M5 stainless rivnut advice

[richard s]

Hi all hope you can help, I have been trying to set some M5 stainless rivnuts in 2mm steel, I don't have the correct tool and have been trying the nut and bolt technique using a spanner and ratchet, they seem to start collapsing but one side seems to not go, with my bolt eventually shearing, any ideas how I can set these, I have 12 to set and I will probably never need to use them again so don't want to buy an expensive tool, I didn't buy a cheap tool as I read they were for Ali so didn't think they were up to steel

 

[8ob]

Have you tried a better grade bolt?Perhaps try an allen bolt before throwing the towel in.

Bob

 

[richard s]

Hi Bob, I started with stainless dome headed Allen bolt but the Allen socket rounded, I then got some M5 bolts from screwfix (supposedly high tensile) and these are shearing

 

[mike os]

Stainless bolts are very soft use a 12.9 bolt or cap head

 

[richard s]

Cheers Mike, i will see what I can find

 

[mtt.tr]

For £20 why not buy the proper tool?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Change the nut and bolt often and use greased washers too.

 

[daedalusminos]

If you have a press you can use that.

 

[Agroshield]

One of the reasons the bolt is shearing, apart from its poor quality, is the friction as you are tightening it. The proper tool pulls rather than twists. As suggested above, using two washers with grease between will help. A needle roller thrust bearing and washers would do even better.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Thinking about this, it sounds like you're holding the nut still and winding the screw in? When I ran loads of M8 ones in I held the screw still and wound the nut (and greased washers) down, it worked a treat.

 

[AndersK]

This is my version of tool for them that work quite well, it pulls without rotating the bolt.
The long nut has got the threads drilled out

 

[richard s]

For £20 why not buy the proper tool?

I have read that the cheap tools are for aluminium and that the threads snap on smaller sizes so didn't want to try it out for it to break, if you know of one that works can you point me in the right direction, cheers

 

[richard s]

Change the nut and bolt often and use greased washers too.

I used 2x washers made of milk bottle between 2x penny washers, as free low friction material, it seems the bolts are just not man enough

 

[richard s]

If you have a press you can use that.

No press I'm afraid

 

[mtt.tr]

If you are not in a rush send me some rivnuts and I'll try my cheapo tool

 

[richard s]

Mine wasn't too far from yours, the nut in the middle is larger so spins (milk bottle washers removed), why do you have the small nut on yours before the washer

This is my version of tool for them that work quite well, it pulls without rotating the bolt.
The long nut has got the threads drilled outView attachment 316871View attachment 316871

 

[richard s]

If you are not in a rush send me some rivnuts and I'll try my cheapo tool

Unfortunately I'm in a rush (well my wife is becoming upset at not having a kitchen table) I just need to set these rivnuts so I can bolt the frame together and make a top for it

 

[Wozzaaah]

As I said, hold the screw still and wind a threaded nut and washers down so the thread pulls the insert.
That's sort of how the proper tool works.

 

[Wozzaaah]

All you need is a screw, a nut to fit the screw and 2 washers, nothing else.

 

[8ob]

Unfortunately I'm in a rush (well my wife is becoming upset at not having a kitchen table) I just need to set these rivnuts so I can bolt the frame together and make a top for it

A hex rivnut needs to go in a hex hole. Just saying.

Bob