Tapcons

When the self tapping concrete anchor first came out I was impressed however, through the years I've become more and more disappointed with them. I follow the recommended depth penetration and even use the supplied masonry bits but the failure rate for me is high. This morning I needed to anchor a tapered ramp at a threshold so I can get a 55 gal. drum cart over it from my dust collector. Out of 4 Tapcons, 1 stripped and another snapped off. Anyone have the same 50-50 results? I just may have to pull it up, drill some larger holes and use some "drop-ins" in their place.   

Tapcons are still my preferred anchor. 1 out of 65 give me a problem. The problem is usually wrong bit for the size Tapcon 3/16 bit for 1/4" , or the hole isn't deep enough. This is the only time in my life when it seems a hole is never too deep for me. Every blue moon i find modern concrete too dry or stucco too thick.

finally a topic that i have waited for... i despise them and keep buying them what is wrong with me. i feel like the ones that give you trouble when hanging f&m plates or wood to hold piping on concrete the ones that fail are the ones that are in a spot with no option for a different location.

Peter we had it made. The only thing we had to buy for our self was our foot wear and rain coats. The last years say from 95ish up we only had to buy our work boots. Some of us bought drywall screws to mount things to make life easier because the company only bought hex headed sheet metal screws. I remember a repair tech yelling at us because none of them had phillips head screwdrivers to remove something we had put in. He had to run around to find one which must have cut into his coffee shop time. When I started in the 70's we had no power tools just braces and ram sets. Finally in the late 80's we got our first Makita cordless drills,the ones with the internal battery,by keeping our tool expenses down for the month!

we used to use both those and take a set of chemical anchors with for when they fail
when they work they are great when they dont its a pain in the ass

Now Pete, sorry but for once I must correct you

You pour a cup of coffee, glass of juice etc......

Concrete is placed it is not poured........

Gary S wrote: Peter we had it made. The only thing we had to buy for our self was our foot wear and rain coats. The last years say from 95ish up we only had to buy our work boots. Some of us bought drywall screws to mount things to make life easier because the company only bought hex headed sheet metal screws. I remember a repair tech yelling at us because none of them had phillips head screwdrivers to remove something we had put in. He had to run around to find one which must have cut into his coffee shop time. When I started in the 70's we had no power tools just braces and ram sets. Finally in the late 80's we got our first Makita cordless drills,the ones with the internal battery,by keeping our tool expenses down for the month!

Same thing in Ohio..we had it made tool wise & clothing wise.

Like Gary.....I have used these darn things to place alot of terminals & equipment. Found after much useage..drill the hole slow..keep the dust outa the hole & slowly 'walk' the blue screw in.

LOL Gary...I remember lugging around those heavy Makitas with the battery pack slung over the shoulder!



john

+ another on poured. Must be a Midwest thing. I would think placing would be setting a prestressed panel