Tool of choice for driving hex heads?

Drake5

Drake5

Drake5

Soldato
Joined
12 Dec 2005
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I'm going to be putting up a TV wall mount soon and it uses hex heads. Should I use a spanner or a ratchet to make sure they're nice and tight? Never done this before so the question might be silly

Cheers
 
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radderfire said:
Do you mean bolts with a hex head, i.e. hex bolts?
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Correct, hex bolts :)

I have the attachments for my drill and I just tried to drill them in to the wall plugs but the drill bit just spins and the chuck unloosens, not sure what I'm doing wrong there
 
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Drake5 said:
Correct, hex bolts :)

I have the attachments for my drill and I just tried to drill them in to the wall plugs but the drill bit just spins and the chuck unloosens, not sure what I'm doing wrong there
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You tried drilling them into the wall? And the drill loosens the chuck?

It doesn't do this when not under tension?
 
Begbie said:
You tried drilling them into the wall? And the drill loosens the chuck?

It doesn't do this when not under tension?
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Yep, got the hex head attachment onto the drill, tightened the chuck so it's nice and secure, put it on the head of the bolt in an attempt to screw it in and the attachment just spins and then the chuck becomes lose. Tried the drill on the fastest setting and having the same result, maybe I need a better drill

Thinking a socket wrench might be a better cheaper option...
 
Begbie said:
You've pre drilled where it's going in right? What are you drilling it into?
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It's all pre-drilled. Going into plaster which has concrete behind it. No problem with drilling the initial holes, using good quality fischer wall plugs and they are very secure, just having difficulty driving the m8x60mm bolts with my drill bit adapter due to the above issue
 
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Have you got it set on drill or on a low speed and its just torquing out?

I’m not fully understanding what’s going on. Is it a hex bolt or screw? I’m thinking it’s a coach screw rather than a coach bolt?
 
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yes - you don't drive bolts into a raw plug - just screws ? - are you sure you identified parts correctly

e: V that's a screw with a hex head
 
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radderfire said:
Is the hex attachment the exact correct size for the hex bolt head?
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Yup, it's 100% the right size. Not managing to drive it in at all with the drill at least. Can get it about 1/4 of the way in with my screwdriver but yeah, not enough torque by hand



Could possibly be applying too much force when drilling, I'll give it another try tomorrow :)
 
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Drake5 said:
Yup, it's 100% the right size. Not managing to drive it in at all with the drill at least. Can get it about 1/4 of the way in with my screwdriver but yeah, not enough torque by hand



Could possibly be applying too much force when drilling, I'll give it another try tomorrow :)
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Yeh, it’s a coach screw.

—

Before you put the rawl plug in - can you put the entire coach screw into the wall easily? I’m suspecting that is the issue, have you drilled the correct size and depth of hole? Might even be worth while hoovering it out before bashing the rawl plug in as well. It shouldn’t require that much effort from the drill if you have it on ‘drill’ rather than one of the numbers unless it’s trying to go into the concrete itself.
 
Anytime I’ve seen this happening it’s one of 3 things;

1. Hole drilled is too small in diameter
2. Hole drilled is not deep enough
3. Drill being used does not have sufficient torque to drive it

If 1 and 2 are definitely right, then you should be easily able to drive this home with either a decent socket set, or drill with enough torque.
 
Diggsy said:
Anytime I’ve seen this happening it’s one of 3 things;

1. Hole drilled is too small in diameter
2. Hole drilled is not deep enough
3. Drill being used does not have sufficient torque to drive it

If 1 and 2 are definitely right, then you should be easily able to drive this home with either a decent socket set, or drill with enough torque.
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Had another try this morning, the holes are perfect. The screws slide in comfortably all the way before I put in the wall plugs of course.

My drill is able to get the bolts in about half way and then it just spins on the head of the bolt. Using my tiny ratchet gets them in almost all the way, but now I need to go and source a bigger ratchet

I'm guessing the drill I'm using is trash, it's only a fairly cheap one. You get what you pay for I suppose
 
A drill really isn't the correct tool for what you're trying to do, it won't have anywhere near enough torque to screw something like that into a wall.

You just need to get yourself a spanner of the right size, you can pick up a pack of spanners for places like Lidl for less than a tenner. Edit: you can get a set from The Range for 8 quid

You could get a socket set but it doesn't sound like you're much into DIY so a set of spanners (or just the 1 that's the right size) will be cheaper.
 
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