Brass screws and threaded inserts - recommendations?

[Andy Kev.]

Good Morning All,

I'm after the kind of brass screws which fit into a brass tube with an interior thread, the tube being knocked into a hole drilled into a piece of wood and staying there because the surface is knurled/ribbed/hooked. Ideally the screw head should be round and flat topped.

Does anybody have any recommendations of makers/suppliers?

 

[sammy.se]

Orbital fasteners online have a great variety. but I cant attest to the quality compared to other brands etc

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

 

[spb]

How many do you need, and what size? I found any number of places that would supply hundreds, but for single-digit numbers in M4 I ended up on eBay - I can link the ones I got, but a quick search will throw up any number of options. Of course the per-unit price is often ridiculous, but that's the problem of small quantities.

 

[Droogs]

Just do a search for "helicoil" they are the original makers of thread inserts

or look here

https://www.stanleyengineeredfastening. ... ad-inserts

 

[loftyhermes]

I'm not sure if you're looking for inserts or screws but if you search ebay for brass inserts for wood or brass machine screws you should find something that suits.

 

[peter-harrison]

If you are using them where they are going to be pulled- like a drawer knob- I would avoid the knock-in ones. I have had a few fail after a year or two.

 

[Fidget]

Are thesethe things you're looking for?

 

[sunnybob]

I think you are looking for CORBY BOLTS ?
https://www.makermaterialsupply.com/col ... less-bolts

 

[lurker]

Clinch nuts?

 

[lurker]

Not what you described but would these achieve what you want to do?

https://www.screwfix.com/p/insert-nuts- ... pack/59937

 

[AES]

Andy Kev, I think you're in Germany, right?

If YES, and IF the thingies that Fidget has linked are what you want, then look no further than your local Obi (or similar). Available in Jumbo & Coop Schweiz (local Obi, etc equivalent here, and defo seen in D, think it was Obi). They come in internal thread sizes from at least 6mm (maybe even 4 mm) up to at least 12 mm thread dia in 2 mm steps. Packs of about 10 ea I seem to remember (perhaps more in the smaller dias).

Strongly recommend you do NOT use either the screwdriver slot (or sometimes a hex) for installation.

Instead measure carefully the OD ob the barrel (NOT the outer thread) drill blind hole in the wood of exactly barrel dia or a smidge more (0.5 mm) then insert long bolt with locknut into insert. Use nut as locknut to lock the bolt into the insert and use bolt head to drive insert into wood until top surface flush or slightly below wood surface. Slacken locknut, remove bolt n the job's a good'un! No glue necessarry if you got the pilot hole dia right.

HTH, sorry if what I/Fidget described is not what you want.

 

[Andy Kev.]

Thank you all very much for the replies.

AES and Fidget: in principle that is what I am looking for (I'd seen something somewhere with a different retention/anchoring structure on the outside but I'm sure that will do). Now I know that I only have to pop down to the local DIY superstore emporium and get a slack handful as I do indeed live in Germany.

 

[AES]

Pleased to hear that it's what you want Andy Kev. The better stocked DIY emporia should be able to offer you both bright plated steel and "brass" (I think they're only plated, not "real" brass BTW) but if you want hard ali then t'net or a hardware specialist is the answer.

Personally I've had excellent results with the "simple" plated steel variety. The only 2 points to watch are A) get the pilot hole dia right (as said yesterday - especially so if going into ply edges!), and B) make sure the pilot hole is drilled vertically.

Glad to help for once.

 

[AES]

P.S. to the above. You have to buy the bolts/machine screws separately, the inserts come alone, but at least you then have a wide choice of the exact bolt/head, etc to use with the inserts. All I've seen/used have standard ISO Metric coarse threads (in the inner threads) BTW.

 

[MikeK]

Andy, I don't know where in Germany you are, but I live between Darmstadt and Mannheim. A few years ago, I discovered the largest Bauhaus I've ever seen in Mallau, south of Mannheim near the SAP center. It's the only hardware store that I know of that stocks small boats, structural steel, and other construction items not available at the normal Bauhaus.

The Mallau store has a vast assortment of hardware available in packages, individually, or by weight. I was looking for brass (messing) wood screws and hinges, and was spoiled for choice. I also noticed the large assortment of round head brass machine screws in sizes up to M6. My local Toom has a much smaller choice, but does carry brass wood and machine screws. Happy hunting!

 

[AES]

Hi Mike. I'm not in D, sorry, I'm in CH (near Basel). But I do (did) visit D quite regularly and sometimes use the DIY emporia there.

In addition there's a "Swiss Obi" in Basel which I use sometimes (I think it's a joint-venture with Obi D and one of our CH supermarket chains, Migros) and have found excellent selections of all sorts of stuff there - about equal to the Swiss-only Jumbo and Coop chains here).

I know there are several other DIY chains in D (Toom's not so "clever" IME), but I always find it difficult to remember names other than Obi (they advertise heavily on TV here).

Not heard of the particular one you mention though, sorry. Any branch/es around Weil-am-Rhein perhaps?

I find it a great pity that the new Forum update does not automatically show any members' location as the older version did. Never mind, "we get there in the end"!

Cheers

 

[Andy Kev.]

Andy, I don't know where in Germany you are, but I live between Darmstadt and Mannheim. A few years ago, I discovered the largest Bauhaus I've ever seen in Mallau, south of Mannheim near the SAP center. It's the only hardware store that I know of that stocks small boats, structural steel, and other construction items not available at the normal Bauhaus.

The Mallau store has a vast assortment of hardware available in packages, individually, or by weight. I was looking for brass (messing) wood screws and hinges, and was spoiled for choice. I also noticed the large assortment of round head brass machine screws in sizes up to M6. My local Toom has a much smaller choice, but does carry brass wood and machine screws. Happy hunting!

Mike,

that is a useful tip. I live about half way between Stuttgart and Konstanz but I tend to go to Mannheim a few times a year on business, so I'll certainly make a note of your tip and try to remember to go and have a look at the place. I wonder if that's the Bauhaus I've seen from the motorway.

Edit: Just checked. It is and it's about a 3 minute drive from the place I work when I'm up there.

I tend to avoid Toom because the hand tools they offer are mostly utter rubbish. They do carry a reasonable selection of Proxxon gear and the usual Bosch stuff but I'm not especially interested in power tools. That said, my pillar drill is the Proxxon one and so far it has met all of my requirements.

Incidentally, while we're on the subject of teutonic tool shops: have you or AES ever visited either of the Dictum shops? The one near Metten (it moved about a year ago) is like paradise on earth and the Munich one runs it a close second.

Andy.

 

[MikeK]

I know there are several other DIY chains in D (Toom's not so "clever" IME), but I always find it difficult to remember names other than Obi (they advertise heavily on TV here).

Not heard of the particular one you mention though, sorry. Any branch/es around Weil-am-Rhein perhaps?

AES, I agree with you and Andy about the Toom, but they are everywhere but I don't use Toom for hand or power tools, only consumables. Of the four big box stores that are available here, Hornbach, Bauhaus, Obi, and Toom, the first three tend to have higher grade items than Toom. Hornbach reminds me of Home Depot in the U.S. the way it is laid out.

There is a Bauhaus in Lörach-Haagen, which is not too far from Basel. It has an attached Drive-in Arena for bulk purchases, so it should be a good store. There is also a Hornbach in Binzen, just east of the Bauhaus.

There is an Obi not too far from me and I was surprised to discover they are a stocking distributor for Sjöbergs workbenches. The model I wanted wasn't in stock, but I ordered it and picked it up a week later. This saved me a lot of money because I didn't have to order it from Sjöbergs and pay the shipping.

 

[MikeK]

Incidentally, while we're on the subject of teutonic tool shops: have you or AES ever visited either of the Dictum shops? The one near Metten (it moved about a year ago) is like paradise on earth and the Munich one runs it a close second.

I've never visited any of the Dictum shops, but I have done a lot of online business with them. I will make the trip one day.

Dictum offers in-house courses with English speaking instructors from time to time, such as Christopher Schwarz, Garrett Hack, John Lloyd, Jimmy Clewes, Thomas Fidgen, and at one time, David Charlesworth.

 

[AES]

@ Mike & Andy:

Thanks for the tips Gents. Dictum? Oh yes, I use them quite a lot (on line - V good service and "sensible" prices) mainly for Excalibur scroll saw stuff (they're cheaper AND quicker and more well-stocked than my local - Swiss - Excalibur/Pegas dealer). Also visited the Dictum place in München (blimey, 5 years ago now) where I was able to try both the Hegner and Excalibur scroll saws side by side. My wife was treating me for my 70th. Wonderful place and even has a coffee/mags area to stop the girls getting bored while the boys are playing! Not been to the Metten shop though. BTW I chose the Exc 21 in the end and have never regretted it. Best machine in my shop.

Re Hornbach and Bauhaus, (remembered the names now, thanks to your help Gents) I have visited now and again while in D. But unless I'm buying something big/expensive I don't usually bother with buying in D unless I'm already there (like when helping my mate restoring his old farm house vin Geilenkirchen). For "normal" buys I find that our Jumbo and our "Coop Do It" just as well stocked and broadly similar prices.

But that Mallau place sounds good (never heard of it/seen if before, thanks), and just as you say, Lorrach is just around the corner/over the border from me (and since about the last 2-3 weeks the D-CH border is open again for normal "post-Covid" travel again).

Cheers fellas