How to Install a Concrete Wedge Anchor
Concrete wedge anchors consist of a threaded draw bolt with a tapered end and an expanding sleeve that rests above the tapered section of the bolt. When you apply torque to a nut threaded onto the draw bolt, the bolt's tapered end expands the sleeve. The expanded sleeve locks the draw bolt into the concrete. The concrete hole that holds the wedge anchor can not contain any dust or debris; if the wedge anchor lodges into debris, it will not fully lock into the concrete. This results in the anchor working free in time and releasing from the concrete hole. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Face shield
- Hammer drill
- Drill bit sized for the wedge anchor
- Electrical tape
- Round wire brush
- Air bulb
- Wedge anchor with nut
- Hammer
- Click-type torque wrench
- Socket matching the size of the wedge anchor nut
Instructions
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1
Secure the masonry drill bit into the hammer drill.
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2
Place the wedge anchor against the masonry drill bit. Wrap electrical tape around the drill bit at the height of the wedge anchor.
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3
Put on your face shield.
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4
Drill a straight hole into the concrete with the hammer drill. Stop drilling the hole when the electrical tape meets the surface of the concrete. Do not ream the hole with the masonry drill bit--this will result in a hole too large for the wedge anchor to secure itself to the concrete.
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5
Clear large debris from the concrete hole by inserting the round wire brush into the hole. When the wire brush reaches the bottom of the hole, twist the handle of the wire brush. Pull the wire brush from the hole. Repeat as necessary until no large debris comes from the hole.
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6
Blow the dust from the hole by inserting the tip of the air bulb into the hole and pumping the bulb to force air into the hole. Continue pumping air into the hole until no dust emits from the concrete hole.
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7
Spin the nut onto the wedge anchor. Leave the nut at the top of the wedge anchor to protect the anchor's threads from damage. Place the wedge anchor into the hole.
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8
Hit the nut with the hammer to drive the wedge anchor into the concrete hole. Continue to hit the anchor until the nut makes contact with the surface of the concrete.
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9
Adjust the torque wrench to the torque setting specified by the wedge anchor manufacturer. Attach the socket to the torque wrench.
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10
Tighten the nut until you hear the torque wrench click. Do not over-torque the wedge anchor--the anchor's sleeve can become damaged as a result of over-torquing.
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