Advice On Setting A Mantle Beam...

slowsol

In a few weeks I need to set a 6"x6"x6' hand hewn beam as a mantle. The wall is already blocked and drywalled.

What is the best method for holding this thing up? I worked for a builder a while ago that would lag a pieces of 3"x3" angle iron to the wall and epoxy stone mantles that had a slot cut into them to the angle iron. Is this an acceptable way for the beam also?

__________________
-John

We'll have to grab a longer board. I forgot to put the wood stretcher in the truck today.

loneframer

In the past, I've seen rebar drilled into the block and epoxyd in, then the back of the timber is drilled and set on the rebar with construction adhesive.

__________________
__________________________________




"Walking the fine line between production and perfection"



__________________________________

pinwheel

That's exactly how I've set them before. Completely invisible.

neolitic

Rising dove tail brackets.

__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

wannaBelkhuntin

For an old hand hewn beam like that I drill 3/4" holes about 3" deep and then use 6" timber screws to attach it, then I use Walnut pegs left about 1" proud. Pegs would be common on something like that, plus I can move it after the HO looks at it and decides she would like it a little higher. I have done triple 3" slab Cherry mantles by drilling holes in the top or bottom and using timber 6" screws at an angle and then plug and sand the holes. The timber screws are quite a bit stronger than the cheap lag screws you get now days, I have watched a few masons stepping on the mantles and have never had a problem with this style install. Plus it is easy.

UpNorth

Hand hewn is nice, but the side going against that nice flat wall should be surfaced.

Nice job for a big router, a sled, and a large mortising bit. A large 14-degree dovetail bit is used to edge the cleats, and also to finish the mortises in the beam's wall-side.

Neo's suggestion is a good one. I have used variations of this, one just yesterday, to hang a mirror with heavy white oak frame.

A sketch of what might work is shown, attached. Use collar templates and patterns. One large piece of ply for the 4-hole pattern for the mortises, works also to mark the wall for attaching the cleats. Fix the cleats with anchors of your choice.

Attached Thumbnails