Can Anyone Here Explain Why This Worked?

stp57

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

dkillianjr

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

Jordy3738

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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naptown CR

Thats f'd up there dude

ClosetPro

Maybe you were upside down.

nEighter

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

ChainsawCharlie

that's R-Y-O-B-I.

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

loneframer

Metal studs are made in different gauges. The HO needs to get a load bearing stud.

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neolitic

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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(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

Inner10

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.

Tom R

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"!! . . .

stp57

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

ampman

never had much luck with tapcons probaly my fault

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Inner10

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!

Tom R

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"!!

Inner10

After all this posting I just figured it out!

Yet....

stp57

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

Blackcloud

why not just use hilti pins, or a ramset to shoot down the metal track?

RumseySupply

funny sh!t