• Customer Reviews

Mechanical Concrete Anchors

Published by Robert Carlisle on Aug 31st 2010

Purchase Anchors

Mechanical anchors are anchors that mechanically anchor themselves in the base material using friction and some type of movement within the mechanical anchor to achieve holding values. Mechanical anchors are made up of more than one part, allowing the parts of the mechanical anchor to move independently and create an expansion of the mechanical anchor. Once placed in the hole in the base material, the mechanical anchor is expanded. This exerts pressure against the wall of the hole, creating friction and holding power. Mechanical anchors are designed to go into the hole in the base material, but will not come out.

Different Types of Mechanical Anchors

Mechanical anchors can be male or female type masonry anchors. Some mechanical anchors can only be used in solid concrete while others can be used in a variety of base materials, such as concrete, brick or block. The way mechanical anchors are set in the base material also varies. Mechanical anchors require a hammer or setting tool, or a wrench. All of these different types of mechanical anchors were developed for use in applications that have specific requirements.

Wedge Anchors

The wedge anchor is a mechanical anchor that requires a wrench to be used to set. It is designed for use in solid concrete only. Turning the nut clockwise expands a wedge clip at the working end of the wedge anchor. This pulls the stud up, expanding or wedging the clip against the anchor body and the inside wall of the hole in the concrete. The clip is designed with nubs that protrude to keep the clip from spinning in the hole when the nut is turned.

Sleeve Anchors

The sleeve anchor is a four piece mechanical anchor that can be used in a variety of base materials. The four-piece mechanical sleeve anchor comes pre-assembled and consists of the anchor body, anchor sleeve nut, and washer. The anchor body fits inside the anchor sleeve with the nut and washer attached at the threaded end of the anchor body. Opposite of the threaded end of the anchor body, it is necked outward in a cone shape. Once the mechanical sleeve anchor is inserted into the hole in the base material, the nut is turned clockwise. This pulls the anchor body up. The cone shaped end then expands the anchor sleeve against the wall of the hole in the base materials. The sleeve anchor is a very versatile anchor and can be used in most base materials such as concrete, brick or block.

Machine Screw Anchors

Machine screw anchors are female type masonry anchors that require a setting tool to be used to mechanically expand the anchor in the base material. The machine screw anchor is a two-piece anchor made up of an outer anchor sleeve and the internally threaded cone shaped anchor body. It comes preassembled. The machine screw anchor is inserted into the predrilled hole in the base material, internally threaded cone first. The setting tool is then placed inside the anchor body. Striking the setting tool with a hammer pushes the anchor sleeve down, expanding as it is pushed outward and following the contours of the cone shaped anchor body. Machine screw anchors work well in most base materials and can be used in concrete, brick or block.

Hammer Drive Anchors

Hammer drive anchors are a two-piece mechanical anchor made up of an anchor body and an expansion nail that comes pre-assembled. Half the anchor body holds the nail before expansion. The expansion half of the anchor body is split along its length. The hole down the length of the inside of the anchor body is slightly smaller in diameter at the working end of the anchor. A hammer is used to strike the nail, pushing it down into the anchor body and expanding the working end of the anchor body against the walls of the hole in the base material. The hammer drive anchor is set once the head of the nail is level with the head of the anchor body.

Single Expansion Anchors

The single expansion anchor is female type anchor that can be used in concrete, brick or block base material. It is made up of three pieces: one cone shaped internally threaded nut and two halves of the anchor body, which are all pre-assembled into a single unit. Place the single expansion screw into a predrilled hole, cone-shaped internally threaded part first, and then insert a national coarse threaded screw or bolt. Turning clockwise will pull the cone shaped nut up the anchor body, expanding them outward. The single expansion mechanical anchor can be used in concrete, brick or block.

Double Expansion Anchors

The double expansion anchor is a female anchor that can be used in a variety of base materials such as concrete, brick or block. It is made up of five parts: two halves of an anchor body, two expander cones, and one wire. The double expansion anchor comes preassembled and is inserted into the base material with the threaded expander cone first. Once set in the base material, a machine threaded bolt or screw is inserted into the body of the double expansion anchor. Turning the bolt clockwise pulls the threaded expander cone up the bolt. This also allows the non-threaded expander cone to move down the threads, expanding the anchor body along its entire length. This double expansion cone system makes the double expansion anchor a desirable anchor to use in the base material of questionable strength.

 

 

Purchase Anchors

Mechanical anchors are anchors that mechanically anchor themselves in the base material using friction and some type of movement within the mechanical anchor to achieve holding values. Mechanical anchors are made up of more than one part, allowing the parts of the mechanical anchor to move independently and create an expansion of the mechanical anchor. Once placed in the hole in the base material, the mechanical anchor is expanded. This exerts pressure against the wall of the hole, creating friction and holding power. Mechanical anchors are designed to go into the hole in the base material, but will not come out.