E-Z Lok Threaded Inserts
If you’ve read Woodsmith and ShopNotes magazines for any length of time, you know that we’re a fan of threaded inserts. They make it easy to build jigs and fixtures and knock-down furniture or projects. They’re a great way to add machine threads for attaching screws and bolts.
E-Z Lok is a manufacturer of threaded inserts for a variety of industries and applications. And I’ve recently discovered that their web site is a valuable resource of information you can use when building projects that make use of threaded inserts. Their web site contains PDF documents that contain detailed dimemensioned drawings and complete charts listing dimensions and recommended hole sizes for their inserts. (They caution you to try out the insert on a scrap piece to get the exact hole size.)
Click here for a chart of their inserts for hardwood.
Click here for a listing of the knife-thread inserts for softwood.
I like to use press-in “Finserts” whenever I can (see photo at left). I don’t have to thread them and risk not getting them in straight. You can simply press or tap them in place. Click here for more information on finserts.
If you scroll to the bottom of these pages, you’ll see links for PDF documents of drawings and charts.
E-Z Lok’s products are sold through a variety of distributors like McMaster-Carr, Reid Tool, and MSC.