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self tapping screws for lintel

Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 7:35 pm
by 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

Re: self tapping screws for lintel

Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 8:59 pm
by 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.

Re: self tapping screws for lintel

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 8:21 am
by 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

Re: self tapping screws for lintel

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 8:30 am
by moderator6
Put a big magnet on the inside of the cupboard :thumbright:


Sorry couldn't resist :lol:

:welcomeuhm: Brian

Re: self tapping screws for lintel

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 8:39 am
by pfb5
moderator6 wrote:Put a big magnet on the inside of the cupboard :thumbright:
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):
wallplate.JPG
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and forget trying to fix to the lintel.

Re: self tapping screws for lintel

Posted: Thu Aug 08, 2013 7:21 pm
by 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

Re: self tapping screws for lintel

Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 6:41 pm
by 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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