Thread Inserts and Restorers

Dealing with damaged or stripped fasteners or threaded holes and trying to salvage the situation without starting from scratch?

There are several options depending on the details of the situation, and today we’re going to look at two of them: thread inserts and thread restorers.

Thread Inserts

Thread inserts can be used to add a threaded hole where there wasn’t one before or repair a threaded hole that’s been stripped. Kimball Midwest offers inserts for a variety of uses.

One particularly useful option is Time-Sert® High Strength Thread Repair Insert Kits. Containing a drill, counterbore, tap, installation driver and five high-tensile carbon steel inserts, these kits come in blow-molded cases and provide quick, simple thread repairs with excellent pullout and torque strength.

To use inserts like these, simply:

1. Drill out the old threads, keeping the drill square.
2. Counterbore the hole to the full depth permitted by the tool.
3. Tap the threads into the full depth of the drilled hole, keeping the tap square.
4. Oil the threads of the driver tool and screw the insert onto the driver and into the prepared hole.
5. When the flange of the insert is seated, the driver will tighten up. Using a little more power, continue to rotate until the driver loosens up.
6. Remove the driver.

Thread Restorers

Thread restorers fix the threads on a damaged fastener. The most common variety is a thread restoring file, but there also are other thread restoration tools available.

For files, the process is straightforward:

1. Line up the thread file using the remaining undamaged threads.
2. Draw through the damaged threads to straighten and realign them.

Other tools generally require a similar simple process.

Of course, it’s always best to avoid stripping or otherwise damaging the fastener to begin with, but these two options are worth considering when things go awry.

If you need help finding the right solution for your fastener needs, your Kimball Midwest sales representative is there for you. If you don’t have one, we’d love to help you .