Questions about portable drills and Helicoils for wood applications.

[Blue_true]

Hi, I have tended to use an electric drill during the few times that I have used tools.

I have a home project where I will be building a holder for heavy rectangle boxes for a relative.

I have done the design, but I have two related questions.

What is the best 18v brushless portable drill on the market. It must take a drill bit up to 1/2 inch? I did some reading this weekend and there seem to be conflicting review information. Bosch, DeWalt and Milwaukee are well known names, but I read a lot of claims that their quality has slipped, people buying expensive drills that either didn’t work, lasted a few uses, or failed after a few months. I generally hate to go through the process of sending a defective item back, typically I just swear off the manufacturer and throw or give the thing away. So, since I need the drill for an immediate project and one later on where I will be doing a gardening construction project, I want to get things right on the first pass.

For those of you that use them regular AND have purchased a drill within the last 2 years, what drill should I buy?

I have used Helicoils before, but there is not a lot of information on ones that work well in wood. The item that I am building for my relative will take a lot of dynamic force. I am concerned that if I use self-piercing screws, over time they will chew up the wood fiber around them and loosen. I found only one video online where a guy inserted Helicoils into wood, but he appeared to have used the same ones that are used for metal and didn’t explain his choice of those particular Helicoils for a wood application.

What are the best Helicoils for inserting into wood? I expect to have some cases where I will be using 1/2 relatively fine thread screws. Should I use the same Helicoils that I would use for metal and put Loctite on them during installation, or would that be a mistake?

[marble falls]

1. Look at these ...

https://www.auveco.com/nutserts

[Blue_true]

2. How do those work?

How would I insert them into the wood that a screw into them? I didn’t intend to use self-piercing screws, so I would have to thread the inside of the Nutsert?

[marble falls]

9. You drill a hole and lock it into the wood with a tool that deforms the nutsert ...

... without warping the thread. I've used them on metal, and I am sold on the company and the product. They also make a similar system for wood. If you're going to use particle board and your holes are going to be close to the edge, there are plastic inserts that are screwed into an oversized hole with a screwdriver. There are also simple devices for attaching panel that don't use screws. A lot of Ikea furniture use these systems. So they're cheap, available and dependable. If you have a good Ace hardware it'd be a good idea to go see what they have.

Go online and search on Thomas register: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Register

https://www.thomasnet.com/

I was a mechanical designer and draftsman in a previous lifetime, I'd be glad to consult with you gratis.

[Blue_true]

12. I will be using wood that is 2 inches thick and 16 inches wide as my base.

I will attach 4x4 sections to that base. The large screws will anchor the braces that I will use on the 4x4s to the base wood, then I will run smaller screws through the braces and into the 4x4s.

[Mopar151]

3. You need the Screw Thread Inserts made for WOOD

Helicoils are not the only brand, or type, of screw thread insert. McMaster Carr is a huge industrial distributor, who is accessible by their (awesome) website. If you do not have a wholesale account, they will hang up the phone if you try! They have EVERYTHING!

here's a link to some things might work for you! https://www.mcmaster.com/screw-thread-inserts/flanged-tapping-inserts-for-softwood/

[Blue_true]

4. I will do another check, but McMaster-Carr was one of the companies that I

looked at. I believe they have distributors that would handle smaller amounts. On my first examination, I didn’t see what I was looking for, but I will follow the link you gave and re-examine.

[Mopar151]

7. Order direct on your computer!

Their catalogs weigh several pounds, and are NOT easy for "civilians" to get, let alone order from. You have a direct link to what you need there. I've been using them for 40+ years, personally and professionally. On the computer, they will sell things in "personal"quantities - and give both the individual and quantity price.

[Blue_true]

10. Thanks. I may have to go with the 3/8 or M10 inserts.

McMaster Carr appeared to have had the best design during my initial investigations.

[Blue_true]

6. Now I remember.

The McMaster Carr inserts were too small for the key holes that I will need to make, they are adequate for three smaller holes, though. The standard size goes up to 3/8, the size I need is either 1/2” or an alternative M12 (McMaster Carr only goes up to M10).

[Alpeduez21]

5. I can't speak to helio coils for wood

I am VERY happy with the Kobalt 24v cordless line of tools at Lowe's. I use the angle grinder and impact wrench on an almost daily basis. I have had the tools and battery for 3 years. Battery lasts a couple days between charges with heavy duty use on both tools. I have left the battery for days and it doesn't lose power in the interim. The tools have a 5 year warranty. The batteries have a 3 year one. That is amazing for a battery. They are brushless tools and they are awesome.

[Blue_true]

8. Thanks, I will take a look at that brand. There is a Lowes within a decent drive of where I

live.

[ret5hd]

11. Use t-nuts in wood, not helicoils...

[Blue_true]

13. My base wood will be 2 inches thick. I will look to see whether

I can find a Tee-Nut that would catch more of the screw.

My guess is that I need to catch at least 25% of the screw if I used a Tee-Nut, otherwise the dynamic loading over time will case problems. One advantage of tangles inserts is that I can stack them in a hole, generating close to 100% coverage for the screw thread.

[Blue_true]

14. Thanks all that replied. I have several things to look at or re-examine before

starting to build. I will check the drill idea, the voltage seems right for what I am doing, along with it being brushless.

[58Sunliner]

15. I do a lot of construction. Dewalt, Bosch or Makita.

For a hammer drill or heavy duty-Milwaukee. I use my Dewalt daily. Most carpenters use Dewalt.

[Blue_true]

16. I know the DeWalt is a good name. One of my brothers stock his

business with them. But he has owned the tools for years. A number of the recent reviews that I read about DeWalt drills implied that the quality had slipped badly, things like the tool dead out of the box or only lasted a few weeks or months. That gave me pause.

Looks like a cordless drill is going to be a diceroll regardless of which brand I buy. I will buy what I hope will be a good one and keep the receipt as well as send in the warranty card. One consistent thing that I read was that brushless cordless drills were better choices that the cordless alternative.

I may even just wimp out and buy a cord drill.

[58Sunliner]

17. Never had a dead driver. Mine always last at least 3 years.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

18. I think you are far to reliant on those reviews.

The time is right for buying right now, tis the season. So you want to watch the adds in home depot and lowe's ,always there is a good deal on battery pack drills this time of year.
I have a dewalt 18 volt more than 15 years old ,and 2 bosh 18 volters . You should be able to find a good deal the drill,two batteries and a charger for under $ 100.00 before Christmas. If you are concerned about the defect factor ,fill out the warranty card and send it in. It is just that simple. They mail you a replacement asap. However I doubt you will encounter an issue.

[Blue_true]

19. Thanks. nt