T Nut vs threaded insert for furniture legs

[SophW]

 

I have a question about the hardware required to secure furniture legs.

For context: I am planning a project to join 2 cabinets to make a larger buffet & adding legs. I will be using a flat piece of specrite pine as a base to which I will secure the legs, and then be securing 2 separate cabinets side by side on top of that (and another specrite panel on top). For securing the feet to the specrite panel I think I would prefer to use threaded “inset nut” (the left one in the picture) but it seems the furniture legs I want have an imperial measurement (3/8”) and I can’t find an inset nut that would fit it. Is my only option to match these feet the “T Nut” or is there an “inset nut” that will work?
*Noting that I do not want to use the plate type as I would like to get the feet placed flush with the front of the cabinet.

If I have to go with the T Nut option, is there a demonstration video with how best to install/secure them? Thank you

[JacobZ]

Hi @SophW,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

Unfortunately, I am not aware of any insert nuts that would be suitable for imperial threaded furniture legs, which means you'll have to use the T-nuts.

Luckily, T-nuts are installed on the backside of the material, so when the bolt is installed, it pulls the sharp prongs on the T-nut tight into the back of the material. This means you would just need to ensure the threaded rod coming from the furniture leg has clearance on the back side of the plywood. As the T-nut is not going to be in direct contact with the top of the furniture legs, they will sit flush against the plywood.

We do not have a video on how to install them, but if you have a look at YouTube, there are a few examples.

The basic process is to drill a clearance hole through the timber that is just larger than the outside diameter of the centre post in the T-nut, then insert the threaded section from the furniture leg and tighten it so the T-nut pulls into the back of the plywood.

Once the furniture legs are installed, you can use a hacksaw or angle grinder to cut off the excess thread that is poking through the T-nut. If you need to create a clearance hole on the bottom of the cabinets so the t-nut doesn't obstruct them, then you can do so with a spade bit, or you can do the same on the back of the plywood so that the T-nut sits below the surface of the plywood. This is assuming the plywood is thick enough that the teeth would not poke through the otherside.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[AlanM52]

Hi @SophW,

I have grab kits for both Imperial and Metric threaded inserts but the price is rather high for a one off job.

I also have kits like this (Imp/Met) that are (bit confusing) often called Rivet Insert Nuts but I call them Blind Insert Nuts.

Cheers

[woodenwookie]

So do the legs have the thread and you’re looking to screw into the base you make?

If there is only one layer of board between the legs and the base then the screw in thread would be best.

If however you have the bottom of the base then another board for strength then you could recess the T-Nut then put the base of the cabinet on top. That way you’ll hide the T-Nut and have even more strength.

Just remember to have the T-Nut on the opposite side of the board to the direction you’re screwing.

So you’d have the T-Nut at the top and the screw would go up from the bottom. As you screw into it pulls the prongs into the wood.

I’ve done it the wrong way before and the T-Nut just pulls out of the wood.