Frame Fixing Screws

[bainbrig]

Frame fixing sceews - the sort with torx T30 drive heads - how small can you get them?

I have rotten walls and these would make more sense than plugs and screws.

BillB

[Buenchico]

Assuming I've been looking for the right sort of thing (which is by no means certain, as I wouldn't know a torx T30 drive head if it bit me on the ankle), the smallest size available appears to 60mm.

e.g. https://www.screwfix.com/p/spax-frame-anchor-screws-7-5-x-60mm-100-pack/5103f#product_additional_details_container

[bainbrig]

Thanks buenchico - but it’s the WIDTH I’m interested in (and yes you are looking at the right things).

The smallest seems to be a ‘7.5’ although not sure what it means. I suspect that because of the chunky drive head, they don’t get much thinner.

[Buenchico]

Thanks for your reply.

As far as I can tell, 7.5mm seems to be the standard width for those type of fittings (irrespective of length).

Depending upon the type of task you've got in mind, you could possibly look at 4.8mm baypole screws (which are designed for bay window fittings but can be used elsewhere) or perhaps 6mm hammer-in fixings:
https://www.screwfix.com/c/screws-nails-fixings/frame-hammer-fixings/cat840010#category=cat840010&page_size=100

(OK, I admit it: I'm out of my depth here!)

[Davemano]

7.5mm is a fraction over a quarter of an inch. If the walls are rotten as you say, I would be looking at something more robust , the type of thing suggested by Buenchico.

[bainbrig]

My walls are hard to drill. Sometimes they crumble, sometimes you hit what seem to be pebbles - and even with a decent Bosch drill and sharp masonry bit, extremely hard to get a hole.

I like the frame fixing screws as you only need a small pilot hole, and then they self-tap their way through - and because of the type of drive, you can apply a fair bit of force to the drill, without stripping the usual posi-drive head.

BillB

[Davemano]

The 60mm frame screws as shown in the first reply are self tapping. There appears to be some confusion regarding the condition of the walls, but regardless, with a decent hammer drill and good masonry bit, there should not be a problem drilling a hole. Don't put the drill on full speed, regulate it to suit if possible.

[alavahalf]

Can I ask what you are hoping to fix to the wall ?

[bainbrig]

alava: that's the key to the problem.

I am disabled, and have to fix various devices to the walls - grab rails, fold-down bars to go next to the toilet, and so on. And they are mostly metal, and they come mostly with pre-drilled holes for screws. So to get a frame fixing screw into them means first drilling out the smallish screw hole with a metal drill to enlarge it enough to take the bigger fixer.

They take a lot of bashing - I'm heavy - so need to be well anchored into the walls, i.e. not tiddly little shelf, but something to take a large person heaving themselves upright!

[The Builder]

My first thought is that small screws are not going to stand the substantial load imposed by grab handles.

But... we really need to know the exact make-up of your walls. Could you describe them?

[bainbrig]

1930s. Poor plaster on poor middles - I’ve found breeze blocks, sometimes a mixture of concrete and pebbles - and occasionally bricks.

[bainbrig]

Where possible, I use frame screws. Otherwise biggish screws.

[The Builder]

That's about right for 1930s. Clinker blocks, made from power station ash possibly.

For a good fixing in these you do need depth, or the surface will "spall" - technical term for crumble ;o). I would use frame anchors ( long screws in a substantial plastic rawlplug type of thing. ) They usually do up with a spanner (hex head)

[bainbrig]

Thanks Builder, they sound like a good alternative to the hefty frame fixing screws - and the spanner sounds right, as I need to anchor these things well.

[The Builder]

Slight mistake there, bainbrig. The ones with the big rawlplug are screwdriver-headed (frame anchors - or, Fischer fixings.)

The ones with a hex-head are sleeve anchors...

https://www.screwfix.com/p/easyfix-sleeve-anchor-10-x-100mm-m8-10-pack/19292