We have the same problem here, we have used Rivnuts for years now, you drill a clearance hole in the column, screw the rivnut onto a threaded post the size of the rivnut your using. For example if you choose 1/4-20 rivnut than you need a 1/4-20 socket head cap screw about 2" long with the head cut off chucked in your cordless drill. Inserted the rivnut that you have threaded onto the chucked on the threaded screw in the predrilled hole and pull the go button this will cause the wall of the rivnut to collapse and tighten against the pipe wall inside and leave you with a nice threaded insert. Same concept as a drywall molly or concrete anchor. This is also a classic way to put threads in a thin piece of sheet metal. Wurth industrial supply and D.B.Robert are both suppliers of a variety of this rivnuts. Greenlee also make a drill and tap combo that works well but rather expensive to replace when someone goes like hell when using it.
good luck
LHarrington