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I am making my first neck (ukulele) and am installing my first threaded inserts for neck bolts. My problem may be that I using Osage Orange which is quite hard, but I can't seem to get the insert's threads started. Here are some shots of my set-up, and there is text below each picture.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ruby1638/ ... 721991842/


Any ideas? Many thanks.

Ed

I use my drill press you can flip the table to clamp and secure the piece. if you can do that you can make a square set up with plywood. It is more accurate the hand drilling.

I get my inserts here .
http://us.essentracomponents.com/shop/P ... reId=10152

My drill press table does not tilt, but I rigged up a holder and used the pressure of the chuck and a wrench to seat the insert - thanks

Ed

glad to help

In hard wood, you may need to bore the holes for the inserts fairly large.

I've also found that at least for the smaller inserts I need drive them with something that screws into the insert with a stop to keep it from screwing in too far, vs. using the slots cut in the insert's top edge. I made an elegant piloted driver that engaged the top slots....and promptly shattered two inserts because the slots couldn't withstand the torque.

the inserts are to be set in with the slots down I use a shoulder bolt to insert them. I learned that trick out at martin.

Look onc more at my original post with pictures - there is a shot of a bole with the head cut offo and 2 nuts on it - no stress on anything.

And John - Rockler says to use a screwdriver to install, and a maker (ez something) says to use a screwdriver. I have been told that some have the slots cut down into the threads and THOSE are for slot down, whereas on the one I had, the slot comes nowhere near the threads, so it is a screwdriver slot

Ed

I was referring to the inserts that I posted. I can't see your inserts on the pics . I can only see the one pic.

A shoulder bolt would be an excellent installation tool, I'd think. Two nuts jammed together certainly works as well.

I wonder if the slots are intended to be used for removing the inserts, rather than for installing them.
The only inserts I've broken though, by using the slots to install them, have been the small ones threaded 10-32. The larger sizes may by strong enough to be installed using the slots.

The inserts that I use will come out . Just work the bolt back down and it lets you pull them as well as insert them. I have a different insert that is heavier that is installed with a screw driver but I don't like them they take too much of a hole to mount.
I use the same one Martin uses and never seen one fail yet.