Is there such a thing as Blind Hole Thread Inserts?

[JohnMcD348]

Maybe I'm calling it by a wrong name but it's about as close as I could come up with a definition. What I'm thinking is:

Similar to thread inserts you would use to repair a stripped thread on say... an engine block. But, I was thinking about the wood work bench I'm building and was thinking about the idea of drilling something like a 9/16 hole, into the top and inserting a threaded metal sleeve into it spaced out so I could bolt down certain things. Vice, reloading presses, bench grinder, etc. I was thinking they would need to be screwed in themselves to be able to hold into the wood and create a sturdy attachment area. The area I'd be installing this would be a doubled 3/4, or whatever the equivalent is now, plywood top.

Is there such a thing or is there another way to create something like this?

 

[lotsoftools]

Something like this, maybe: http://www.fastenal.com/web/search/...searchValue=thread+inserts&Ntt=thread+inserts

 

[regguy1]

If you have access to the underside you might try T Nuts

http://www.google.com/products/cata...=50wfT7fbNsTs0gHPiqAG&sqi=2&ved=0CKYBEPMCMAQ#

 

[gatchel]

There are also T Nuts:

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/T-...ci_sku=1XGJ1&gclid=CM7zx_L16a0CFY2b7Qod8Ay18Q

If you can find them large enough, they won't pull out as easy in wood.

Edit: regguy1 beat me to it...

 

[NHBandit]

Reloading presses put alot of strain on the work top they are bolted to and I'm betting that most any kind of insert you used with plywood is going to pull out sooner or later. Is there a reason you don't want to just put long bolts through with flat washers & nuts on the bottom ? Is there no access to the underside of your bench ?

 

[TapperMan]

I've used these on woodworking jigs... http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2001048/2808/1420-Brass-Threaded-Inserts-10.aspx

 

[djjsr]

Rockler has what you want but check your local hardware store. They're pretty common.

 

[Ray-CA]

There are these:

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/th...serts&ef_id=GPROZ@@rRDcAAANt:20120125004556:s

or these:

http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2001695/2001695.aspx

Ray

 

[Submarine_Sailor]

Never done it with wood, but for metal I think the term is helicoil. Might be a brand name.... anyone know?

 

[jjjrmx5]

Never done it with wood, but for metal I think the term is helicoil. Might be a brand name.... anyone know?

I agree.

For an existing chunk of metal, Heli-coil is the go-to.

For sheet metal, riv-nuts or AVK's.

For wood, t-nuts and the threaded nut-serts with the flat blade cut-in for tighteneing.

Then you have t-nuts and a 100 or so other options.

I'm a fastener geek, so I need more info.

 

[MattT]

Reloading presses put alot of strain on the work top they are bolted to and I'm betting that most any kind of insert you used with plywood is going to pull out sooner or later. Is there a reason you don't want to just put long bolts through with flat washers & nuts on the bottom ? Is there no access to the underside of your bench ?

Yeah I'm not convinced they'll be strong enough for presses, or vises for that matter. What I did with my reloading bench is put a 4 by 4 directly behind the front top 2 by 4. It's glued and screwed to both the front and the top. Gives a nice solid mount with lag bolts. Did similar with my workbench but didn't go all the way across the front with the 4 by 4.

The problem with thru' bolting is the upper front crossmember is likely to prevent ideal placement of some of the tools. It's something you can plan around if you only want to bolt down one tool but for multiples it'll likely be a problem.

 

[DaleK]

I'd be tempted to get a sheet of metal for under the benchtop, space out where you want them, and weld nuts (long nuts if you can get them) onto the sheet at the right spacings. With holes underneath if you need them for longer bolts. Then fasten the sheet on the bottom of your wood once you drill the holes in the wood (countersunk from below would be nice). Otherwise even if you get them to hold tight in the wood I'd think overtime they'll wander and warp just enough that they won't line up.

(edit- what am I thinking... drill the bolt holes on the metal where you want them, weld the nuts on the BOTTOM and drill your smaller holes in the wood for the size of bolts you're using. Plugs might be nice too.)

Or sandwich the sheet between your two sheets of plywood...

 

[JohnMcD348]

I think those Fastenal EZLok fasteners are probably what I'm looking for. The Tbolts are not quite what I was looking for. I saw them and it gave me the idea of possibly inserting threads into the wood to allow me to bolt things into as needed. They appear to expand out and lock into the hole when a bolt is placed in them.

Thanks.

I'd probably never put one of my presses on there but if I wanted to do some light reloading, I only do straight wall pistol stuff so there's not a huge amount of torque on the presses when I reload. I already have them mounted permanently to a heavy bench I built a few years ago. I was thinking more like the grinder, vise, stuff that won't get used often but I want to mount down for awhile and keep it stable.

 

[trboxman]

I use T-nuts for this type of stuff, run a bead of epoxy between the washer flange and the plywood and you're good to go. Your issue is likely to be that you'll need different spacing depending on what you're mounting so one set of T-nuts won't work for everything.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

^^ I was thinking like DaleK. Essentially going with an adapter setup or a modular option, like a receiver hitch.

 

[reverendjonas]

These are the best inserts you can use if you are going into wood. They are not the cheapies, but made of steel and are pretty robust.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#90192a132/=fyc141

If you are going to go with a double thickness of plywood, the thing to do would be have the bottom sheet laid out where you want your bolts. Then cut a 3 inch by 3 inch square out where you want each one. Cut some white or red oak to fit in the squares you cut out and glue them in flush with the top.

Lay out your pattern again where you want your inserts, drill the holes with the right size forstner bit with the top piece of plywood underneath the bottom piece and drill through both. If you can use a drill press, or something to get the holes perfectly vertical.

Install the inserts in the hard wood in the bottom piece. Do your self a favor and get the installation tool if you are doing more than a couple of these. Once they are all in, put the top piece on, glue and screw and your all done.

The 5/16"-18 inserts are used in Diamond pool tables and stand up to a lot of abuse. I regularly torq them up to 40 ft lbs and have not had one fail yet. I do not know the failure point but the oak that they are threaded into would be the first to go.

 

[Torque1st]

T-Nuts will do just what you want. I have used them for my vise, grinders, drill presses, and other projects for many years. The nuts are in plywood, MDF, 2xX stock, and T&G oak. None have failed even under large loads, vibration, or impact. T-Nuts come in several different thread lengths and many diameters in both steel and stainless. They are cheap and absurdly easy to install.

Google: t-nuts for wood

 

[rsa]

I purchased hurricane nuts to mount my subwoofer drivers to MDF.

 

[91FE]

There's these too: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=081-1094

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I guess when I think Tnuts I think small sizes, since that's what I use in some of my gear here. Small stuff like 8-32 threads. I wasn't thinking Tnuts of a larger size like 9/16".

Anyway, if there are large enough sizes Tnuts are the way to go. That's why they are made. Go for it

 

[Gixerfixer]

http://www.wurth.co.uk/timesert-advantage.php never use anything else nowadays.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Space was at a premium before I built my new shop so I mounted everything on a 5" piece of heavy duty angle iron and would just clamp the angle iron into my vise. All of my loading equipment is mounted that way. If I want to load I just take the press from the closet and clamp it into the vise. If you use a powder drop, put a bubble level on it and level the press before clamping. My loadmasters was clamped to the vise in this video.

T nuts would probably work best for your application if you really want to proceed with your initial plans.

Chris

 

[Falcon67]

I purchased hurricane nuts to mount my subwoofer drivers to MDF.

Some of those with 5/16-18 threads, a pair of poplar blocks, some epoxy and fiberglass form the mounts for my race car's fiberglass hood to hinge mounts.

 

[Steevo]

I like these for embedding into wood.

http://www.catalogds.com/db/service?domain=ezlok&command=browse&category=inserts_for_soft_woods