Threaded Inserts

so I was building this badass ROUTER TABLE!!! and to have the fence pieces slide a bit across the bit, the plans called for a threaded 5/16” insert. The plans said to fit said insert, I should use a 9/16” forstner bit. When I drilled the cylindrical hole, I found that the hole was too big for the insert. Any tips you have when the hole is too big for the insert other than to start from scratch with a new piece of wood? Thanks everyone.

Chris

- Chris Radvansky

Depending on how picky you are about appearances…...you can take a hardwood face-grain dowel and insert it in the over-sized hole (may have to drill the hole out a little if you can’t find the exact fit), glue that in, let it dry overnight, then redrill the right sized hole. Moral of the story: Always do a test drill on scrap when doing something new [I’m sure you can figure out how I know this story and its moral. ;-) and how to fix it ]

PS: I’m not sure why you would need to use a Forstner. The few threaded inserts I’ve done, I’ve used a brad-point bit.

-- My mother said that anyone learning to cook needed a large dog to eat the mistakes. As a sculptor of wood I have always tried to keep a fireplace. (Norman Ridenour)

Epoxy

-- Jerry, making sawdust professionally since 1976

I’m not picturing exactly what you’ve got but, if there’s room, you could just drill a hole, the correct size below the 9/16 hole and put the insert in there and use a longer bolt/screw.

If that’s not a possibility, I’m with ForestGrl, drill the hole out and epoxy in a 5/8 HW dowel. Then just drill the dowel out to the correct size.

-- Kenny, SW VA, Go Hokies!!!

Dowell and drill again

-- Bert

FWIW

9>5 therefore 9/16” >5/16” and a 5/16” item will fit through a 9/16” opening but not be retained by it, this is commonly known as the DOH! rule and sometimes the WTF rule

Welcome to the wonderful world of woodworking where screwing up is always educational and mostly funny so long as you keep all your appendages attached.

-- I've decided 1 mistake is really 2 opportunities to learn.. learn how to fix it... and learn how to not repeat it

FWIW

9>5 therefore 9/16” >5/16” and a 5/16” item will fit through a 9/16” opening but not be retained by it, this is commonly known as the DOH! rule and sometimes the WTF rule

Welcome to the wonderful world of woodworking where screwing up is always educational and mostly funny so long as you keep all your appendages attached.

- ChefHDAN

FWIW – 2

5/16 is the size of the bolt that threads into the insert. The external size of said insert will be much larger. The 5/16 brass insert McFeeley’s sells call for a 1/2” hole. The 9/16 that the OP mentioned would be very reasonable for another brand.

You are correct about one thing. Screwing up IS always educational.

Yup, something like a Dutchman / oversize dowel will do nicely, then re-drill.

Use a threaded insert that fits a 9/16” hole.

-- Willie, Washington "If You Choose Not To Decide, You Still Have Made a Choice" - Rush

1. Epoxy
2. Dowel and redrill
3. Get diff inserts.

In order of preference.

-- Everything is a prototype thats why its one of a kind!!

I think there was a type-o and toy were supposed to use a 5/8 insert. Would make more sense.

Dowel. And always reply to people when they question it with “you don’t preDowel your inserts? If you calculate the elasticity of the wood to the holding power of the glue, the vector and feed rate of the work piece and divide that by the routers rpms, you would get it.” Act insulted till they beg forgiveness and recognize (imagine) your genius.

-- Don't blame me, I voted for no one.

Welcome to the wonderful world of woodworking where screwing up is always educational and mostly funny so long as you keep all your appendages attached.

- ChefHDAN

My own personal fave: the first time I used my new Freud dado set (what, 10 years ago?), I was so obsessed with setting the blades perfectly, I had it in the saw backwards. Ahhh, the smell of burning plywood! ;-)

-- My mother said that anyone learning to cook needed a large dog to eat the mistakes. As a sculptor of wood I have always tried to keep a fireplace. (Norman Ridenour)

There is so much difference in brands of threaded inserts. I always do a trial hole just to make certain.

I make lots of mistakes but try not to make the same one more than a couple of times.

Redoak49, I was told the first time it was a mistake, the second time it was a choice. Do not ask why I
was told this.

-- As ever, Gus-the 80 yr young apprentice carpenter