An Introduction To Shield Anchors & Through Bolts
In the video below, we discuss shield anchors and through bolts from our expanding anchors range; explaining how they are used and discussing specification details.
What are Shield Anchors & Through Bolts?
Shield Anchors and Through Bolts are heavy duty fasteners that are commonly used in the construction industry.
What is a Shield Anchor?
Shield Anchors use expansion forces to fix items into concrete or masonry. They work by distributing the expansion force across the length of the shield when tightened – this spreads the shield and forces it to grip the inside of the hole. There are lots of different manufacturers of Shield Anchors; however, they’re still often called “Rawlbolts”, which is the most recognised brand of Shield Anchor made by Rawlplug.
You should install a Shield Anchor into the substrate before you fasten the fixture into position.
Our range of Shield Anchors are available in multiple diameters (M6, M8, M10, and M12).
How do I install a Shield Anchor?
We recommend using the following method to install your Shield Anchor:
- Drill your hole to the required size.
- Remove any dust or debris from the hole – you can do this with either a blow-out pump or a hole cleaning brush.
- Place the shield into the hole, and gently tap it with a hammer until it’s flat with against surface of the concrete or masonry.
- Insert the bolt through the application and into the shield.
- Using a torque wrench, tighten the bolt to the recommended torque size, and expand the anchor. TOP TIP: If you don’t have a torque wrench, simply tighten the nut finger tight, and then make a mark on top of the nut. Note the position of the mark as a guide. Then tighten the nut 3 or 4 more full turns using a wrench, just to make sure that enough torque has been applied.
We recommend that you always check the nut after installation – it might become slightly loose and need to be re-tightened.
What is a Through Bolt?
Through Bolts function in a similar way to Shield Anchors – they feature a tapered wedge and a sleeve at the end of the length of thread. When the Through Bolt is tightened, the sleeve expands to grip the inside of the concrete. When installing Through Bolts, you should use a drill with the same size diameter as the bolt’s diameter.
If you’re fixing into softer materials, like brick or block, we recommend using Screw Bolts instead.
Our Through Bolts range in diameter from 6mm to 124mm, and in lengths from 45mm to 300mm.
If you have any questions that weren't answered in this article or need some advice, please click here to speak to someone from our team.
