Do you have some nylon string from a weed eater. Put a piece or two in with the screw.

 

Hmm interesting idea.

 

Hard to say when you haven't told us what size tapcon you are using or what size hole you made. If you have 3/16 tapcons throw them as far as you can and use 1/4" tapcons. Otherwise try Neal's string shim trick.

 

I am using using 1/4" tapcons.

 

What are you trying to hold up with the Tapcon?

 

The screws are holding up a metal bracket bearing a good amount of weight.

 

You might also be able to just use a longer screw. 3/16 sds works well with 1/4" tapcons. But yeah, you could use concrete epoxy along with your tapcon.

 

You might also be able to just use a longer screw. 3/16 sds works well with 1/4" tapcons.

I can try that too. What about using some kind of adhesive or epoxy? I've used epoxy for anchoring bolts on ground. Would they work with wall screws?

 

Piece of 14 ga copper wire.

 

Just one Tapcon hole drilled too big?
Any of the solutions, the wire, wood or trimmer line should work.
And you will know as you tighten it if it is holding.

 

I think a second hole might be too big. I think the issue with using wires to thread the screws is that it won't fit through the metal bracket.

 

You would cut a short piece of wire. Insert it fully into the hole. Then drive the screw.

 

There is an epoxy made for this very purpose. I used such an epoxy to anchor my shed. The strength is rated greater than the concrete. Just look for concrete anchor epoxy (or something like that). Then fill the hole with the epoxy and then you can push a bolt into the hole and wait for it to cure. Then you can use a nut on top of the bolt. You may need to actually make the hole even larger and find an appropriate bolt.

 

There isn't a "perfect" solution.

One option is to abandon the hole and drill another hole through the metal bracket, through the concrete.

If that's not an option then the existing hole has to be reused.

You can try to get the same screw to bite by using some electrical wire, or tooth picks or zip ties. Kind of a hit and miss. More likely to work on solid concrete less likely with a block.

If it's not a block you can try a longer tapcon like instead of 1-1/4 try a 1-3/4 or 2-1/4.

You can also try a bigger screw. A 1/4 tapcon require a 3/16" hole. Simpsons make a concrete screw that is slightly bigger and uses a 1/4" hole. That may work on your oversized hole.

They also sell hammer set nails, Red Head makes one for 1/4" holes. That may work too. Of all the methods listed this is the one I have had the most success in fixing a spinning tapcon on a concrete block.

Or further enlarge that hole for a 1/4" lead anchor, and use a 1/4" bolt into the anchor instead.

Or use epoxy, real epoxy not JB Weld, it's expensive though. $20+ for one hole ouch...of course you can save it for future use but I have never been able to save a double tube epoxy once opened it gets messy.

 

Similar to the trimmer string, a plastic plug rawl may work.

 

I’ve always gone to the nearest bush. Trimmed off a limb and inserted it in hole. Then put your screw in. Works fantastic! Been doing it since they first started making these screws. I don’t know of any time I’ve had to go back.

 

Soon maybe he will try any one of the ideas that would be free or less than $1 and tell us how easy that was or he will go spend $20 on some epoxy.

 

I wanted to update what I eventually ended up doing a while ago. I got some thick copper wire, straightened it out, and inserted into the hole. Drilled the screw in and it was solid. It's not going anywhere! This solution will also allow me to remove the screw in the future. The epoxy solution would have been permanent.

Thanks for this suggestion!

 

OR just buy the next size bigger tapcon.

 

We've drilled many holes using tapcon screws. What I've found is the tapcon drill bit is different than others the same size. Using tapcon bits helped us tremendously.


Mike.
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[emoji631] [emoji631]

 

We've drilled many holes using tapcon screws. What I've found is the tapcon drill bit is different than others the same size. Using tapcon bits helped us tremendously.

Would i be able to lash a small pole building 16x20 down with those?. They do make a bracket that cements right into the footing column but if its off a little you cant move it after the cement dries.

 

From Tapcons website

Mike.
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[emoji631] [emoji631]

 

I would use the next size larger Tapcon.

 

The hole in the metal plate wouldn't have taken it