Screws not lining up

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Discussion

Mojooo

Original Poster:

12,668 posts

179 months

Saturday 22nd April 2017
quotequote all
I am being defeated by the most basic of DIY jobs.

I need to put some of these brackets onto a concrete wall

http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mtBTcAIw8-J...

I have measured up where I need the bracket, marked 3 holes and put in wall plugs. I am finding though that not all 3 holes line up perfectly - I can get 2 in but not the 3rd.

I have tried this twice now and have the same problem.

The kit does not come with wall plugs so I am using my on Rawlplug Uno wall plug which is the right size for the screw.

I think the problem is that the centre of the hole in the bracket does not match the exact centre of the wall plug - it only has to be slightly out to be wrong.

My holes appear to be straight in rather than at an angle.

Any tips?

spikeyhead

17,222 posts

196 months

Saturday 22nd April 2017
quotequote all
Drill one hole and screw bracket to wall. Then drill pilot holes for the next two.

4Q

3,347 posts

143 months

Saturday 22nd April 2017
quotequote all
How far off is the 3rd hole? If it's not too far out start all three screws with the bracket slightly away from the wall which will give you a little wiggle room then work the screws in a little at time pulling the bracket to the wall.

nadger

1,411 posts

139 months

Saturday 22nd April 2017
quotequote all
4Q said:
How far off is the 3rd hole? If it's not too far out start all three screws with the bracket slightly away from the wall which will give you a little wiggle room then work the screws in a little at time pulling the bracket to the wall.
This. Don't tighten the screws right down initially. Put them in so they hold the bracket, but perhaps half of them are sticking out. Then screw them all in all the way.
I speak as a world class bodger!

hairyben

8,516 posts

182 months

Saturday 22nd April 2017
quotequote all
Its easy to go off centre when hammer drilling and like you say brackets like that are very unforgiving.

If the drill is moving off your marks, you could try starting it slowly with hammer off until the holes a few mm in, or making an indent using a hammer & point ended chisel/punch etc.

Paul Drawmer

4,864 posts

266 months

Saturday 22nd April 2017
quotequote all
If it's a Bannister rail that you're fixing; fit the brackets to the rail first. Then 1 screw fix one end, and 1 screw fix the other end. If it's long enough to sag then 1 screw fix the middle as well. Then drill and fit all the other wall screws.

brianashley

500 posts

84 months

Saturday 22nd April 2017
quotequote all
Mojooo said:
I am being defeated by the most basic of DIY jobs.

I need to put some of these brackets onto a concrete wall

http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mtBTcAIw8-J...

I have measured up where I need the bracket, marked 3 holes and put in wall plugs. I am finding though that not all 3 holes line up perfectly - I can get 2 in but not the 3rd.

I have tried this twice now and have the same problem.

The kit does not come with wall plugs so I am using my on Rawlplug Uno wall plug which is the right size for the screw.

I think the problem is that the centre of the hole in the bracket does not match the exact centre of the wall plug - it only has to be slightly out to be wrong.

My holes appear to be straight in rather than at an angle.

Any tips?
Yes , watch those screws , they have ahabit of snapping the heads off . Go easy tightening them up. It seems a lot of fixings come with "soft screws"

motco

15,919 posts

245 months

Saturday 22nd April 2017
quotequote all
A place I once visited had two 'mottos' on the lab wall: "Epoxy can be cured", and "Slots always line up"

jet_noise

5,630 posts

181 months

Saturday 22nd April 2017
quotequote all
Drill out one (or more) size(s) larger one (or more) of the holes in the bracket itself to give you some more leeway.
Or if starting again from scratch the spikeyhead's using the bracket as its own template would be my preference.

Mojooo

Original Poster:

12,668 posts

179 months

Saturday 22nd April 2017
quotequote all
1 – I did drill with the hammer mode off for reasons given

2 – screws are absolute ste, they are too soft so have bought new ones

3 – 3rd hole is only off a small amount

4 – I always screw things in a bit at a time rather than forcing them one at a time but its not working.

I will try a slightly bigger hole and if not also try the method of drilling one hole and then marking the next hole and so on .

optimate

109 posts

83 months

Sunday 23rd April 2017
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simple answer you slipped with drill

Slagathore

5,808 posts

191 months

Sunday 23rd April 2017
quotequote all
Mark the hole with a bradawl, then start with a small drill bit right in that hole/mark.

Then either build up the size bit or just go straight in with the needed size.

You should get away with marking them all without fitting it.

Or just drill 1 hole, fit the bracket and then mark the others from that and then use the above again.

If you try going straight in with a 5/6mm drill bit, it will move a little bit.

hairyben

8,516 posts

182 months

Sunday 23rd April 2017
quotequote all
Widen the hole out with say a10mm drill and whittle down a wooden rawl plug to fit might be a usefull save if its a couple mm off and the screw wont force ie its going in on the wonk

Mojooo

Original Poster:

12,668 posts

179 months

Sunday 23rd April 2017
quotequote all
Made it work using a 7mm all plug rather than 6mm one - just gave me that extra leeway on all 3 holes.