Mounting tools to concrete?

[astro_al]

Hi guys, whats the best (cheapish) way to bolt tools to concrete? I flicked through the screwfix catalogue and there's lots of injectable pastes and stuff.

What won't work loose with time, is good and strong and doesn't cost the earth?

Cheers, Al.

 

[madkayaker]

expansion bolts big ones!

 

[Luke]

I used expansion bolts, they seem to work ok

 

[Autolupus]

Anchor bolts.
You can either go more(spreader plate) or bigger for extra strength but don't forget they'll only be as strong as the concrete your drilling into, if it's deep enough, no problem but if you've only a "skimming" then Chemfix may be the way to go as anchor bolts can/will split your 'crete.

 

[madkayaker]

same thing really! (unless I'm missing something!!)

 

[Autolupus]

Well done!
Yes they are the same thing, a bit like egg plant/aubergine, cougar/mountain lion/puma, peewit/green plover/ lapwing or Slim Shady/Marshall Mathers/Eminem...etc.
Have an extra merit star.

 

[madkayaker]

take a gold star out of petty cash.

 

[rtbcomp]

Or even Rawlbolts

 

[madkayaker]

i was going to say that but couldn't spell it. The general concession is then big bolts the old fashioned way!

 

[wyn]

I used to use the rawl bolt type, but with these you have to mark and drill the holes then fit the steel over them. If the holes are out it's a mare.
Tend to use sleeve anchors now so drill straight through the hole in the plate into the concrete...dont know if that would be any good to you if you're fixing lathes and milling machines down though.

 

[rtbcomp]

I thought Rawlbolts were sheild anchors?

http://www.thesitebox.com/Category/4415/rawlplug-rawlbolt-loose-bolt-anchor.aspx

http://www.constructionfixings.com/steelanchors.htm

 

[bawjaws]

the only thing i can reccomend is shield anchors, ive tried hammer fixings, sleeve anchors,-rawlplugs and the shields werethe best, havnt tried chemical anchor resin yet though

 

[wyn]

I'm pretty sure rawl type bolts have a much larger diameter that goes into the concrete. The thread maybe, say16mm but the bit in the concrete will be 20 or 24 so it won't pass through an 18mm hole in steel work. I think the expanding part also gets pulled up to the back of the steel work and this stops it and allows it to expand.

Sleve anchors have a thin steel sleeve about 1-2mm thicker than the threaded part so you can drill the hole in the steel the usual 2mm bigger and the sleeve anchor will go straight through.

Thats how i think it all works in a round about sort of way...could be wrong though.

 

[rtbcomp]

LOL - need to put my glasses on! I'm confusing sleeve anchors and sheild anchors.

The middle section of this page shows both, http://www.constructionfixings.com/steelanchors.htm

Yes, sleeve anchors look easier.

 

[Paul.]

Chemfix or resin anchors seem to be what everyones using now, sleeve anchors are ok but for any given size the thread will be smaller, ie, an 8mm sleeve anchor will only have an M6 stud in it. I still use conventional through bolts for fixing down machinery, you can drill straight through the mounting hole, "tip" drill the hole deep enough to take the whole length of the anchor, then if you need to you can knock the bolt flush with the floor when its no longer needed, saves cutting it off.

 

[astro_al]

Do you think one type would be more resilient to vibration and subsequent pulling out than the other?

I'm tempted to think that the largest diameter that actually goes into the concrete would give a more solid fixing?

Cheers, Al.

 

[Paul.]

what are you fixing, is the load in shear or tension?, is it safety critical.

 

[astro_al]

Its mostly for various tools - some in shear (in use), all in tension. Mounting into thickish concrete (6" or more). Plus a mezzanine / gantry frame.

Also interested in case I can use the same thing for some gates I need to make.

Cheers, Al.

 

[Paul.]

I'd probably use through bolts for a tensile load, and either would be ok for a mez column, obviously the concrete quality is a major factor in the strength of any fixing, chem fix can be useful for dodgy masonry, when I go out installing I take a good selection and decide on site what to use,

 

[Pete.]

Those shield anchors are very tough and versatile. I have used literally thousands of them over the years and they'll fix in just about anything you can drill. They'll also work in bigger than spec holes. We use the M12 ones which need a 20mm hole but we drill 22 so we can get them out again easily. The M12's will hold half a ton no problem.