Mystery hardware for hanging a projector screen
January 5, 2012 7:45 PM Subscribe
My boyfriend and I just purchased a screen for our projector. Yah! Unfortunately, we are stumped as to how to hang the thing - the mount includes a screw/nail/washer combo we've never seen before. Can you help us identify what we've been given and figure out how to hang up our screen?
Here's a picture of the screw and assorted accessories we've been given. We have two of this whole set, one for each side. Here's the picture of the projector screen, where it should all hook up. The manufacturer's instructions give no directions for hanging the screen - they only say to use a stud finder and a level.
Do you know the name of this, or how we can use it to hang up our new screen?
Here's a picture of the screw and assorted accessories we've been given. We have two of this whole set, one for each side. Here's the picture of the projector screen, where it should all hook up. The manufacturer's instructions give no directions for hanging the screen - they only say to use a stud finder and a level.
Do you know the name of this, or how we can use it to hang up our new screen?
It looks like an expansion bolt. The threaded screw should run through the sleeve somehow. Were there no instructions?
posted by procrastination at 7:58 PM on January 5, 2012
posted by procrastination at 7:58 PM on January 5, 2012
That looks something like a hilti bolt or similar expanding anchor bolt for use in concrete/brick. If you don't have a concrete/brick wall I'd say you were out of luck if you wanted to hang the screen using those anchors.
posted by N-stoff at 7:59 PM on January 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by N-stoff at 7:59 PM on January 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: That a disassambled anchor bolt, and it works like this: you drill a hole in your masonry that's the same width as the pipe part (as per N-stoff's picture, on preview) then you thread screw through that and put it into the wall screw-head first, with the threads sticking out half an inch or so.
Then you hang your projector on the threaded bit and ratchet down the bolts until the tapered head of the screw forced the pipe bit to expand, wedging the bolt into the masonry from the inside.
If you don't have masonry walls, this isn't what you want - I'd go out and buy some toggle bolts for a few bucks at the hardware store.
posted by mhoye at 8:04 PM on January 5, 2012
Then you hang your projector on the threaded bit and ratchet down the bolts until the tapered head of the screw forced the pipe bit to expand, wedging the bolt into the masonry from the inside.
If you don't have masonry walls, this isn't what you want - I'd go out and buy some toggle bolts for a few bucks at the hardware store.
posted by mhoye at 8:04 PM on January 5, 2012
Response by poster: No, there were no instructions. It only says to use a stud finder and a level when hanging the screen.
It definitely looks like the picture of the expansion/hilti bolt.
So... are we basically out of luck until we hit a hardware store and get totally different stuff?
posted by warble at 8:04 PM on January 5, 2012
It definitely looks like the picture of the expansion/hilti bolt.
So... are we basically out of luck until we hit a hardware store and get totally different stuff?
posted by warble at 8:04 PM on January 5, 2012
Best answer: It's a disassembled expansion bolt for use in concrete or masonry applications. The hollow sleeve goes over the bolt, the nut and washers go on the end and the non-thread end gets inserted into a hole. When you tighten the nut, it expands the hollow sleeve by pulling the bolt and its tapered end back into the sleeve. Unless you have concrete or brick walls, it's useless for your project.
Go to a hardware store and tell them what you are doing - depending on the weight, you may be able to use wall anchors or toggle bolts (meaning you don't need studs) or screws to go into the studs. See if there are studs located in a suitable place before going to the hardware store. They'll know what to give you.
posted by dg at 8:06 PM on January 5, 2012
Go to a hardware store and tell them what you are doing - depending on the weight, you may be able to use wall anchors or toggle bolts (meaning you don't need studs) or screws to go into the studs. See if there are studs located in a suitable place before going to the hardware store. They'll know what to give you.
posted by dg at 8:06 PM on January 5, 2012
Response by poster: To clarify: we don't have brick or concrete walls, just regular old drywall.
posted by warble at 8:07 PM on January 5, 2012
posted by warble at 8:07 PM on January 5, 2012
Hilti bolts such as those will work in studs, too. You may have to draw them out a little more than you would in solid concrete.
(in concrete, those things have pullout ratings of, like 3000 lb. I've used them as anchors when pulling out-of-plumb garages back to true. They're seriously not fucking around.)
posted by notsnot at 8:10 PM on January 5, 2012 [2 favorites]
(in concrete, those things have pullout ratings of, like 3000 lb. I've used them as anchors when pulling out-of-plumb garages back to true. They're seriously not fucking around.)
posted by notsnot at 8:10 PM on January 5, 2012 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Okay, well it sounds like we already have a consensus here. I don't know why they gave us this stuff! We'll double-check our studs tonight and then hit up the hardware store tomorrow and see if we can find something that makes more sense for us.
Guess we have one more night of projecting on the wall!
posted by warble at 8:14 PM on January 5, 2012
Guess we have one more night of projecting on the wall!
posted by warble at 8:14 PM on January 5, 2012
Can't you use the bolt into a stud that inside the wall?
Looks like it would work the same whether it was masonry or wood stud.
Maybe that is why it says to use a stud finder.
On preview... what notsnot said.
posted by JayRwv at 8:50 PM on January 5, 2012
Looks like it would work the same whether it was masonry or wood stud.
Maybe that is why it says to use a stud finder.
On preview... what notsnot said.
posted by JayRwv at 8:50 PM on January 5, 2012
They might work into a timber stud, but only if the hole was tight enough and the wood hard enough. But trust me when I say that you don't want to try and remove one of those things that has half-expanded inside the hole, making it much worse than useless. Use the proper hardware.
posted by dg at 8:57 PM on January 5, 2012
posted by dg at 8:57 PM on January 5, 2012
They're NOT good in studs... meant for masonry, as several folks have noted. In wood, the expansion isn't right- they won't hold very much, and might split the stud.
DG's right.
posted by drhydro at 11:37 PM on January 5, 2012
DG's right.
posted by drhydro at 11:37 PM on January 5, 2012
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Here's what I would do after seeing your pictures. Go to the hardware store and bring along the mounting bracket in your 2nd picture if possible, or just trace the bottom flanged hole on paper and bring that. Buy some real screws for studs. Tell the hardware guy what you are mounting. You should walk away with a 2 large screws for a few bucks. Discard, or save the mystery hardware for a future project.
posted by Land Ho at 7:58 PM on January 5, 2012 [1 favorite]