**Update** Silicon spray or WD40 makes it easier, but Copper Slip grease is even better!

I do oven cleaning and repairs. Have found rivet nuts useful where some of the screw mount holes for the back panels or element have corroded. One of the original videos I saw for seating rivet nuts was using a nut, bolt and washers to set the rivet nuts. Only problem I was having was that the rivet nut was sometimes rotating when trying to tighten. They have a grip profile on the side but rivet nuts but they dont always stop the nut rotating. Love this shaped piece of metal with the hole which will stop the nut rotating. Unfortunately I failed trying to seat 2 rivet nuts yesterday wasting over 1 hour, and spent out on a tool. Will make up a couple of these metal profiles at the weekend. Thanks for this brilliant tip Smoking Steel Garage.

Use a brass washer between the nut and plate tool. Brass will allow the nut to slip around as you tighten it. The brass is almost like a lubricant but it doesn't get squeezed out.

Wrenchin' for many years and never used a Rivnut....the tightening up of a loose one was the clincher...... This video is getting saved. Thankx :)

Dear lad you are a lifesaver I’m in the middle of a project I live over an hour and a half away from the closest hardware store I bought a cheap Riv nut gun online it lasted about three river nuts and crumbled apart this video allowed me to continue on with my project thank you for posting

Been doing it this way for roughly 40 years and it works fine. Although I use a 6mm plate and leave it flat so that I can fasten it with a clamp because then you only have to hold the ratchet. Which of course is according to where one needs to use it. A washer between the nut and plate kann possibly reduce the friction between both (he recommends lube for that reason) and improves the torque weil reducing the amount of pressure needed. Never owned a Rivet Gun, but also never needed Rivet Nuts on a regular basis either. So therefore this method was always practical. P.S.- Never tried this above 8 mm threads.

I followed your instructions to repair damaged threads of a friend's sailboat mast gate using aluminium Rivnut. Result was awesome 👍. Instead of rethreading the M8 for large M10 size bolt, with Rivnut we actually end up using M6 bolts 😁 Thank You Smoking Steel Garage 👍

I regularly use a rivnut or nutsert tool, and the method shown here when needed. One thing to remember is that with both , you only have to start the rivet compression until it bites on the sheet metal, then the final compression can be done when the final assembly occurs. Saves time and is vastly easier on the rivnut mandrels, which in the smaller sizes have a limited lifetime.

Yeah great I'm stoked. Screw those Chinese riv nut tools. Top video

"Simple. Cheap. Ingenious." Spot On. Thank you. AND includes an excuse to get some copper slip.

Well, what a find. Working to get my E-Type on the road and this will come in so handy. Now I only need two buy the rivets. Great job coming up with this tool. The higher the level of sophistication, the simpler the tool. In my opinion. It takes a lot to think through the process to winnow it down to a great solution. Good job and thanks, Mike

I use rivnuts a fair bit in sheet metal and one trick I use is to put a bit of LockTite on the outside of rivnut and around the hole in the sheet metal before I crimp the rivnut. This seems to work at keeping the rivnut from spinning in the hole when you use it later. If you're able to let it dry first. CA glue might be a quicker option.

I use a riv nut tool quite often in my work place, I’ve never had one break. However this is a great hack for some jobs that you can’t get the tool into, and for tightening a spinner, as long as you can thread that bolt into it, I think it’s a great option.

thanks just purchased a rivet nut gun and Amazon amazon you tube clip explaining a cheap method.thanks again

Ratcheting wrench would be a great upgrade and time saver! Thanks for the tip! JD

Am building a kit plane. Thanks for this info plus comment about brass washers. Rivnuts very useful items where you can't get a spanner behind to do up or undo the nut that holds the bolt. Thus you can secure a piece of equipment such as an instrument to a sheet of metal and it is then very easy to take it off and put back when required for servicing etc.

the rivnut tool is less than $40 these days for a decent one. totally worth the investment

You smart bugga! I've been working as a transport canada licensed aircraft structures engineer for the last 28 years. And you just taught me a new trick. We use rivenuts extensively in aviation and I've never seen them installed without the fancy pants tool. Great job my friend👍

I’ve been using rivnuts since i found them in 2007. I had no idea there was a tool to install them so I simply use 2 washers, lubricated, & a high strength cap screw with a nut. Hold the caps crew as per video & perform the Same action with the nut. The nut turns the upper washer while the lower washer “sticks” to the rivnut flange when the pressure increases & the Same outcome happens. Just undo the nut & both washers free up. Unscrew the caps crew & admire you “no-tool” rivnut insertion.

I have installed a rivnut on the inside of a square tube with a bolt, two nuts, a couple of washers and some lubricant. Crank the two nuts together to make an anvil, add two washers for slippage and turn the whole thing with a ratchet. It works as long as you start with a tight friction fit to keep the rivnut from spinning. There is always a risk of stripping the rivnut but if that happens you just drill it out and start over.

Useful for persons who have a need for rivnuts, but don't have the 30$ to buy the tool to install them

Just what I was looking for, car application. I want to fix an oil cooler to factory holes and this comes very handy! Thanks man!

Thanks for the great job very simple and easy appreciations and thanks once again for saving me time 🙏👍🇩🇰

so in case of emergency this idea is really good. i myself am too stingy to buy an expensive tool because of the few m8 rivet nuts. but up to m6 you are faster and more relaxed with a suitable tool. anyways, thanks for your solution.

Really great video. Thanks for being so patient and thorough.

Great idea. I need to bolt a custom roof rack to my wagon. This will be better than buying a decent rivnut puller.

I do have to Right tool for this job. But it's great to see someone giving Good advice on an economical way to install Rivet Nuts.

Wow! You just saved me $100 for the RivNut tool for 1/2" inserts! THANKS!

Brilliant - I’m now subscribed 😉 cheers Chris “The Aussie living in the Netherlands” 👍🇦🇺

You are the only youtuber that shows how to do it correctly. Everyone else is blowing smoke.

I have one of those Amazon Chinesium ones and it works quite well until your under a vehicle and need to use your chest as a brace. Thanks to your video I was able to quickly make my own lever thingy. Mine is ugly and lacks the quality look of child labor but worked like a charm. Thank you sir!

As you say, a good smear of copper slip makes turning the nut much easier, the other essential is to use a high tensile bolt, as you have done here a hex socket bolt is usually high tensile,(providing it is not a chinese one), these rivenuts are very useful in fixing parts after assembly. Many thanks for posting this! Chris B.

Lowe’s has a little set up that you can use your drill for maybe less than $5 bucks. This is to much trouble. I picked up a Wetols nut tool several years ago for $ 26 still working great and a lot less hassle. Have faith in America.

Probably the most useful watch I've found on KZfaq, cheers

Thanks a lot man. You saved me 50 bucks for a silly tool I only use very little... I own a M3 to M6 one (which I use quite a bit) but I was looking to get the occasional M8 and M10 rivnut in every now and again... thanks again...

I'll use this trick at work at least once a week from now on. Tired of downtime due to crappy, unreliable communal nutsert guns.

I knew I’d find away on here ... saved 30£ for the gun ..thank you very much 👍🏼

I used these to install roof racks to the top of my van They work great

Excellent tip, thanks for sharing. Suggestion; could use a stud connector instead of a nut, and also a ratchet spanner. I only thought of this suggestion after watching this vid. Thanks again.

This was excellent and far better than other videos placing only washers under the nut; washers do not stop the rivnut from spinning with the nut. Holding that plate stationary under the nut prevents the rivnut from being turned while the nut is tightened. I also agree very much with using high strength bolt and a long barrel but, particularly on M5 and smaller rivnut, mine stripped the threads as the rivnut was pulling up. You got me, Subscribed!

Good solution! This will work in tight spaces where the rivnut tool doesn't fit.

Wonderful idea. I need to put a couple of riv nuts into my sailboat boom and this is just the way to do it. Simple little one day winter project. Thanks so much for the idea.

This video was really helpful, as someone who is just starting his journey trying to DIY some things, I thank you :D

JCB using these on to hold everything inside the cab, and half the S.O.B. will spin, and Paccar use them to hold the cab lights on the trucks and the same thing there. They have their use but if your using a lot of these is time saver to buy the tool, if one or once an a while do it like you doing.

Porkchop porkchop, greasy greasy... Installed that rivnut fuckin easy easy! 😁 Big help! Much appreciated!! I was going to weld threads on my bike to install a second bottle cage. I don't have the skills to be confident enough to do it. Ran across this and got the whole job done for $11 (just the price of 150pc assorted rivnuts). Again, thanks!

Perfect! I bought several sizes of rivnuts from an ad on facebook. It represented including the tool, but . . . . . This is a great solution to save some money.

Thanks. You saved me money and disappointment in a cheap tool. I only have a couple of rivet nuts to do and was about to waste money on a low quality rivet nut tool.

Man this help out seeing this in the field ….. I had the part but didn’t know how to replace it Thanks !!

I used to use Rivnuts back in the 1960's. Back then, they were patented by Goodyear. All it takes to install them is a Grade 8 screw of the right thread, and a high strength nut.

Thanks for that great video on alternative methods and ways to prevent the threaded nut, or the bolt from breaking in the event of a off set condition or confined work area. I can see the myriad of conditions where a nut cannot be added and this is a great time saver as well as a money saver. I had some similar situations and the threaded part was rusted stuck and thankfully, the threaded part was stainless steel, so using a chisel and prybar made short work of prying the screw enough to add WD 40, so I was able to remove it. I could also see that if the insert was damaged from inside from a bent condition, this method could also help to raise the screw enough to fit in a chisel or grinder to remove it. Five stars for communication since many videos have music all threw the video with no explanation of each step, as you've probably seen too. 👏👏✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

This Helped me out tons. No one else's videos address the problem of the Rivnut spinning with the jamb nut and unscrewing from the installation bolt..Great solution!!

Is that a wall clock on your wrist! Holly cow! 😂 Kool video though thanks for tip!!! Handy dandy!!

Genius, man. Absolutely, brilliant.

Así at this point, I guess we could use a drill instead of the socket. This was helpful, I am getting a little side gig going and the least that I can invest and still get the same results the better. Great video. Thank you.

Good tip! i nherited a Used WorkVan that had Commercially purchased shelving and Storage racks in it utilizing those RivNuts and i stripped those to install Custom made Shelving built by me those Riv Nuts were a pain in the backside to remove and I just ran new Sheet Metal self tapping Screws into the Vans wall reinforcing Ribs that held those shelves in place for 25 years and 150,000 miles at that time i had no intention or need to purchase the RivNut tool or system

Thanks! I was lost on how to tighten up a loose rivnut for a bottle cage mount on an old bicycle. This worked!

I don’t understand why this gets a thumbs down. As a DIY user I needed to fit 2 m10 ruvnuts to my van chassis. Laid on my back with very little ground clearance in the roadside, this worked perfectly for me. Because a. I don’t have the tool to deal with rivnuts that big. B. Even if I did, I don’t think I’d have the room to use it. So; fantastic tip, it’s much appreciated, and your link has been shared. Thanks k

I have been using this idea for the last forty years, especially when installing 5/8 size on trucks and earth moving equipment.

Brilliant. Just broke my riv nut tool. Followed your instructions. Worked perfectly. 👍👍👍👍👍

Brilliant. Trying to compress some jack nuts and my rivnut tool wont reach by a couple of mm. You gave me the idea how to make it work!

TXH from Sweden. Useful video.

Definitely going to try this. Thanks for sharing.

Nice idea. I’ve got a couple of suggestions, a ratchet ring spanner would make things easier and a few high grade bolts would make it less likely that the bolt would snap when tightening up the rivnut.

Clever! A tip, if you have problems with the threads stripping on the bolt, or the bolt breaking purchase a higher quality bolt. Hardware store bolts are garbage. Years ago I had seat post adjusting bolt problem as the threads kept stripping. I found a store that carried military surplus fasteners and purchased a few bolts that originally had been used on fighter jets. That was the end of that problem!

Been using them this way mainly M8 rivnuts for years, l also use my Bosch impact driver which also works great. Just make sure the nut and bolt your using is high tensile and keep the threads oiled.

Brilliant fix, will use the idea now - I bought a cheap one off fleabay first use the handle joint at the top just splayed open and it was knackered !

This has solved a few of our issues on our 'square drop mini camper build' !!!!!

Just finished my first run using your method, works great! thanks for sharing, your got my sub.

Been using a horn bracket to install the inserts for 20+ years lol have 2 of em, fast n easy. I don't use an extra nut, just a flat washer, then I don't need 2 wrenches to tighten it up and get nice & tight fit in the hole

Thanks for taking the time to make this helpful video. You're really patient with all these armchair critics. More people might more inclined to post content if it weren't for some of these basement dwellers.

good stuff, just a tip I noticed, your hand made tool with the holes, it could also work as a 90* angle and turned the handle bit down and let it jam against the frame so u didn't need to hold it. just a though.

Saved my bacon with this video, thanks a TON!

Great video, easy simple tool, I’ve been considering buying a rivnut gun but not now!

Expensive tools? Got a whole set for $30. Converted my whole van into an adventure van with it. Worked great.

Son of a diddly. Actually very useful YT video. Thanks. I've thought couple times that you likely could do jig yourself for them, but never got rivet nuts to try. That's maybe the easiest setup there can be. Good job 👍👍

That was very useful information. If ever I need to use a Rivnut, I will remember this. One thing I would suggest that you didn't mention, is to use a high tensile bolt. All the best from Queensland Australia.

Good video...Thanks. I normally jusy use a washer between nut and rivnut,,,no handle needed

Great stuff, just what I need and about my fabrication skill level !

Thank you so much. You saved me much frustration and another wasted trip to the hardware store 😳

Sir thank you much, building my roof rack didn't want to buy a tool I would use once or twice in life🔩🚐

I made the same tool but use a star washer between the top of the rivnut and the bottom of the tool. This holds the rivnut from spinning while you tighten the bolt. Much easier to hold onto when drawing the nut up.

Thanks for telling the cheap tools a junk,for the few I have to do. good grade 8 bolt will do the job.

Saved me $100-$200aud thanks legend

Thank you watching your video has helped me take care

A rivitnut gun was going to be my next tool purchase won't bother now excellent vid.

Thanks for the method. I only need to do a few every so often, so buying another $30CAD tool seems a waste. Your method saves me the trouble. Hello from Canada

thanks! exactly what i was looking for to build my own custom sim rig/cockpit.

wow. cool simple. that took more wrench bites than i would have thought.

You don't really need the 2mm metal strip. Just use some washers on the rivnut and under the nut works fine too.

A thrust bearing would reduce the work required better than a brass washer as so many people suggest. Even better, spend a few quid and buy the tool for the job 😂

Great idea. "Threading" is the term for creating a thread. The proper term for removing it by over tightening is "stripping the thread".

Use loctite on the outside of the riv nut

I found the Knipex Pliers Wrench is great at crimping the rivnuts, but it only works in situations where you can get the pliers onto both sides of where the rivnut has to go. I used them for installing better threads for my car's rear shelf speakers since the actual tool would hit against the rear window.

The first time I used these I pulled out the Fred’s several times, I finally switched to fine Fred

This is noted. Very helpful. Thanks.

You can also use it without the homemade tool. Just use a flat washer the same diameter as the nut head. This way you can easily see if it's seated flush all around as you're tightening it down. Plus this way you don't need to try to hold 3 things at once.

Good tip! For less chance of breaking, you could probably use a hardened bolt and nut.

Been doing that years, you need a couple of brass washers between the nut and hold tool.

I figured this out in a tight spot jam works better then the tool more control. 👍

excellent, good job, greetings from Colombia Thank you very much for your input