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.

Twist drills do not make accurately sized or good finish holes; a reamer of some type is often used to cut the final size and finish. A reamer will not make the original hole; it will only enlarge a ...

It’s become a common sight in manufacturing. An employee, needing to tap a hole in a metal part, reaches for a standard hand drill instead of the tool designed specifically for the job—a tapper.