We have all done it, overtightened a bolt and blown out the threads. When a bolt starts to tighten up and then go suddenly loose, you know that the threads are toast and now you have a problem.

When people are designing lightweight products, or repairing a worn-out thread, a dependable fastening tool can make a big difference. This is where self tapping threaded inserts can come into play.

This article was updated May 25, 2023. It was originally published Nov. 17, 2009. To put hard, durable threaded holes in plastics, engineers often specify threaded metal inserts that will securely ...