Thread: Looking for a particular type of leg leveller

You don't have to drill an accurate hole or even glue in the nut. Just drill a hole of a size somewhere in between the distance between the nut flats, and the distance between opposite nut points, and belt the nut into the hole. A trial run on a piece of wood will help test if the hole is the right size. I must have done dozens of feet like this and never had one come out yet.

Hi Glider,
Seen them in Mitre10. If you want flash ones try T&R Sports (pool table levelers)
Cheers Ross

The method I have used successfully in the past consists of a T-nut and a nut and bolt - either hex or round head depending on whether it was going onto a hard floor or carpet.

The T-nut depending on the size has 3 or 4 tapered spikes and a female thread which is deeper than a nut. You simply drill a hole to the threaded insert size, make the hole deep enough to take the bolt length - insert the T-nut and drive the spikes home with a hammer. Keep the nut close to the head of the bolt and screw the bolt until all is level - now tighten the nut up against the flat bottom of the T-nut and you have a locked height leveller.

T-nuts are available in most good hardware stores and run to less than $5 for a packet of 4.

Just another thought.

Why not just use a threaded insert? These are similar to "T" nuts except that they are screwed into the wood best using a tool made from a bolt with the head cut off.

The threaded insert is sort of like a barrel with threads inside (machine type) and threads outside (wood screw threads). They come in various sizes and metal types. (Zinc, steel, brass)

T nut.
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Originally Posted by Handyjack

T nut.
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"T" nuts are good but in a leg application they are likely to loosen with time and movement.

"T" nuts work best when the threaded whatever enters the "T" nut from the barrel side. (In opposition to the direction of the prongs.)

"T" nuts are good way to hold a couple of pieces of wood together in a knock down application.

"T" nuts also make a reasonable drill guide that will work for a several holes.

T nuts are useful when fitted to the bottom of a leg and then an adjustable glide. This allows you to eliminate wobble if the floor is uneven.

There are some others (Brass and zinc) that will work but these survive repeated use.

Steel Threaded Inserts - Select size - Rockler Woodworking Tools

If you want me to pick up some and put them in the post, I can do so. I can send a package here or there while claiming them to be a gift on the customs declaration.

A word of warning, the threads are Imperial. HOWEVER the 1/4" x 20 is the same thread as the tripod thread for a camera. (At least as deep as the tripod thread goes.) I have been told that this thread matches up with a standard metric size. It could be that the threads are made so sloppy that the few mm of the threads that are engaged permit the threads to work properly.

All that I know about the metric system is that the right foot of some ancient Anglo Saxon royalty's right foot was about one third of one ten-millionth of the distance from the Earth's equator to the North Pole (at sea level).

Thanks guys. I looks like T-nuts are very similar to my description.

The plan is to use the levellers on my kitchen table. The farmhouse floor is a bit wonky but only varies by about 3 mm. (approx. 1/8 inch). Since the table virtually never moves, I don't expect T-nuts to loosen. The two adjusting 20 cent pieces have remained in place for a couple of years now.

mick

Checked the couple of T-nut + nut and bolt leveller I still have around - none have loosened or shifted, particularly as, when at height the nut is locked up against the T-nut.

If you are at all concerned about movement you could always add some araldite to the pronged side before hammering them in.