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05-22-2009, 09:02 PM
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#1
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Pro
Trade:
carpenter/ handyman
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Conroe, TX
Posts: 733
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Can anyone here explain why this worked?
I was drilling 3/16"x2" holes in 2 week old concrete for 1/4" Tapcon screws last week for a HO. My roto hammer didn't have a problem making the holes, but when I tried using the same tool to put the screws in (like I usually do with no problem), they would only go half way in & lock up. I drilled the holes deeper & vacuumed the holes out, but still the screws only went halfway. I even tried my impact driver to no avail. I didn't pull my hammer drill out of the truck to try it because I was already embarrassed enough that the HO was witnessing all of this.
The kick is, that when I went to get a fresh battery the HO dragged out his Riobi cordless drill & screwed all of the Tapcons in while in reverse! Can anyone here explain why this happened? The HO swears that the screws have left handed threads? All I know is that my industrial tools appear to have gotten whupped by a Riobi drill & not even a hammer drill!
Steve
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05-22-2009, 10:58 PM
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#2
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Pro
Trade:
Construction and Remodeling
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 1,689
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Sounds to me like you may have gotten a bad batch of tapcons Either that or the HO had them made with reverse threads to play a joke on you 
Dave
__________________
"Pay now or Pay later"
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05-22-2009, 10:59 PM
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#3
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Member
Trade:
Cabinetry
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 86
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A left handed thread on a tapcon?
Hmnn, now there's a totally new concept for discussion. I have to really wonder if the screws have any holding strength after he ran them in backward.
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05-23-2009, 12:37 AM
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#4
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Pro
Trade:
Remodeling general
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Annapolis Md
Posts: 1,499
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Thats f'd up there dude
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05-23-2009, 01:33 AM
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#5
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Coming out of the closet
Trade:
Closet Design-Install-Remodel
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Nor-Cal Baby!
Posts: 104
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Maybe you were upside down.
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05-23-2009, 01:47 AM
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#6
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Pro
Trade:
Painting/Framing/Drywall/Tile
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: KC
Posts: 1,669
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ClosetPro
Maybe you were upside down.
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No man... it was opposite day.. jeeeeze...
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05-23-2009, 02:40 AM
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#7
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Crash Test Dummy
Trade:
Landscaping
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kauai
Posts: 2,037
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that's R-Y-O-B-I.
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05-23-2009, 07:18 AM
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#8
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Pro
Trade:
carpenter/ handyman
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Conroe, TX
Posts: 733
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Thanks Charlie,
Freudian slip, I'm sure.
I've got to go back there today. This guy is building an outside grill island. He is working with metal studs because of the heat that the grill & turkey fryer burner produce. He has a swimming pool nearby & I'm sure that the chemicals will play havoc on the studs. I haven't worked with metal studs before (the HO hasn't either) & I can't see how something framed in this stuff & covered with Hardi-backer & then slate will hold all of this weight?
Steve
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05-23-2009, 07:25 AM
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#9
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---
Trade:
residential framing/general carpentry
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Southern New Jersey
Posts: 3,594
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stp57
Thanks Charlie,
Freudian slip, I'm sure.
I've got to go back there today. This guy is building an outside grill island. He is working with metal studs because of the heat that the grill & turkey fryer burner produce. He has a swimming pool nearby & I'm sure that the chemicals will play havoc on the studs. I haven't worked with metal studs before (the HO hasn't either) & I can't see how something framed in this stuff & covered with Hardi-backer & then slate will hold all of this weight?
Steve
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Metal studs are made in different gauges. The HO needs to get a load bearing stud.
__________________
" It's a Jersey thing, you wouldn't understand"
Last edited by loneframer; 08-15-2009 at 05:55 AM.
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05-23-2009, 07:53 AM
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#10
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Curmudgeon
Trade:
carpentry/remodeling/"Yes M'am we do"
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Beech Grove, Indiana, Birthplace of the "King of Cool"
Posts: 10,148
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When he ran 'em in backwards
he just reamed out the hole
in that green concrete.
I'll bet the withdrawal would
be pretty easy, but they will be
okay in shear.
Light gauge studs wouldn't
last very long likethat around here.
__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)
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05-25-2009, 05:55 PM
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#11
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Pro
Trade:
Control Systems
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Ottawa, ON
Posts: 740
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He reamed out the hole, like neolitic said.
The tapcon bit was intended for block not solid concrete, you need a bit of a slightly different tolerance or you'l keep loosing your head on the long ones; sometimes green can be more of a pain then aged concrete.
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The Following User Says Thank You to Inner10 For This Useful Post:
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05-26-2009, 09:56 PM
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#12
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Pro
Trade:
Carpenter
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,549
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Quote:
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I was drilling 3/16"x2" holes in 2 week old concrete for 1/4" Tapcon screws last week for a HO. My roto hammer didn't have a problem making the holes, but when I tried using the same tool to put the screws in (like I usually do with no problem), they would only go half way in & lock up.
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Not sure exactly what your exact application was, - - but tapcons will normally thread comfortably about 1" to 1 1/4" deep, - - and as was mentioned above, - - even less in solid concrete, - - probably more like 3/4".
Funny story, though, - - I bet the homeowner will definitely love tellin' that one!! . . .
"So then I tell's the contractor, - - here, try my Reversin'-Ryobi"!! . . .
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05-27-2009, 07:27 AM
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#13
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Pro
Trade:
carpenter/ handyman
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Conroe, TX
Posts: 733
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Tom,
Thanks, I believe that had to have been the problem. The HO only had 2 3/4" Tapcon's to hold down metal studs. Too much penetration. Lesson learned.
Steve
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05-27-2009, 06:15 PM
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#14
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ampman
Trade:
providing pathways for electrons and protons
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: central florida
Posts: 733
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never had much luck with tapcons probaly my fault
__________________
T.Boone Pickens " by buying foreign oil we are funding both sides of the war "
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05-27-2009, 09:57 PM
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#15
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Pro
Trade:
Control Systems
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Ottawa, ON
Posts: 740
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Quote:
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The HO only had 2 3/4" Tapcon's to hold down metal studs. Too much penetration. Lesson learned
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The lesson you should be learning is that the incorrect bit was used, or incorrect method. I've run 3 1/2" into both ancient concrete and green concrete without problems. As mentioned use the correct bit tolerance if its block of concrete (I use Hilti bits).
Overdrill the holes, the longer the hole the greater the additional depth is required. 1/4" is suggested but I typically mark my depth gauge or bit about 1/2" extra. Run the bit up and down to clear the holes.
Sucking out pin holes with gravity working against you can be difficult, get a can of duster(close your eyes its gets dusty!) or a blow-bulb.
If your drill begins to bind or the impact is anviling and not turning the screw much, back it out and ream the hole out again, loosing your head is depressing.
...bottom line is its a great excuse to get your wife to allow you to buy a powder actuated gun!
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05-28-2009, 06:59 AM
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#16
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Pro
Trade:
Carpenter
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 5,549
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Inner10
...bottom line is its a great excuse to get your wife to allow you to buy a powder actuated gun!
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Or, do like I do, - - just go ahead and purchase it and when you get home say "look what you got me for my birthday"!!
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05-28-2009, 07:48 AM
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#17
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Pro
Trade:
Control Systems
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Ottawa, ON
Posts: 740
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After all this posting I just figured it out!
Quote:
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I was drilling 3/16"x2" holes in 2 week old concrete for 1/4" Tapcon screws last week for a HO
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Yet....
Quote:
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The HO only had 2 3/4" Tapcon's to hold down metal studs.
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05-29-2009, 08:31 PM
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#18
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Pro
Trade:
carpenter/ handyman
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Conroe, TX
Posts: 733
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Inner10
After all this posting I just figured it out!
Yet....
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I set my depth gauge on my roto hammer to at least 3/4" over the screw length. I just typed in the wrong measurement. Remember, the HO screwed them all the way in reverse with his Ryobi, so the hole depth was not an issue.
That powder actuated gun sounds nice.
Steve
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05-31-2009, 11:43 PM
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#19
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Member
Trade:
Construction management/General contractor
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 46
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why not just use hilti pins, or a ramset to shoot down the metal track?
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07-10-2009, 11:59 AM
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#20
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Registered User
Trade:
Rebar and lumber by the truck
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Milpitas CA
Posts: 7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ClosetPro
Maybe you were upside down.
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 funny sh!t
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