self tapping screws for lintel

[Brian33]

Good evening
i hope this is the right forum,i am fitting kitchen wall units,my problem is that where the brackets need to be there is a metal lintel,I drilled a 6mm hole into the lintel to fit the wall plates for the wall units,but cant find any type of screws to fix them with,can any offer any advice on this matter,thanks in advance
regards Brian

[Hitch]

It depends upon what sort of lintel it is....

You can get self drilling screws (Tek Screws) to screw into various thicknesses of steel, from light gauge, to 20+mm thick.

Sub 3mm thick, and you are looking at coarse thread screws, 3mm+, and they become fine threads- like a bolt rather than a screw.
If you try and use coarse thread ones on thick material, they tend to shear off...... If you use fine thread ones on thin material, they screw in, but don't tighten properly.

[pfb5]

If the lintel is (probably) hollow (wiggle a wire coathanger through the 6mm hole to find out) you could use toggle bolts:

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It sounds like you have wall units adjacent to a window or door - so the other wallplate position is OK? And then the next wallplate is only a short distance away for the next unit? Screw the two units together once mounted and levelled, the problem side may not need much support.
______
Paul

[moderator6]

Put a big magnet on the inside of the cupboard


Sorry couldn't resist

Brian

[pfb5]

Put a big magnet on the inside of the cupboard

Yup, that would do it!

If your wall unit mounting is like this, you could fix it to the cupboard side lower down (with careful measurement):

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and forget trying to fix to the lintel.

[Brian33]

Sorry about the late reply gents,thanks to all that did reply ,got the problem sorted,kitchen nearly finished,once again thanks ,regards Brian

[Richard Lionheart]

Just to come up at the rear, the solution is a Baypole Screw. The have a drill bit tip and a fine self cutting thread, its what builders used to screw lumps of wood to steel beams.

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