Lag bolts that don't break?

[downsizingnow48]

GRK style structural screws are the best solution. Top quality, no pilot holes. I haven't used those 19th century style lag bolts for a long time.

 

[downsizingnow48]

The 19th c. type actually requires two pilot holes for proper installation. One size hole for the threaded part which has a diameter big enough to take the core. Then for the wood that is getting tightened down, a second pilot hole the diameter of the lag bolt shank. Nobody does this and it usually doesn't matter with softwood. But with hardwood it makes a big difference.

Dipping the old type in oil or soapy water will make it about 10x easier.

 

[i7win7]

I go to Menards and buy Spax power lag bolts, looks like the CTX bolts, drives with torx bits. The Spider lag bolts also good - uses an 8 point torx like bit, prefer standardized stuff myself.

If screwing into cement, I like Tapcon
cement screws - Bing video

 

[oosik]

FWIW - all my cabinets in the entire house were held on the walls with three inch Phillips head screws. That was done 39 years ago. Not a single one has fallen off any wall.

Lag bolts to attach kitchen cabinets/shelves - might be a bit of an over kill. However - pretty sure they won't fall off either.

 

[Dftodd]

I don't buy hardware from Lowes and HD. Try getting what you need from Fastenal or a good fastener distributor. The quality is much better.

Ouch...... Fastenal is extremely proud of their prices. I use them for quick small purchases because they are close to my shop.

If I need bulk anything, then there is Star Bolts across town. They have the same products, same quality, but are half the price.

MC, pre drill the holes and soap up the threads

 

[s219]

View attachment 670242

GRK all the way!

After using these I値l never go back to lag bolts!

No pilot holes, just impact driver and go.

I have been using those too, and they are great. They have a whole bunch of sizes too.

 

[dstig1]

+1 on GRK or SPAX screws. I haven't used a regular lag in years as these are light years ahead in strength and driveability. Generally no need to predrill unless going into hardwood or something thin that might split. I've pulled plys of LVL beams together in a tight beam pocket with them and they just don't quit. No need to go to Fastenal and pay their inflated industrial prices, as all the Big Boxes have GRK and/or SPAX.

 

[Muhammad]

FWIW - all my cabinets in the entire house were held on the walls with three inch Phillips head screws. That was done 39 years ago. Not a single one has fallen off any wall.

Lag bolts to attach kitchen cabinets/shelves - might be a bit of an over kill. However - pretty sure they won't fall off either.

Yeah you're right. I am using them on the brackets too so in reality I'm sure the four 3" screws that I could use on the brackets would support hundreds and hundreds of pounds. I guess weak shelves is a pet peeve of mine.

So yeah the job is already done and they're all secured with lag bolts but for future jobs I'll go with those torx screws.

 

[dstig1]

The reality is that if they are typical cabinets, the back is nothing but 1/4" pressboard stapled to the sides (and glued, if you sprung for the high end stuff). The screws aren't ever going to be the weak link. You overload the cabinet, and the back will remain attached to the wall, but the rest of the cabinet (and contents) will be sitting on the countertop or floor. It'll just peel the back right off.

 

[4570Man]

The reality is that if they are typical cabinets, the back is nothing but 1/4" pressboard stapled to the sides (and glued, if you sprung for the high end stuff). The screws aren't ever going to be the weak link. You overload the cabinet, and the back will remain attached to the wall, but the rest of the cabinet (and contents) will be sitting on the countertop or floor. It'll just peel the back right off.

Agreed. Even good custom cabinets built from actual plywood would fail before a reasonable amount of 3” good screws failed. I’ve never seen cabinets put up with anything besides screws. Lag bolts are way excessive. Save the lag bolts and heavy duty structural screws for a deck ledger board. The majority of people just use regular screws which won’t pass code. That and they just toenail the joist which also won’t pass code.

 

[Muhammad]

The reality is that if they are typical cabinets, the back is nothing but 1/4" pressboard stapled to the sides (and glued, if you sprung for the high end stuff). The screws aren't ever going to be the weak link. You overload the cabinet, and the back will remain attached to the wall, but the rest of the cabinet (and contents) will be sitting on the countertop or floor. It'll just peel the back right off.

The cabinets I installed had 3/4" plywood backs. I mounted those with screws and washers.

So yes my lag bolt use is beyond overkill and maybe those little bolts committed suicide because they couldn't stand the thought of serving a pointless existence for the next 30 years holding up a 7lb shelf in the suburbs.

 

[daugen]

I would have done just what Muhammad had done and likely broke the same number. So what is the proper size hole to drill for a 1/4 inch lag bolt/screw, a
3/16? Is that enough grip? Or safer to stay with lubricated 1/8?
Trick is remembering to dial the torque down on adjustable torque impact drivers....

very frustrating dealing with inexpensive big box store hardware that is made only to a price point and not to a quality/strength spec.
I've used GRK and Spax in past and had no problems at all. Big difference between new pine and old oak.

 

[Tinhack]

Rule #1 for lag bolts/screws - Don't use impact driver. (Same rule applies for lag anchors.)

 

[MossRoad]

The cabinets I installed had 3/4" plywood backs. I mounted those with screws and washers.

So yes my lag bolt use is beyond overkill and maybe those little bolts committed suicide because they couldn't stand the thought of serving a pointless existence for the next 30 years holding up a 7lb shelf in the suburbs.

Note to self: man gives life to inanimate objects.

 

[MossRoad]

 

[Oldpath05]

Screws by Application: Wood, Machine and Specialty screws

 

[dstig1]

The cabinets I installed had 3/4" plywood backs. I mounted those with screws and washers.

So yes my lag bolt use is beyond overkill and maybe those little bolts committed suicide because they couldn't stand the thought of serving a pointless existence for the next 30 years holding up a 7lb shelf in the suburbs.

Wow. That's an interesting level of cabinet insanity. I mean the 1/4" pressboard you often see is junk but 3/4" ply is beyond overkill. 1/2" ply glued and screwed is kinda the sweet spot. But yeah, I've done it. I made some very heavy duty upper cabinets out of 3/4" to store canned goods and i think that was also the last time I used lag bolts, right before I learned about GRKs. That was like 20 yrs ago. Come to the GRK light....

I read your thread on the renovation (so far). You are far crazier than I. I thought I was nutz, but doing all that with a newborn? yowza. Looks like you've done it all before too. Nice work!

 

[Muhammad]

Wow. That's an interesting level of cabinet insanity. I mean the 1/4" pressboard you often see is junk but 3/4" ply is beyond overkill. 1/2" ply glued and screwed is kinda the sweet spot. But yeah, I've done it. I made some very heavy duty upper cabinets out of 3/4" to store canned goods and i think that was also the last time I used lag bolts, right before I learned about GRKs. That was like 20 yrs ago. Come to the GRK light....

I read your thread on the renovation (so far). You are far crazier than I. I thought I was nutz, but doing all that with a newborn? yowza. Looks like you've done it all before too. Nice work!

I agree that 3/4 is overkill as well as when they are nailed and glued. I think 1/2 glued and nailed would be good enough. When shopping for ready to assemble cabinets you can see a lot of different quality levels and kind of choose your paranoia level. Then go above and beyond in the installation stage.

With the cabinets I think I was very reasonable with my attachment methods but yeah went overboard with the shelving. If guys on TBN are telling you that you're going too far, you're definitely going too far.

 

[Egon]

general Information on construction screws.

[video]https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/structural-screws-vs-lag-screws/[/video]

Simpson screw which I use quite often.



Note: my knowledge of screws is very limited. In the last few years many different job specific screw type fasteners have come on the market.

 

[lman]

I used some of these recently.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/FastenMast...erior-Structural-Wood-Screws-50-Count/3446730