Find the Right Replacement Nut or Bolt via Photo Using Amazon’s Part Finder – Info Tips and Tricks

I moved late last year, which involved taking apart and later putting back together a decent amount of furniture. Consequently, that also led to a few “Where did the other one of these screws go?” moments.

It seems like the more important a nut, bolt, or washer is, the more likely it is that you’re going to lose it, even if you did meticulous put each of the screws in a special, labeled bag when you took the item in question apart. Or strip it when you’re taking your item apart or failing at putting it back together.

My solution to this in the past has been to just take one of the matching parts to the hardware store and ask some poor soul to help me find a replacement. Earlier this month Amazon actually rolled out a new feature to its iOS app that may potentially make that process even easier: it can find a replacement part using your phone’s camera.

To use the feature you’ll need Amazon’s iOS app downloaded onto your device (no Android support yet!). Tap the Part Finder icon, and then follow the on-screen instructions. Essentially those are going to entail placing your item on a white surface next to a penny (for scale). You’ll then till your phone a few times so the app can get a full picture of what you’re looking for.

Afterward, it might ask for a few other identifiers such as the drive type and head style.

Presuming it sells an item that fits the bill, you’ll then get results for replacement items you can purchase directly through Amazon.