features
- Sharp screw that forms or cuts threads in thin material
- Typical uses
- Sheet metal, ducts, and light brackets
Drywall screw
- Distinguishing features
- Bugle-shaped head with coarse or fine thread
- Typical uses
- Drywall board attached to suitable framing
Socket-cap screw
- Distinguishing features
- Cylindrical head with a hexagonal recess; ISO 4762 examples
- Typical uses
- Tools, fixtures, and precision assemblies
Thumb screw
- Distinguishing features
- Enlarged grip for adjustment by hand
- Typical uses
- Covers, jigs, and adjustable fixtures