Insert Nuts for hardwood ply- where can I get them?

[mental4astro]

Hi all,

I'm at the stage of attaching the altitude bearings to the mirror box of my 17.5" dob, Odessius. These need to be removeable, so the best solution I can come up with is using insert nuts.

I went to Mitre10, and all they have is for using in chip board. No good here with my hardwood ply.

I've seen insert nuts which are screwed into place with a slot screwdriver, but I can't remember where I saw them on the net. And these did have a nicely machined external thread.

I'm after something in the internal thread size of 6mm or 1/4".

Can anyone help?

Mental.

[asimov]

I'm no woodworker, but is this what your'e looking for?

http://elraco.com.au/index.php?cPath=11_334_339

Surely Bunnings would sell these:question:

[mental4astro]

http://elraco.com.au/popup_image.php?pID=3317

Asimov, yes, along this line, but not made of zinc- it won't deal with the force needed to thread into hardwood. The tapered ones are for chip board, and again are no good here. This is the stuff Bunnings has, as well as Mitre10.

[koputai]

Like this?
http://elraco.com.au/index.php?cPath=11_334_341

Bunnings at Belrose has them as well, but only two sizes as I remember, 1/4" and maybe 5/8"

Cheers,
Jason.

[mental4astro]

I can have a look.

These are also called 'SKEIN NUTS'...

[gary]

Alexander,

Do you mean just a plain threaded brass insert?
(Please see CAD image below).

These have an external self-tapping thread for screwing into hardwood,
an internal machine-screw thread and a slot across the front so they
can be inserted with a flat-bladed screwdriver (though often it is best to
insert them using a short Phillips or Pan Pozi head machine screw inserted
in them first).

Best Regards

Gary

[mental4astro]

Gary,

Yes, yes, yes!!!

Where can I get a few with an internal thread of 6mm or 1/4"?

[gary]

Hi Alexander,

http://www.microfasteners.com.au/
31-35 Longview Court, Thomastown, Victoria, 3074
Phone: 03 9464 0330

They stock 1/4"-20 UNC and will ship by mail/courier but they will almost
certainly have a minimum order quantity (MOQ). How many are you after?
See http://www.microfasteners.com.au/fastenerpages/Miniatures/MinNuts.html
These work nicely. Use a 9mm pilot to the appropriate depth as square to the
surface as possible. As recommended, you might want to consider inserting them
in with a small 1/4" -20 machine screw or a T-handle with a 1/4" -20 thread.
Care is needed to get them to feed straight.

Best Regards

Gary

[mental4astro]

Many thanks, Gary.