Masonry Fixings
 

I visited my local builders merchant to purchase some Rawl bolts to fix a
sat dish and a large plasma screen to brickwork.
I instead came away with some Spax masonry bolts (AKA Thunderbolts).
previously I had only seen these beauties in small sizes but here was a full
range and I chose 8mm X 60mm for both jobs.
The ease of use compared with other fixings is streets ahead. One can use
one of the fixture holes as a guide for the first hole to be drilled, Insert
the first bolt then tighten it. Check for level and then drill through the
other fixing holes and screw in the bolts.
The joy of being able to drill the fixing hole through the workpiece with no
need to remove anything to fit an anchor sleeve did it for me.
The bolts are one piece to which I added washers and the total cost at full
retail was only 30p per bolt. ( A lot better than Marky's no-nails!)

I expect the professionals have been using these items for years but I
thought it is worth passing it on as an alternative method of fixing.

BTW I used a £6 sat beeper to align the dish. I was thus able to hold the
ladder with one hand and adjust the dish with the other and could keep my
eyes on the job. This was a one shot exercise as all the channels came
through 100% first time.

Richard H

Masonry Fixings
 

So how do these bolt work exactly then. I may be in need of something very
solid soon.

Brian

--
Brian Gaff -
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Hawkins" wrote in message
...
I visited my local builders merchant to purchase some Rawl bolts to fix a
sat dish and a large plasma screen to brickwork.
I instead came away with some Spax masonry bolts (AKA Thunderbolts).
previously I had only seen these beauties in small sizes but here was a
full range and I chose 8mm X 60mm for both jobs.
The ease of use compared with other fixings is streets ahead. One can use
one of the fixture holes as a guide for the first hole to be drilled,
Insert the first bolt then tighten it. Check for level and then drill
through the other fixing holes and screw in the bolts.
The joy of being able to drill the fixing hole through the workpiece with
no need to remove anything to fit an anchor sleeve did it for me.
The bolts are one piece to which I added washers and the total cost at
full retail was only 30p per bolt. ( A lot better than Marky's no-nails!)

I expect the professionals have been using these items for years but I
thought it is worth passing it on as an alternative method of fixing.

BTW I used a £6 sat beeper to align the dish. I was thus able to hold the
ladder with one hand and adjust the dish with the other and could keep my
eyes on the job. This was a one shot exercise as all the channels came
through 100% first time.

Richard H

Masonry Fixings
 

"Hawkins" wrote in message
...
I visited my local builders merchant to purchase some Rawl bolts to fix a
sat dish and a large plasma screen to brickwork.
I instead came away with some Spax masonry bolts (AKA Thunderbolts).
previously I had only seen these beauties in small sizes but here was a
full range and I chose 8mm X 60mm for both jobs.
The ease of use compared with other fixings is streets ahead. One can use
one of the fixture holes as a guide for the first hole to be drilled,
Insert the first bolt then tighten it. Check for level and then drill
through the other fixing holes and screw in the bolts.
The joy of being able to drill the fixing hole through the workpiece with
no need to remove anything to fit an anchor sleeve did it for me.
The bolts are one piece to which I added washers and the total cost at
full retail was only 30p per bolt. ( A lot better than Marky's no-nails!)

I will look out for these.


I expect the professionals have been using these items for years but I
thought it is worth passing it on as an alternative method of fixing.

BTW I used a £6 sat beeper to align the dish. I was thus able to hold the
ladder with one hand and adjust the dish with the other and could keep my
eyes on the job. This was a one shot exercise as all the channels came
through 100% first time.

£6 wasted IMHO.


Richard H

Masonry Fixings
 

Here is a link I found at last. They are half the price I paid! though worth
every penny.
http://www.fwb.co.uk/mall/productpag...p/433MMA/63637
You just drill a 8mm hole via one of the bracket mounting holes and screw in
the bolt. It cuts its own thread in the brick work. Very little effort is
needed.

Richard H

"Brian Gaff" wrote in message
om...
So how do these bolt work exactly then. I may be in need of something very
solid soon.

Brian

--
Brian Gaff -
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Hawkins" wrote in message
...
I visited my local builders merchant to purchase some Rawl bolts to fix a
sat dish and a large plasma screen to brickwork.
I instead came away with some Spax masonry bolts (AKA Thunderbolts).
previously I had only seen these beauties in small sizes but here was a
full range and I chose 8mm X 60mm for both jobs.
The ease of use compared with other fixings is streets ahead. One can use
one of the fixture holes as a guide for the first hole to be drilled,
Insert the first bolt then tighten it. Check for level and then drill
through the other fixing holes and screw in the bolts.
The joy of being able to drill the fixing hole through the workpiece with
no need to remove anything to fit an anchor sleeve did it for me.
The bolts are one piece to which I added washers and the total cost at
full retail was only 30p per bolt. ( A lot better than Marky's no-nails!)

I expect the professionals have been using these items for years but I
thought it is worth passing it on as an alternative method of fixing.

BTW I used a £6 sat beeper to align the dish. I was thus able to hold the
ladder with one hand and adjust the dish with the other and could keep my
eyes on the job. This was a one shot exercise as all the channels came
through 100% first time.

Richard H

Masonry Fixings
 

"Hawkins" wrote in message
...
Here is a link I found at last. They are half the price I paid! though
worth every penny.
http://www.fwb.co.uk/mall/productpag...p/433MMA/63637
You just drill a 8mm hole via one of the bracket mounting holes and screw
in the bolt. It cuts its own thread in the brick work. Very little effort
is needed.

Richard H

Just to remove any doubt. The bolts I used were marked as 8x60 and needed an
8mm hole. The actual overall diameter including the thread was 10mm. Some
suppliers may list these as 10x60s just to confuse.

Richard H

"Brian Gaff" wrote in message
om...
So how do these bolt work exactly then. I may be in need of something
very solid soon.

Brian

--
Brian Gaff -
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Hawkins" wrote in message
...
I visited my local builders merchant to purchase some Rawl bolts to fix a
sat dish and a large plasma screen to brickwork.
I instead came away with some Spax masonry bolts (AKA Thunderbolts).
previously I had only seen these beauties in small sizes but here was a
full range and I chose 8mm X 60mm for both jobs.
The ease of use compared with other fixings is streets ahead. One can
use one of the fixture holes as a guide for the first hole to be
drilled, Insert the first bolt then tighten it. Check for level and then
drill through the other fixing holes and screw in the bolts.
The joy of being able to drill the fixing hole through the workpiece
with no need to remove anything to fit an anchor sleeve did it for me.
The bolts are one piece to which I added washers and the total cost at
full retail was only 30p per bolt. ( A lot better than Marky's
no-nails!)

I expect the professionals have been using these items for years but I
thought it is worth passing it on as an alternative method of fixing.

BTW I used a £6 sat beeper to align the dish. I was thus able to hold
the ladder with one hand and adjust the dish with the other and could
keep my eyes on the job. This was a one shot exercise as all the
channels came through 100% first time.

Richard H

Masonry Fixings
 

"Hawkins" wrote in message
...
I visited my local builders merchant to purchase some Rawl bolts to fix a
sat dish and a large plasma screen to brickwork.
I instead came away with some Spax masonry bolts (AKA Thunderbolts).
previously I had only seen these beauties in small sizes but here was a
full range and I chose 8mm X 60mm for both jobs.
The ease of use compared with other fixings is streets ahead. One can use
one of the fixture holes as a guide for the first hole to be drilled,
Insert the first bolt then tighten it. Check for level and then drill
through the other fixing holes and screw in the bolts.
The joy of being able to drill the fixing hole through the workpiece with
no need to remove anything to fit an anchor sleeve did it for me.
The bolts are one piece to which I added washers and the total cost at
full retail was only 30p per bolt. ( A lot better than Marky's no-nails!)

I expect the professionals have been using these items for years but I
thought it is worth passing it on as an alternative method of fixing.

BTW I used a £6 sat beeper to align the dish. I was thus able to hold the
ladder with one hand and adjust the dish with the other and could keep my
eyes on the job. This was a one shot exercise as all the channels came
through 100% first time.

Richard H




Yes there are excellent & fast fixings. I use them all the time for Sky
dishes, but I don't think I could sleep at night if I'd used them to affix a
large plasma screen.

Masonry Fixings
 

I thought that anything that cuts its own thread in brick is prone to
wiggle and thus turn the brick to dust, then the screw falls out.

Brian

Of course pictures are not much help to me.
--
Brian Gaff -
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Hawkins" wrote in message
...
Here is a link I found at last. They are half the price I paid! though
worth every penny.
http://www.fwb.co.uk/mall/productpag...p/433MMA/63637
You just drill a 8mm hole via one of the bracket mounting holes and screw
in the bolt. It cuts its own thread in the brick work. Very little effort
is needed.

Richard H

"Brian Gaff" wrote in message
om...
So how do these bolt work exactly then. I may be in need of something
very solid soon.

Brian

--
Brian Gaff -
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Hawkins" wrote in message
...
I visited my local builders merchant to purchase some Rawl bolts to fix a
sat dish and a large plasma screen to brickwork.
I instead came away with some Spax masonry bolts (AKA Thunderbolts).
previously I had only seen these beauties in small sizes but here was a
full range and I chose 8mm X 60mm for both jobs.
The ease of use compared with other fixings is streets ahead. One can
use one of the fixture holes as a guide for the first hole to be
drilled, Insert the first bolt then tighten it. Check for level and then
drill through the other fixing holes and screw in the bolts.
The joy of being able to drill the fixing hole through the workpiece
with no need to remove anything to fit an anchor sleeve did it for me.
The bolts are one piece to which I added washers and the total cost at
full retail was only 30p per bolt. ( A lot better than Marky's
no-nails!)

I expect the professionals have been using these items for years but I
thought it is worth passing it on as an alternative method of fixing.

BTW I used a £6 sat beeper to align the dish. I was thus able to hold
the ladder with one hand and adjust the dish with the other and could
keep my eyes on the job. This was a one shot exercise as all the
channels came through 100% first time.

Richard H

Masonry Fixings
 

Or wall brackets for a mast of appreciable length either.

What metal are they, Stainless I suppose?

Of course the expanding type bolt sleeve thingies, can crack brickwork if
you are unlucky, so maybe ther is no perfect way.


All Plazma beasts should be fitted with air bags in my opinion!

Brian

--
Brian Gaff -
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
Blind user, so no pictures please!
"-GB-Carpy" wrote in message
om...

"Hawkins" wrote in message
...
I visited my local builders merchant to purchase some Rawl bolts to fix a
sat dish and a large plasma screen to brickwork.
I instead came away with some Spax masonry bolts (AKA Thunderbolts).
previously I had only seen these beauties in small sizes but here was a
full range and I chose 8mm X 60mm for both jobs.
The ease of use compared with other fixings is streets ahead. One can use
one of the fixture holes as a guide for the first hole to be drilled,
Insert the first bolt then tighten it. Check for level and then drill
through the other fixing holes and screw in the bolts.
The joy of being able to drill the fixing hole through the workpiece with
no need to remove anything to fit an anchor sleeve did it for me.
The bolts are one piece to which I added washers and the total cost at
full retail was only 30p per bolt. ( A lot better than Marky's no-nails!)

I expect the professionals have been using these items for years but I
thought it is worth passing it on as an alternative method of fixing.

BTW I used a £6 sat beeper to align the dish. I was thus able to hold the
ladder with one hand and adjust the dish with the other and could keep my
eyes on the job. This was a one shot exercise as all the channels came
through 100% first time.

Richard H




Yes there are excellent & fast fixings. I use them all the time for Sky
dishes, but I don't think I could sleep at night if I'd used them to affix
a large plasma screen.

Masonry Fixings
 

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember "Hawkins"
saying something like:

Here is a link I found at last. They are half the price I paid! though worth
every penny.
http://www.fwb.co.uk/mall/productpag...p/433MMA/63637

I wouldn't trust them for anything more than door frames, especially not
for something above head height.
Get a proper Rawlbolt.
--

Dave

Masonry Fixings
 

"-GB-Carpy" wrote in message
om...

"Hawkins" wrote in message
...
I visited my local builders merchant to purchase some Rawl bolts to fix a
sat dish and a large plasma screen to brickwork.
I instead came away with some Spax masonry bolts (AKA Thunderbolts).
previously I had only seen these beauties in small sizes but here was a
full range and I chose 8mm X 60mm for both jobs.
The ease of use compared with other fixings is streets ahead. One can use
one of the fixture holes as a guide for the first hole to be drilled,
Insert the first bolt then tighten it. Check for level and then drill
through the other fixing holes and screw in the bolts.
The joy of being able to drill the fixing hole through the workpiece with
no need to remove anything to fit an anchor sleeve did it for me.
The bolts are one piece to which I added washers and the total cost at
full retail was only 30p per bolt. ( A lot better than Marky's no-nails!)

I expect the professionals have been using these items for years but I
thought it is worth passing it on as an alternative method of fixing.

BTW I used a £6 sat beeper to align the dish. I was thus able to hold the
ladder with one hand and adjust the dish with the other and could keep my
eyes on the job. This was a one shot exercise as all the channels came
through 100% first time.

Richard H




Yes there are excellent & fast fixings. I use them all the time for Sky
dishes, but I don't think I could sleep at night if I'd used them to affix
a large plasma screen.


I have lost the link that I found about these bolts tensile and shear
performance but from memory in brickwork they will withstand a pull of 3
KiloNewtons and a downthrust of 6 KiloNewtons based on a working penetration
of 40mm .
As they are 60mm in length and the thickness of the plasma bracket plus
washer is no more than 4mm the actual penetration is 50mm allowing for 6mm
of plaster the theoretical performance should easily be exceeded.

Because I was mounting the plasma screen to a plastered wall and was not
able to see if the bolts were going full in the face of a brick or part and
part in the mortar I used the full compliment of 8 bolts.
My own back of the envelope workings convince me that just two of these
bolts would be enough to do the job, however as they were so easy to fit I
went for the full Monte.

Richard H

Masonry Fixings
 

In article ,
-GB-Carpy wrote:
Yes there are excellent & fast fixings. I use them all the time for Sky
dishes, but I don't think I could sleep at night if I'd used them to
affix a large plasma screen.

They might be fine if you can guarantee being in the middle of a suitable
type of brick - but for a plasma going onto a plastered wall I'd stick
with Rawlbolts. Even if you hit the mortar course those will still work
just fine.

--
*I went to school to become a wit, only got halfway through.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Masonry Fixings
 

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
-GB-Carpy wrote:
Yes there are excellent & fast fixings. I use them all the time for Sky
dishes, but I don't think I could sleep at night if I'd used them to
affix a large plasma screen.

They might be fine if you can guarantee being in the middle of a suitable
type of brick - but for a plasma going onto a plastered wall I'd stick
with Rawlbolts. Even if you hit the mortar course those will still work
just fine.

--
*I went to school to become a wit, only got halfway through.

Dave Plowman London SW


To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Oh Ye of little faith. I do not theorise about these bolts. I have used them
in the past in small sizes and they are still in use after years of
exposure. I just did not know they were available in sizes suitable for a
plasma etc. Having once used them I will never go back to Rawl-bolts. I have
a Rawl-bolts fail when supporting a washing line. Careful examination of the
failure showed that hole was very near the edge of the brick and the
tightening expansion had broken through into the mortar.
This kind of failure does not happen with Thunderbolts as there are no
expansion stresses.
In any event what is so difficult or dangerous in supporting a plasma
screen?
Mine weighs in at 38KG. Just a pair of these bolts would provide enough
holding power. However as they were so easy to fit I used my full stock of 8
of them.

If I had wanted to mount the plasma on an articulated bracket which allows a
screen to be extended some distance from the wall I would have hung from the
bracket myself before trusting it with my plasma. I would do this what ever
mounting fixtures I used.

Richard H

Masonry Fixings
 

In article ,
Hawkins wrote:
Oh Ye of little faith. I do not theorise about these bolts. I have used
them in the past in small sizes and they are still in use after years
of exposure. I just did not know they were available in sizes suitable
for a plasma etc. Having once used them I will never go back to
Rawl-bolts. I have a Rawl-bolts fail when supporting a washing line.
Careful examination of the failure showed that hole was very near the
edge of the brick and the tightening expansion had broken through into
the mortar.

Then you shouldn't have drilled the hole so close. But in the mortar
course will work with a suitable sized Rawlbolt - it will grip between the
bricks.

This kind of failure does not happen with Thunderbolts as
there are no expansion stresses.

********. If the hole is close to soft mortar it will break too. Cutting a
thread into anything introduces stresses.

In any event what is so difficult or dangerous in supporting a plasma
screen? Mine weighs in at 38KG. Just a pair of these bolts would provide
enough holding power. However as they were so easy to fit I used my
full stock of 8 of them.

It's not just the weight but how the stresses are applied to the fixing.
Which on a wall are much higher than the weight of what's being supported.

--
*When did my wild oats turn to prunes and all bran?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Masonry Fixings
 

In article , Brian Gaff
scribeth thus
Or wall brackets for a mast of appreciable length either.

What metal are they, Stainless I suppose?

Of course the expanding type bolt sleeve thingies, can crack brickwork if
you are unlucky, so maybe ther is no perfect way.

Don't do what someone I knew did once;!!

Wanted a BIG FM aerial one of those Ron Smith jobbies Galaxy 456 or
something that weighed half a ton!..

Put the brackets up with studding that went right through the gable end
cavity to some 1/4 inch thick spreader plates on the inside skin of
thermalite blocks in the loft..

Anyway tightened and tightened some more and a bit more and them bloody
big cracking noise as the entire inside skin split along the bottom and
then the wall Wally tightened it up further till most of the inside skin
hit the outer brickwork!..

He moved shortly after that. I often wondered if the surveyors or the
purchaser ever picked it up!...
--
Tony Sayer