Rivet Nuts

[Ragnar]

I'm thinking about using some rivet nuts on an iron bed project. The nuts would be inserted in some .065 mild steel 2"x 2" tubing. 1/4" x 20 is the size. Never used these gizmo's, do they work? spin in the hole? pullout?, any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Ragnar

[olddad]

A lot of the truck boxes are manufactured with the door hinges fastened on with a type of rivet nut. Seems to work ok in that application.

[Waldarosa]

Ragnar, I'v used them before and had no problems. You need a special tool to install them. Tighten them up like a pop rivet without the pop.

Doug

[Ragnar]

Guys,

Thanks for the info, McMaster Carr seems to have it all, including a reasonably priced install tool.

Thanks,

Ragnar

[TEK]

Like anything else, they got their good points and the bad. Be careful to not crossthread the bolt or bind it in any way. If you use too long of a bolt and run out of threads and the shoulder hits the nut, you will spin 'em. Use anti-sieze and the right bolts and your ok.

[Joker11]

I had no faith in them. But I bought an old 61 VW Baja bug. The old timer I bought it from made a custom roof rack for spare tires and such.
When I removed the rack one day, I noticed he used rivet nuts. I had beat the HECK out of that car. The rivet nuts were still intact the day I sold it years later.

If installed and used properly I say they do a decent job.

[Washman]

We use these things on all kinds industrial machines for all sorts of attachments such as guards and cover panels.

They work great and are a fantastic option for installing threads into items that are too thin for taping threads into.

Sure they can be cross threaded and stripped out just like any other thread. However if you have the tool to install them they are also as easy to replace as a pop rivet. They wont pull through the metal because they are larger on the back side.

Washman

[chopper5]

use em every day by the hand full ,thay work real good

[dangthatshot]

a little trick to keep them from spinning in the hole is to use a star looking lock washer under the head of the Riv nut and it also gives it a little more thickness to clamp onto when you squeeze them.

just a trick from the aviation world when we use them