Lag bolts that don't break?

Muhammad · Sep 21, 2020

dstig1 said:
The reality is that if they are typical cabinets, the back is nothing but 1/4" pressboard stapled to the sides (and glued, if you sprung for the high end stuff). The screws aren't ever going to be the weak link. You overload the cabinet, and the back will remain attached to the wall, but the rest of the cabinet (and contents) will be sitting on the countertop or floor. It'll just peel the back right off.

The cabinets I installed had 3/4" plywood backs. I mounted those with screws and washers.

So yes my lag bolt use is beyond overkill and maybe those little bolts committed suicide because they couldn't stand the thought of serving a pointless existence for the next 30 years holding up a 7lb shelf in the suburbs.

daugen · Sep 21, 2020

I would have done just what Muhammad had done and likely broke the same number. So what is the proper size hole to drill for a 1/4 inch lag bolt/screw, a
3/16? Is that enough grip? Or safer to stay with lubricated 1/8?
Trick is remembering to dial the torque down on adjustable torque impact drivers....

very frustrating dealing with inexpensive big box store hardware that is made only to a price point and not to a quality/strength spec.
I've used GRK and Spax in past and had no problems at all. Big difference between new pine and old oak.

Tinhack · Sep 21, 2020

Rule #1 for lag bolts/screws - Don't use impact driver. (Same rule applies for lag anchors.)

MossRoad · Sep 21, 2020

Muhammad said:
The cabinets I installed had 3/4" plywood backs. I mounted those with screws and washers.

So yes my lag bolt use is beyond overkill and maybe those little bolts committed suicide because they couldn't stand the thought of serving a pointless existence for the next 30 years holding up a 7lb shelf in the suburbs.

Note to self: man gives life to inanimate objects.

MossRoad · Sep 21, 2020

Oldpath05 · Sep 21, 2020

Screws by Application: Wood, Machine and Specialty screws

dstig1 · Sep 22, 2020

Muhammad said:
The cabinets I installed had 3/4" plywood backs. I mounted those with screws and washers.

So yes my lag bolt use is beyond overkill and maybe those little bolts committed suicide because they couldn't stand the thought of serving a pointless existence for the next 30 years holding up a 7lb shelf in the suburbs.

Wow. That's an interesting level of cabinet insanity. I mean the 1/4" pressboard you often see is junk but 3/4" ply is beyond overkill. 1/2" ply glued and screwed is kinda the sweet spot. But yeah, I've done it. I made some very heavy duty upper cabinets out of 3/4" to store canned goods and i think that was also the last time I used lag bolts, right before I learned about GRKs. That was like 20 yrs ago. Come to the GRK light....

I read your thread on the renovation (so far). You are far crazier than I. I thought I was nutz, but doing all that with a newborn? yowza. Looks like you've done it all before too. Nice work!

Muhammad · Sep 22, 2020

dstig1 said:
Wow. That's an interesting level of cabinet insanity. I mean the 1/4" pressboard you often see is junk but 3/4" ply is beyond overkill. 1/2" ply glued and screwed is kinda the sweet spot. But yeah, I've done it. I made some very heavy duty upper cabinets out of 3/4" to store canned goods and i think that was also the last time I used lag bolts, right before I learned about GRKs. That was like 20 yrs ago. Come to the GRK light....

I read your thread on the renovation (so far). You are far crazier than I. I thought I was nutz, but doing all that with a newborn? yowza. Looks like you've done it all before too. Nice work!

I agree that 3/4 is overkill as well as when they are nailed and glued. I think 1/2 glued and nailed would be good enough. When shopping for ready to assemble cabinets you can see a lot of different quality levels and kind of choose your paranoia level. Then go above and beyond in the installation stage.

With the cabinets I think I was very reasonable with my attachment methods but yeah went overboard with the shelving. If guys on TBN are telling you that you're going too far, you're definitely going too far.

Egon · Sep 22, 2020

general Information on construction screws.

[video]https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/structural-screws-vs-lag-screws/[/video]

Simpson screw which I use quite often.

Note: my knowledge of screws is very limited. In the last few years many different job specific screw type fasteners have come on the market.