Recommended Wall Fixings

Tim76

I’m trying to mount a 30kg IKEA Lillangen storage unit onto a tiled masonry wall.

According to the instructions I need to use pan head screws instead of countersunk ones. The guy in the hardware store recommended 100mm ones and said I just needed a 5mm diameter pilot hole and no wall plugs.

Problem is these screws are and absolute bastard to get in. The drill keeps stopping even on the highest torque setting and by the time I have got them in there has been so much messing around it the pilot hole they seem loose in the wall.

Anybody got any other recommendations for mounting this unit?

All advice appreciated!

Purgative

Tim, my bodge fix, acquired over the years, for any pilot holes that have been rattled too large is to pack them with filler. If I have an open tube I'll use Tec7.

DublinDilbert

They are probably brick screws. The initial hole you drill needs to be the correct size. Do a trial hole outside in an old brick. I often drive these with the ratchet set.

Clean the dust out of the hole after drilling. If the hole is marginally too small, run the drill in and out a few times.

dodzy

Forget that recommendation and just use decent wall plugs & screws. Assuming you drilled 5mm to start and you've widened the holes at this point with all the messing around, just head towards 8-10mm wall plugs and a suitable screw, something like this:

https://www.ie.screwfix.com/fischer-fischer-sx-nylon-plugs-8-10-x-60mm-pack-of-25.html

You are going directly into masonry behind the tile as previously stated ?

Macker

If your'e drilling with a cordless drill its a ball ache ,borrow a good corded drill for a clean hole

Calahonda52

The other idea is to use compress nails with a rawlplug inserted in the hole in the compress nail

dodzy

Macker wrote: »

If your'e drilling with a cordless drill its a ball ache ,borrow a good corded drill for a clean hole

A decent SDS cordless eats masonry for breakfast. And no wires

Calahonda52 wrote: »

The other idea is to use compress nails with a rawlplug inserted in the hole in the compress nail

A great idea particularly if you've to deal with a cavity space but if going direct to concrete, I'd be happier with a decent rawl plug type solution. I think that the jagges outer side of the plastic plugs just affords more grip against the concrete as opposed to the smooth inner surface of a spring nail.

Tim76

DublinDilbert wrote: »

They are probably brick screws. The initial hole you drill needs to be the correct size. Do a trial hole outside in an old brick. I often drive these with the ratchet set.

Clean the dust out of the hole after drilling. If the hole is marginally too small, run the drill in and out a few times.

Cheers. Yeah, I was thinking that I shoudld get a block or brick to practice on before I start drilling anymore holes in the walls.

Any idea how deep the pilot hole should be for a 100mm masonry screw?

There will prob be around 85mm of the screw in the wall once the unit is mounted.

Tim76

dodzy wrote: »

Forget that recommendation and just use decent wall plugs & screws. Assuming you drilled 5mm to start and you've widened the holes at this point with all the messing around, just head towards 8-10mm wall plugs and a suitable screw, something like this:

https://www.ie.screwfix.com/fischer-fischer-sx-nylon-plugs-8-10-x-60mm-pack-of-25.html

You are going directly into masonry behind the tile as previously stated ?

Cheers, that could work. What type/size screws would you recommend for this type of plug? The unit weighs 30kg when empty and god only knows what the missus will try and pack into it so the fixings would need to be pretty substantial!

Calahonda52

dodzy wrote: »

A great idea particularly if you've to deal with a cavity space but if going direct to concrete, I'd be happier with a decent rawl plug type solution. I think that the jagges outer side of the plastic plugs just affords more grip against the concrete as opposed to the smooth inner surface of a spring nail.

Can't argue with that, the idea is also good for use on dry lined walls that have insulated boards

100mm is a long screw for that job imo.

If you are going with them the hole for the plug needs to be at least as long as the screw so it can go all the way in without bottoming out.
I'd just use red rawl plugs in a 5.5/6mm hole and 60mm screws.
If I didnt have panheads I'd use a wood screw with a washer.

They don't want you to over tighten them and bust the wood (cardboard) hence the pan heads!

-drilling your tile is the hardest part for someone without experience!

dodzy

Tim76 wrote: »

Cheers, that could work. What type/size screws would you recommend for this type of plug? The unit weighs 30kg when empty and god only knows what the missus will try and pack into it so the fixings would need to be pretty substantial!

Just pop into a local Woodies and grab a pack of 8mm x 60mm nylon Molly plugs. They’re very good quality. The pack will tell you what screw size/width to use and the require hole size. You can go to 10mm if you wish but the former will be more than capable.

Tim76

dodzy wrote: »

Just pop into a local Woodies and grab a pack of 8mm x 60mm nylon Molly plugs. They’re very good quality. The pack will tell you what screw size/width to use and the require hole size. You can go to 10mm if you wish but the former will be more than capable.

Cheers. Do you reckon i could use this solution in my now useless pilot holes? They are about 80mm deep and of varying diameters at this stage.

Tim76

BrownFinger wrote: »

If I didnt have panheads I'd use a wood screw with a washer.

The washer sounds like a good idea!

dodzy

Tim76 wrote: »

Cheers. Do you reckon i could use this solution in my now useless pilot holes? They are about 80mm deep and of varying diameters at this stage.

Of course. If you’re concerned about potential varying diameters, grab a few larger sized plugs. Better having to ‘persuade’ them home that having them loose fitting.

Persuasion = hammer tap.

Tim76

dodzy wrote: »

Of course. If you’re concerned about potential varying diameters, grab a few larger sized plugs. Better having to ‘persuade’ them home that having them loose fitting.

Persuasion = hammer tap.

Widened the holes to 10mm diameter and picked up Molly 10x50mm plugs & screw set in Woody's. Apart form the drill struggling to drive a couple of the screws home the fixings worked a treat. In the time honoured tradition of a bad workman blaming his tools I'm going to call out the Black & Decker for letting the side down but after a lot of blood, sweat and swearing the units now seem very secure on the wall despite it's weight and size.

Appreciate the advice!