A tee nut is a nut with sharp prongs or barbs on the flange that is driven into a pre-drilled hole in wood, so that a strong thread is created on the other side. This lets you screw a metal bolt into wood with a far stronger, reusable connection than with a wood screw alone.
How does it work?
The tee nut (also called a drive-in nut or furniture nut) consists of a barrel with an internal thread and a flange with prongs:
- Drill a hole of the right diameter for the barrel part of the nut
- Drive the nut in with the prongs, so the barbs anchor themselves and prevent it turning
- Screw a bolt into the thread from the other side
The prongs or teeth ensure the nut does not turn along when you tighten the bolt.
Application
- Furniture making — demountable connections, for example for legs or fittings you want to be able to undo
- Play equipment and climbing walls — strong, load-bearing connections in sheet material or beams
- Machine and appliance building — where a reliable thread in wood is needed
- Sheet material — plywood and MDF in which an ordinary wood screw has too little grip
Points to note
- Correct drill size — too loose and the nut sits slack, too tight and the wood can split
- Place on the tension side — position the flange on the side the bolt pulls against, so the force is pressed into the wood
- Drive in straight — a skewed nut gives a skewed bolt connection
- In hardwood, pre-drilling the prong holes can prevent splitting
Related terms
- Wire nail
- Plywood
- Wood
- Dowel
- Expansion bolt
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