Homebrew PCBs

How do other folks handle 
vias on double sided pcbs?

I have tried two methods

1. WIRE 
Place a hole close to each via
and use this to solder in a piece of
wire.  I put a letter "v" in copper 
on the bottom side of board next
to the hole so I can quickly check
that all the vias are taken care of.
Of course this means you have to
drill more pcb holes.

2.  INSERTS 
I got some gold plated MillMax
inserts that fit into a drill hole and
are hollow and big enough for typical
resistor and dip leads.  I think the
OD is about 0.039".  You have to
be careful when you solder them in
because the solder tends to wick
into the hole.  I do not have the
part number now and the last time
I looked no one (Digikey has
some MillMax) was carrying them.
This seems to be the neatist
solution to the hombrew via
problem.  However I only have
a few left, so I will have to find
another source.  If I have to buy
thousands, is anyone interested in
a group buy?

Comments?

Dave
The Inexpensive Seismometer Project
http://www.infiltec.com/seismo