OK, so now I'm trying to track down a tapped insert, if that's the name. They have knurled outsides for grabbing the host material, and tapped insides for receiving machine screws. I need a smaller size unit (since the host material is only 3/8" thick), and preferably made of stainless steel.

Suppliers, anyone?

Never mind, I think I found them -- at least in brass:

http://www.amazon.com/Headless-Z-Press-I......&sr=1-24

My local Ace Hardware store has them in brass.

Look here for other materials:

http://threaded-insert.com/

Catchy URL, huh?

Very catchy! Too bad they sell them in bulk. I only need 50 pcs or so. Don't know what I'd do with the extra 9,950.

The good news is Amazon has quite a few different versions in my size for around <.35ea. Right down my alley.

You'll have to pay shipping for most anything online. That could bump the "per" price up quite a bit.

Check your local Lowes. That's where I got the threaded inserts that I used for the Card Star stands that unscrew in the middle. I used 5/16", but they had several sizes. Home Depot, Menards, etc. should also have them.

Thanks everyone. Going in I thought these would be rare, but it turns out they're like roaches. It's usually the small pieces like these that play havoc with my projects, especially since I'm on the road and doing all the work in a hotel room, so it's a pleasant surprise that this particular project is coming along so smoothly. At least for now. The week is still young!

Actually, they're much more useful than roaches, but probably not as "durable"...

...and you don't want to step on either in your bare feet.

A car parts store might have what you are looking for, too. And, in a smaller quantity. A few years back, my girlfriend's car blew a spark plug and it's housing right out of the engine block. So, I have to drill out the hole; re-tap it and put in a threaded insert that was the correct size for the spark plug, so it could go back in.

Sincerely,
David