Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 19 hours ago
If you need a knob for a project, don’t pay for one. You can make your own, customize them for your jigs, and make them stronger and feel better in your hands than a lot of knobs you can buy.
As a viewer mentioned earlier, if you just need a simple round knob, a hole saw works great. Grab an arbor with a pilot bit sized for the hardware you plan to use, put the saw together, and drill out the knob. Now you’ve got the round shape and a centered hole ready for your T-nut or threaded insert.
But when I want something with more grip and turning power, there are three fasteners I use.
My earliest knobs were made with T-nuts, and I’ve used these for years. Just drill the barrel hole, tap in the T-nut, then drill out the tines so it can sit flush. Add a little epoxy or a couple screws on top, and you’re ready to shape the knob however you want.
If you don’t need as much holding power but want to batch them out fast, go with a threaded wood insert. Skip the press-in kind and look for inserts with aggressive knife threads instead. They cut into the wood and hold tight, especially in plywood.
And finally, if you want a beast of a knob, use a square nut. I know, I know, hex nuts are easier to get ahold of and cost a lot less because they’re the standard. But the pockets are harder to cut accurately and especially when you go smaller, there’s a much better chance of them twisting out, even with epoxy. A square nut gives you four broad sides that are easy to chisel around and resist turning.
Trap it between two pieces of wood, glue it up, shape your knob, and that nut isn’t going anywhere.
I have a full field guide I’ve made for these, excluding the hole saw.
If you’d like to watch that…click right over here → youtu.be/3RBaA-BDfyk
Like step by step projects? Check out the second channel! → @makethingswithrob
Buy me a beverage! → buymeacoffee.com/makethings ←
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Marc B.
Richard B.
Ben. K
Bill Patterson
D. Lundman
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
If you need a knob for a project, don’t pay for one. You can make your own, customize them for your jigs, and make them stronger and feel better in your hands than a lot of knobs you can buy.
As a viewer mentioned earlier, if you just need a simple round knob, a hole saw works great. Grab an arbor with a pilot bit sized for the hardware you plan to use, put the saw together, and drill out the knob. Now you’ve got the round shape and a centered hole ready for your T-nut or threaded insert.
But when I want something with more grip and turning power, there are three fasteners I use.
My earliest knobs were made with T-nuts, and I’ve used these for years. Just drill the barrel hole, tap in the T-nut, then drill out the tines so it can sit flush. Add a little epoxy or a couple screws on top, and you’re ready to shape the knob however you want.
If you don’t need as much holding power but want to batch them out fast, go with a threaded wood insert. Skip the press-in kind and look for inserts with aggressive knife threads instead. They cut into the wood and hold tight, especially in plywood.
And finally, if you want a beast of a knob, use a square nut. I know, I know, hex nuts are easier to get ahold of and cost a lot less because they’re the standard. But the pockets are harder to cut accurately and especially when you go smaller, there’s a much better chance of them twisting out, even with epoxy. A square nut gives you four broad sides that are easy to chisel around and resist turning.
Trap it between two pieces of wood, glue it up, shape your knob, and that nut isn’t going anywhere.
I have a full field guide I’ve made for these, excluding the hole saw.
If you’d like to watch that…click right over here → youtu.be/3RBaA-BDfyk
Like step by step projects? Check out the second channel! → @makethingswithrob
Buy me a beverage! → buymeacoffee.com/makethings ←
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Marc B.
Richard B.
Ben. K
Bill Patterson
D. Lundman
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
