Nutzerts, captive nuts-- what do I need?

These were the nuts and tools that I used:

Rivet nut inserts - click on Rivet Nut Inserts.

I understand you spend some time in Mexico, so it's better to use stainless ones. McMaster website is trying to hold you on their page, I had to double-click on the Back button to return back to the forum.

Wrench-drive rivet nut tool

McMaster was the only place where I could find rivnuts 1/4x20 AND in stainless steel AND with wrench installation tool all in one store. Amazon and other places might have rivnuts in regular steel though.

Only downside about rivnuts is when they break loose and start spinning freely, it is difficult to drill/punch them out. Maybe some Loctite Blue or similar might help?

Get a nutsert, bolt, nut and washer in matching sizes. Put on the bolt in this order - nut, washer, nutsert. Insert nutsert in the hole. Grab the bolt head with vicegrips. Tight the nut with wrench while pressing nutsert firmly into the hole. Just a touch of oil between the nut and washer may help prevent the nutsert from rotating if necessary.

Harbor Freight sells this. Nutzerts or Rivetnuts, aluminum or steel, can be found at Amazon.

mrekim wrote:

westend wrote:
If I can get steel nutserts and borrow/hire a TIG, I could tack those in so they wouldn't be a issue in the future.

FYI a small tack is plenty. If you ever do have to replace them again, you'll be really happy you don't have grind off a lot of welds.....

Thanks. You're actually singing to the choir about grinding. In a former career, I was inside a SS milk dryer (about the size of a small garage) grinding and flipping every weld. After we were done, the AG boys would come in with spotlights and inspect for pinholes, skips, stc.

westend wrote:
If I can get steel nutserts and borrow/hire a TIG, I could tack those in so they wouldn't be a issue in the future.

FYI a small tack is plenty. If you ever do have to replace them again, you'll be really happy you don't have grind off a lot of welds.....

C Schomer wrote:
I've used nutserts a lot and the tool looks like a pop riveter. You put the threaded stud that matches the nutserts into the tool and it compresses the nutsert and rolls a flange on it so it locks in the hole. I'd try a search on nutsert and see what they have. Craig

Yes, I did some searching and that seems to be the tool of choice, especially for small sizes. That will be the way to go for my aluminum projects, thanks.

mrekim wrote:
Depending on the size of the nutsert you may find that a tool for installing just a few is way too expensive. The first post of this thread describes a tool. You could adapt the ideas there to different nutsert sizes.

I see (from the link), it's a matter of drawing the barrel of the nutsert down to allow it to expand. That will certainly help for the larger nutserts in the nerf rails, thanks. If I can get steel nutserts and borrow/hire a TIG, I could tack those in so they wouldn't be a issue in the future.

I've used nutserts a lot and the tool looks like a pop riveter. You put the threaded stud that matches the nutserts into the tool and it compresses the nutsert and rolls a flange on it so it locks in the hole. I'd try a search on nutsert and see what they have. Craig

Depending on the size of the nutsert you may find that a tool for installing just a few is way too expensive. The first post of this thread describes a tool. You could adapt the ideas there to different nutsert sizes.