Bicycle Mechanics - 5mm Riv Nuts

Anybody here know of a source that I can get a dozen or so 5mm Riv nuts? Most of what I can find on the Internet is for orders of 1000 or more. I don't need that many. I have a riv nut tool, but I will need the 5mm arbor to go with the riv nuts.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/TL401J59-Marson+5Mm+Riv-Nut+Zinc+Plated+Steel.aspx?sc=FRGL

http://www.bikeman.com/TL5004.html

You got me going with the topic since I've been looking to add rack mount points to a frame I'm riding right now.

You're right, most want to sell in bulk. But I found a couple of places that sell in small numbers. Not cheap though....

Out of England
http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/FASTENINGS-Rivnuts/c10_305/index.html

If you're willing to live with 10-32 threading instead of 5 mm then Aircraft Spruce and Specialty has them for very cheap...
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/hapages/rivnuts.php

BINGO! Ebay Express
http://item.express.ebay.com/NUTSERTS-NUTSERT-RIVNUT-INSERTS-5mm-METRIC-RIVNUTS-ADAP_W0QQitemZ4514788745QQihZ007QQcmdZExpressItem

The only issue I have with this last one is that it's a steel rivnut that I'm assuming you're fitting to an aluminium frame. To help avoid electrolytic corrosion issues (think aluminium seat posts in steel frames here) I'd probably seal it using some epoxy smeared on the sides of the rivnut as you install it. Hopefully that'll seal the joint from water and corrosion. I'll have to check the ones on my alloy frames to see if they are alloy or steel. If they are steel then I'm obvioiusy worried about nothing.

The mandrel involves a pulling action. If you go for the metric rivnuts from a place that doesn't include the cheezy little puller you could fake it by using a QR skewer and an axle as a spacer. Slip the axle onto the skewer along with a thick spacer washer at the eccentric end, thread on the rivnut, insert and then lock. Unlock thread in a bit more and relock if needed to finish the setting. You just need it tight enough to not rattle. If you get carried away it could deform the tube wall.

The only issue I have with this last one is that it's a steel rivnut that I'm assuming you're fitting to an aluminium frame. To help avoid electrolytic corrosion issues (think aluminium seat posts in steel frames here) I'd probably seal it using some epoxy smeared on the sides of the rivnut as you install it. Hopefully that'll seal the joint from water and corrosion. I'll have to check the ones on my alloy frames to see if they are alloy or steel. If they are steel then I'm obvioiusy worried about nothing.
I just checked the factory installed water bottle bosses on my Trek 7000 Aluminum frame MTB and, sure enough, the bosses are steel.

Sealing them during installation and greasing the bolt threads are good ideas.

www.mcmaster.com
Item #94020A375 or
item #91230A231

Thanks all....

Check your local yellow pages for "fasteners". We have a Fastener Warehouse in the area where I buy rivnuts and other oddball stuff from their bins open stock.

I added rivnut water bottle bosses to my daughter's steel framed bike, but I'm not sure that I would be brave enough to drill an alloy frame. Some of that light weight tubing is already pretty stressed. If you do it, make sure that you use sharp drill bits and oil. You want a clean cut hole without inducing tiny stress cracks (intergranular fractures) radiating out from the hole.