Fixing a wonky shelf without drilling?

prezzacc

Hi All,

Today involved some more DIY, putting a large mantle shelf up and a large mirror above that. While im impressed i managed to match up the holes so the hidden fixings are in place on the shelf...i seem to have gone VERY slightly wonky, its probably 1cm? But i can notice it!

These are the keyhole fixings on the back on the shelf, that slot over the screw in the wall. Is there anyway i can move one up very slighty? All i can think is to re drill, but it will be so close to the old hole, ill just get a huge Drill hole!

Thanks all.

leveller2911

prezzacc wrote: »

Hi All,

Today involved some more DIY, putting a large mantle shelf up and a large mirror above that. While im impressed i managed to match up the holes so the hidden fixings are in place on the shelf...i seem to have gone VERY slightly wonky, its probably 1cm? But i can notice it!

These are the keyhole fixings on the back on the shelf, that slot over the screw in the wall. Is there anyway i can move one up very slighty? All i can think is to re drill, but it will be so close to the old hole, ill just get a huge Drill hole!

Thanks all.

1cm or 10mm is not really "slightly " wonky its very wonky but well done for getting the holes to line up with the screws in the wall, not always that easy a job to do especially if the screwhead is only a little bit smaller than the keyhole.


If possible you could try moving the "keyhole" fixing down on the mantle and this will raise the mantle upwards. So moving the keyhole fixing plate down by 1cm (if its thick enough) will mean the mantle will be 1cm higher when you put it over the screw in the wall..

Regards Leveller

flashg67

depending what the wall is made of, I think you'll struggle without moving the shelf more than 1cm. You could try - you'll be no worse off, You could try filling the old hole first with quick drying cement before redrilling

prezzacc

Thanks for the replies guys and yes i guess you are right ref the 1cm! Also as mentioned the holes are nearly and exact match for the screw head!

Rather embarrassingly, upon removing the shelf, fiddling around and popping it back on, it appears the screw wasn't quite in place in the keyhole, and this time has fell into place, and its Level !

Next ...i have a wonky Mirror. lol. Much harder this one. Again small difference but this has two hooks on the back. The one on the right is higher than the one on the left. .

Would quick drying cement be enough to let me drill again nearly identical place? Its an exterior wall above log burner.

Thanks

leveller2911

Just move one of the hooks on the back of the mirror up or down .If you raise the hook on one side it will lower the mirror on that side side. Far easier to move a screw in a timber mirror 5mm than trying to drill into a brickwall 5mm away from an existing hole.

Try and think of it logically.

If its very difficult to alter a fixing on a plastered wall try and alter the fixing on the object you're trying to fix to that wall.

So if the left hand side of the mirror needs raising 5mm you can't re drill a hole in the plastered wall as its too close to the existing hole and the drill bit will just find the existing hole so instead move the fitting on the back of the mirror 5mm down and Bobs you uncle the height of the mirror on that side will be 5mm higher .

prezzacc

Thanks leveller.


Really helpful replies. I like your logic, I need more in my head!


I did in fact look at the bracket on the back but shyed away, its not your conventional mirror and the brackets are about 2" long not very wide, with 4 screws going vertical. I did wonder if this was designed for moving? However the hole spacing is probably too big (1/2 Inch)for the small difference! I might give it a go though.


I'm not the most confident with these things and didn't want to break the bracket/mirror!


Thanks again for your help, ill try and remove the bracket and see what happens.