Here's how I make wooden knobs for jigs and fixtures. There's also a segment on installing threaded inserts and pronged t-nuts. Here's a link to a video about the dust shield on the Ridgid oscillating sander: • Dust Shield For Ridgid...
Not being a jerk , I promise. Your voice should be a cartoon character voice. Also just wandering have you tried using a hole saw instead of sawing them out after drilling the notch holes? I need to make a basket of these as I'm tired of tiny wing nuts.
I liked this video. Thanks for dropping scholarship on how to do this. Best wishes for many more productive days in the shop and hopefully more videos for us. Aloha
I'm making knobs all the time for my jigs. I prefer using threaded inserts although I'm going to try your suggestion of just tapping the threads. I use hardwood for all my knobs. I did however go to eBay and purchase 1/4-20 and 5/16-18 hex drive inserts. I typically use the larger, more bulky threaded inserts but I liked your suggestion of the hex drive items. They seem to be less likely to split the wood when seating them. Thanks for the vid, Earl!!! I found it useful.
Great Instruction; Would a 2" hole saw work to cut out the knobs from the larger piece after the smaller holes are drilled.? I'm thinking of my lack of skill with the scroll saw
Earl-thanks so much. I don't see anything on the center of your finished knob, so assume they are the tapped option. Do you then run all threaded thru the knob and bind with epoxy so it will hold and not spin when you are using the knob to tighten something down? Do you use a rubber washer on the inside of the knob to help tighten down?
I almost always counterbore for the hammer in T nuts, but use epoxy sometimes - much easier & less obtrusive than screws. I like the hex key inserts & will look for them on Amazon. Compass method and simple 2" size w/ 1/2" holes to create 'star' points is super convenient & simple - best method I've seen. I might just epoxy a bolt into the hardwood after threading, and save on the inserts. Thanks.
This is one of the most well explained videos on how to make simple wooden knobs. Others show the process, but sometimes don't explain what they are doing. Also great overview on the threaded inserts and t nuts. Well done sir.
Great video Earl. Great time savers! Just a suggestion but to show two finished knobs one with a t nut and one with a insert! Great ideas and expense savers!!
Um, given I’ve never make a wooden knob it would be very helpful had you shown putting the bolt in the knob. It would answer questions on what type of bolt you used, hex head, round head carriage, ...???? and how is the bole held in place, loctite, or just insertion torque?
I just use my cnc to make them now as needed. But before I made the CNC i used this method. I mill a pocket to fit a nut or in the case of a bolt, the bolt head. A bolt head and the nut for it will always be the same measurements for a givin size. To make sure things stay put I put a dab of epoxy on the nut or bolt head. With any knob using t-nuts or a recessed nut like I do, the nut or t-nut should be positioned where the stress on them when the knob is tightened is pulling the nut or t-nut into the knob.