Why won't my Tapcon screws hold?
The hole needs to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the fastener so that the threads of the Tapcon have something to grab into. If the masonry bit you use is too small you won't be able to drive the Tapcon in at all. If the masonry bit is too large, the Tapcon will not hold.
If the screw is embedded into the material deeper than 1-3/4", it may break or shear off. 1-3/4"is the maximum embedment- in harder, more abrasive base materials, the closer the screw gets to this maximum, the more likely the screw may break or shear.
If you're having trouble driving the screw all the way, first make sure the hole is deep enough. If it is and you're still having trouble, there's probably too much grit in the hole. Remove the screw and clean out the hole by running the bit in and out a few times. Try driving the screw again.
Tapcon Concrete Screws are removable, however it is not recommended to reuse the same hole because the cutting threads can compromise or destroy the holding power.
The Tapcon concrete screw is suitable for use in a variety of base material, including brick and the mortar joints between the brick.
The hole must be drilled using a hammer drill with a carbide tipped bit meeting ANSI standards. A bit that meets ANSI standards will ensure that the hole diameter will meet the requirements of the Tapcon®.
| Size | Minimum Embedment | Shear (lbs.) |
|---|---|---|
| 3/16” | 1” | 730 |
| 1/4” | 1” | 1000 |
To install a screw into concrete all you have to do is drill a hole in the concrete, clean out the hole and drive in the screw, no hammering required! Concrete screws are an excellent option when looking to fasten close to an edge, as there is no expansion and pressure on the base material is reduced.
Tapcon® brand
The design of the Tapcon® concrete masonry screw anchors allows for anchoring into concrete, brick and block. This product is a self-tapping screw that taps threads into a predrilled hole in masonry materials.
Standards. Any carbide tipped masonry bit that is manufactured to meet ANSI standard B212-15-1994 can be used for drilling holes in masonry that Tapcon masonry anchors are installed in. If the installation toolkit is being used then the special Tapcon bit must be used.
What size drill bit do you use for Tapcon screws?
tapcon uses a 3/16-in. diameter bit.
Can you screw directly into concrete? Concrete screws are a quick and convenient way to fasten to concrete. The best thing about these screws is that you can screw directly into concrete without any need for hammering or an anchor or shield to install. All you have to do is drill a hole and drive in the screw.
The most common reason a drill won't penetrate a wall at all is because the drill is spinning in the wrong direction. If the drill bit enters the wall and then hits resistance, the typical cause is a metal plate or masonry obstruction.
Concrete screws provide a quick, easy and incredibly strong way to fasten to concrete. And best of all, there's no hammering required or anchor or shield to install. All you do is drill a hole and drive in the screw. That's it.
Get ready to install
Before a Tapcon masonry screw can be installed, a hole must be drilled into the masonry. Use a hammer drill to ensure that the hole has the proper tolerance. The switch on the hammer drill must be in the hammer and rotation mode before starting to drill.
Stainless Steel Tapcons are reliable, strong, and have outstanding corrosion resistance. These screws are ideal for using to attach fixtures and lumbers to all types of masonry bases, including concrete, brick, and block.
The hole should be 1/2” deeper than the screw embedment. Clean out the hole of all debris. Insert the pointed end of the Tapcon® concrete screw through the fixture and into the hole in the base material. Drive the screw slowly, allowing the threads to tap into the base material.
Tapcons can be installed in concrete, brick, block and in the mortar joints between the brick and block. The harder the base material, the less embedment is required to attain sufficient holding values. The minimum embedment for a Tapcon® concrete screw is 1” and the maximum embedment is 1-3/4”.
The design of the Tapcon® concrete screw allows them to anchor into concrete, brick, and block. Tapcon® concrete screws tap threads into a predrilled hole in concrete, brick or block. The 5/32" bit is used for the 3/16" Tapcon® concrete screw and the 3/16" bit is used for the 1/4" Tapcon.
Tapcon claims their large diameter concrete anchors are 20% stronger than wedge or sleeve anchors. They certainly install very quickly. You will not be able to install them with hand tools (perhaps the Incredible Hulk could).
How much weight can a Tapcon hold?
A: (From Google search)How much weight can a Tapcon hold? *A safety factor of 4:1 or 25% of ultimate pullout/shear value is generally accepted as a safe working load. 340 lbs.
| Diameter of Tapcon | Minimum Embedment Depth |
|---|---|
| 1/4” | 1” |
| 3/8” | 1-1/2” |
| 1/2” | 2” |
| 5/8” | 2-3/4” |
Over tightening/driving can result in the threads of the Tapcon being worn down as they spin against the concrete, some of the concrete will also be ground away. The result is a fastener that won't hold, just like over boring the whole with the masonry bit. So remember, snug it up, but don't over tighten.
Minimum spacing requirements are 3" for both the 3/8" and 1/2" and the holding values for tension loads should be reduced by 70% for the 3/8" and 27% for the 1/2".
5/16” 1-3/4” 3,045 lbs.
To stop screws from loosening due to vibration, you can and should use washers. Depending on the application, you can also consider screws designed to stand up to vibrations. If nylon is a good fit for your application, it's an excellent material for resisting vibrations.
If you find yourself needing to drill holes in masonry larger than 1/2-inch, or are working with a tougher material such as concrete, a hammer drill may not be powerful enough. For these applications, you will likely need to use a rotary hammer.
The best drill for concrete today is one of two tools: A hammer drill or a rotary hammer. They both do essentially the same thing but are vastly different tools.
The best drill for concrete is a masonry bit drill due to its shape and design. The strongest drills for concrete are those with carbide tips. When drilling through concrete, the sharper the drill, the better the performance. Masonry bits drill holes through concrete in two stages.
There are a few things that make drilling concrete so difficult. For one, the material is dense and heavy, which makes it hard to drill into. Secondly, concrete tends to crack when it's drilled into, which can cause the drill bit to slip out of place and ruin the hole.
How close to the edge of concrete can you put Tapcon?
Rule: Tapcon® concrete screws have a minimum embedment of 1" for both the 3/16" and 1/4" diameter and a maximum embedment of 1-3/4".
Wedge concrete anchors are a common choice for heavier load applications since they're one of the strongest types of concrete anchor bolts. They're also corrosion-resistant and are simple to work with.
Although the drop-in anchor might be the most popular, the concrete screw provides a good alternative option. The concrete screw is one of the quickest concrete fasteners out there and can be installed with just a drill, screw and impact wrench.
Hammer drill: The preferred tool for drilling into concrete is a hammer drill. A hammer drill is different from an ordinary rotary drill. Like a rotary drill, the hammer drill rotates. Unlike a rotary drill, it hammers while it rotates.
The hole must be drilled using a hammer drill with a carbide tipped bit meeting ANSI standards. A bit that meets ANSI standards will ensure that the hole diameter will meet the requirements of the Tapcon®.
Masonry screws are removable and reusable
Removing the masonry screw can be accomplished by simply turning the head of the screw counterclockwise. Reusing a masonry screw into another hole can only be done if the leading edge thread is able to tap the threads into the base material.
Mortar. Mortar is the most widely used and most popular bonding agent for joining concrete blocks together. Mortar is manufactured from a combination of lime, sand, and water, as well as from other types of cementitious products, depending on the use.
Mounting putty is a sticky, clay-like material that comes in sticks or cubes. It's rolled into balls by hand and used as a substitute for pushpins or tacks. Mounting putty is especially good for cinder block walls, because it is thick enough to fill in cinder block's bumpy surface.
Another advantage of large-diameter concrete anchors is they can get closer to the edge of the concrete than a wedge anchor since they don't expand. Tapcon claims their large diameter concrete anchors are 20% stronger than wedge or sleeve anchors. They certainly install very quickly.
The Tapcon drill bit that is used depends on the diameter of the Tapcon screw being installed. The 3/16” Tapcon requires the use of 5/32” diameter bit, and the 1/4” Tapcon requires a 3/16” diameter bit.
Do concrete screws go straight into concrete?
Concrete screws are perfect for fixing directly into stone, masonry and concrete. Ideal for commercial and domestic use, masonry screws are perfect for using outdoors due to being anti corrosive making them long lasting and tarnish resistant.
The average depth to drill your concrete screws is typically ¼ inch deeper than the length of your screw. You should not drill your pilot hole any deeper than ¾ inch to avoid shearing off the head of your screw. However, to ensure a secure fixing the screw should be driven in at a minimum of at least one inch deep.
Can you screw directly into concrete? Concrete screws are a quick and easy way of fastening to concrete, they do not require hammering like other fasteners. All you need to do is drill a hole, clean it out and drive in the screw, which we recommend doing with an impact wrench.
