Albany County Fasteners - Nuts, Bolts, Screws, Washers, Rivets & Industrial Supply

Installing Wedge Anchors

Installing Wedge Anchors in Concrete

Wedge anchors are fasteners designed for use in masonry materials (most commonly concrete) and used to secure materials and equipment. Concrete wedge anchors are designed to go into a pre-drilled hole and expand, creating a grip so they cannot be “pulled out” or removed. Today we will be reviewing the proper installation of a post base into a concrete floor.



What will you need?

Before we begin let’s make sure we have the proper tools for the job.

Step One

The first thing you need to do when installing a wedge anchor is choose the proper anchor material. Wedge anchors come in many materials and all serve different purposes. Stainless steel and hot dip galvanized are two very popular wedge anchor materials, but the correct material varies by application. Not sure what material you need? Check out our Material Guide to learn about all the different materials available.

wedge anchors

Step Two

Once you’ve chosen a material, its time to get your drill ready. When installing a wedge anchor, it’s important to have a minimum of 2-1/2 inches embedded into the concrete. There should also be at least an inch exposed, enough for the attaching material to grab onto. To measure ours, we placed the wedge anchor about an inch below the tip of the SDS drill bit and then used blue painters tape to mark off the drill where we should stop drilling.  Marking the stop point with blue tape will allow you to drill consistent holes and prevent you from over/under drilling.

Step Three

drilling into concrete

Now that we’ve applied our drill bit with tape, its time to begin the drilling. BUT NOT SO FAST. First we need to put on our safety goggles and gloves, always wear safety gear when cutting. Now that you are safe and ready to work, simply apply pressure to the place you want to drill and let the bit begin to do its work. Once your drill bit reaches the blue painters tape, you will know that the hole has reached the necessary depth and you can stop drilling.

Step Four

hammering in wedge anchorsCarefully brush away any of the debris from drilling to clear the hole and begin installation of the anchor. The next step is to insert the masonry anchor into the hole. It should be a very tight fit and will need to be hammered into place. The end result should leave about an inch (or more depending on how much room you need) above the surface to allow for anchoring.

wedge anchor ready for post base

Now that the anchor is installed we can apply the post base, square washer, and nut to the wedge anchor. After placing them on, you screw the nut onto the wedge anchor creating a strong, sturdy anchoring station. Now that you’ve completed the installation, take a step back and admire your handiwork. This post base is now ready for the next step in your building project.

ratcheting on postbase                     Anchored postbase

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Norseman Drill Bits and Cutting Tools

Norseman Drill Bits & Cutting Tools

 

Cutting-Edge Top Quality Cutting Tools Made in the USA

Here at Albany County Fasteners we are proud to announce our new line of Norseman CTD Manufactured Drill Bits and Cutting Tools to help with the installation of the Norseman Drill Bitfasteners that we are known for. As an authorized Norseman Distributor, we are the first to hear about exciting and innovative new products from Norseman, and pass the information on to our great customers! We are a proud distributor of Norseman cutting tools including drill bits, taps, hole cutters, bolt extractors and more!

Magnum Super Premium Drill Bits

The majority of Norseman Drill Bits that we offer are jobber length, and are Magnum Super Premium tool steel. Norseman Magnum Drills are engineered to have a substantially longer cutting life than standard high speed steel or cobalt drill bits. Magnum drills are nitro-carburized flute for an increased Rockwell Hardness, as well as being specifically designed to cut through harder metals. The split point design of the drill tip is flatter than standard, which makes a smaller chip into the metal that is being drilled into. This means that more of the drill’s torque is being applied into a smaller area which allows drilling into metals over 30 Rockwell C. Magnum drill bits feature a 135 degree point which stops drill walking, as well as allowing the drill to run cooler and use less torque. The point makes less heat, and the bits themselves are treated to reduce friction.

Drill Bits


In addition to the Magnum Bits, Norseman is also developing new bits with state of the art features including cryogenic frozen bits which are treated this way for maximum hardness and sharpness, as well as combination drill and taps in one bit and more. Norseman bits are generally available in sets (however they do also come as singles), with various convenient features including carrying cases, matching taps, and left hand drills for bolt extraction. Overall, we are happy to both stock these innovative bits, as well as use them in our own reviews, videos and shop. Check Out the Norseman CTD line Today


Product Spotlight: Combination Tap and Drill Bits

We LOVE these bits. They are easy to use and they are great time-savers. They drill and tap a hole at the same time which turns two steps into one (obviously a great time saver!). Picture installing a Piano Hinge for metal doors or other metal work. Each hinge can be feet long with a number of holes. By combining the bit, Norseman has cut the time for this job in half. Check out our review and demonstration below and check out these bits today!


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