Cyberwolf,
I do not use standard blind nuts. I guess I failed to mention that since I have sworn off much hobby supplied hardware. I use the hardened "black" blindnuts or golden colored HD 18-8 stainless steel with a thicker flange. You are right about standard natural or zinc coated soft steel blind nuts. They are soft and prone to fracture and crushing. The black colored blind nuts have been carburized and are much harder. The easy way to tell if they are hardened is to lay one of each type on your garage floor and hit them equally with a hammer. The standard ones will smash flat like a piece of soft lead. I never use the hobby shop supplied blind nuts. The hardened type are available at FASTENAL or through any indusrtial supply such as McMaster-Carr for both SAE and metric thread sizes.

Have a great life and a happy new year.

I'm outta here. SPEEDY

Edited by moderator
Thank you Mr. Moderator for stepping in here.