Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?

 
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Old 05-22-2009, 10:02 PM   #1
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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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Old 05-22-2009, 11:58 PM   #2
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


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


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Old 05-22-2009, 11:59 PM   #3
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


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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Old 05-23-2009, 01:37 AM   #4
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


Thats f'd up there dude
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Old 05-23-2009, 02:33 AM   #5
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


Maybe you were upside down.
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Old 05-23-2009, 02:47 AM   #6
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


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Originally Posted by ClosetPro View Post
Maybe you were upside down.


No man... it was opposite day.. jeeeeze...


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Old 05-23-2009, 03:40 AM   #7
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


that's R-Y-O-B-I.
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Old 05-23-2009, 08:18 AM   #8
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


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?
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Old 05-23-2009, 08:25 AM   #9
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


Quote:
Originally Posted by stp57 View Post
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
Metal studs are made in different gauges. The HO needs to get a load bearing stud.
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Last edited by loneframer; 08-15-2009 at 06:55 AM.
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Old 05-23-2009, 08:53 AM   #10
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


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.
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Old 05-25-2009, 06:55 PM   #11
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


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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Old 05-26-2009, 10:56 PM   #12
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


Quote:
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.

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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Old 05-27-2009, 08:27 AM   #13
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


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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Old 05-27-2009, 07:15 PM   #14
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


never had much luck with tapcons probaly my fault
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Old 05-27-2009, 10:57 PM   #15
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


Quote:
The HO only had 2 3/4" Tapcon's to hold down metal studs. Too much penetration. Lesson learned
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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Old 05-28-2009, 07:59 AM   #16
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


Quote:
Originally Posted by Inner10 View Post

...bottom line is its a great excuse to get your wife to allow you to buy a powder actuated gun!


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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Old 05-28-2009, 08:48 AM   #17
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


After all this posting I just figured it out!

Quote:
I was drilling 3/16"x2" holes in 2 week old concrete for 1/4" Tapcon screws last week for a HO
Yet....

Quote:
The HO only had 2 3/4" Tapcon's to hold down metal studs.
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Old 05-29-2009, 09:31 PM   #18
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


Quote:
Originally Posted by Inner10 View Post
After all this posting I just figured it out!



Yet....
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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Old 06-01-2009, 12:43 AM   #19
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


why not just use hilti pins, or a ramset to shoot down the metal track?
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Old 07-10-2009, 12:59 PM   #20
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Re: Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?


Quote:
Originally Posted by ClosetPro View Post
Maybe you were upside down.
funny sh!t
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