Plastic heat set insert installation tool - Usage

Use of heat-set installation tool (soldering iron tip) for all the popular sizes of metric and English size brass heat-set inserts. This tool was created to help 3D Printers and makers install heat-set inserts into their plastic parts. It has a long reach and narrow body, allowing you to reach tight corners and deeper into parts than the McMaster installation tip. It solves the problem that conical tip soldering irons have of grabbing onto the insert and pulling out the insert before it sets in the piece. It also helps install the insert square into the piece. Works for Weller SP40 and Hakko FX888D irons.
See • Heat-set insert instal... for more in-depth coverage of usage and background on why this tool was developed.
Thanks for watching and give me your feedback.
It can be purchased on Amazon (not affiliate links)
For Hakko FX888D irons: Five sizes of metric tips: M2, M2.5, M3, M4, and M5
www.amazon.com...
For Hakko FX888D irons: M3 size with 30 M3 inserts
www.amazon.com...
For Hakko FX888D irons: Four sizes of English tips: #4, #6, #8, 1/4"
www.amazon.com...
For Weller WES51 irons: Five sizes of metric tips: M2, M2.5, M3, M4, and M5
www.amazon.com...
For Hakko FX888D irons: M2.5 size with 30 M2.5 inserts
www.amazon.com...
Pack of 50 #4-40 inserts:
amazon.com/dp/...

[@KRGraphicsCG]

These are AWESOME. I bought some 6-32's and they are SMALLER than I thought they were... SUPER USEFUL!!!

[@jwa718]

Great idea---found this video via a post in an automotive centered forum where this type of insert is used in some Ford intake manifolds. Before knowing of this tool repairing a missing or loose insert typically required removing and/or replacing that part. Simply repairing the insert saves a lot of time, money and unnecessary effort. Thank you!

[@randycox4633]

Really glad it helped you out. Would you mind saying exactly which automative forum you saw the link to this video on?

[@dingdangdole682]

ford-trucks dot .com Ford Truck Enthusiasts

[@originalskateboards]

Sweet, they help for skate gear too. Respect on the SEO game, keep it up! We could use one for #10-32 (standard skate hardware) which I havent been able to find!

[@randycox4633]

I have an English set on Amazon that includes a #10 at: www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZHLDPM2

[@originalskateboards]

@@randycox4633 already bought and used prior to the comment. Perfection. Thanks for making it happen!

[@matthewmarsh1971]

englarge the chamfer at the top of your holes to get rid of the melted mushroom of plastic

[@c0pyimitati0n]

Can these be used to _remove_ them as well? I need to replace a stripped brass insert.

[@randycox4633]

I doubt these would help you remove a stripped brass insert since they're designed to slip off easily. If you have any threads left at all, the best bet might be to grab as much thread as you can with a longer 4-40 screw (or whatever size you're working with), then heat up the screw with a small torch, if you can keep from melting your piece. Since you're probably already in the situation where you'd need to fill the hole before putting a new one in, you could use these tips to heat things up and then tip it sideways to try to put some friction on the insert and pull it out that way. Would leave a bigger hole to fill up, but might work.

[@c0pyimitati0n]

@@randycox4633 that's actually not a bad idea.. however after some research I finally found an extraction tool from McMaster.

[@randyglenn5965]

Love mine! Any chance you can make the tool for M2.5 screws? M3 and #4 are too big for Raspberry Pis.

[@randycox4633]

Hi Randy, glad you're getting good out them. I've had some requests for the smaller M's and will consider making them in that size too. Are you using the Hakko model iron?

[@randyglenn5965]

Hakko tip in a compatible Atten-brand iron.

[@randycox4633]

@@randyglenn5965 Okay, thanks. Since the economics are such that I basically need to sell a couple of sizes at a time, what other sizes would interest you along with a 2.5?

[@TheEisel]

@@randycox4633 might be worth selling them as a full package ex. M2-M5. That's what I would've preferred.

[@chickeygaming6848]

Do you sell them in the UK?

[@randycox4633]

We do distribute through Tindie to the UK, but they are shipped by us here in the US. So it can take about 10 days to get there. www.tindie.com/products/Virtjoule/heat-set-insert-install-4-40-m3-and-m5/