Putting up blinds in a window recess with steel lintel

Wassa123

Hi all,

I'm trying to put up some heavier-than-usual blinds.

The house was build in 2004ish, and has mainly plasterboard walls.
However, 15mm into the top window recess is what I think is a steel lintel. The blinds only have fittings to screw into the top.

I've tried to drill through it but it is very slow going.

I've had a google, and see people mentioning:
- drilling through it and using rawl plugs
- self tapping screws (not sure what these are and how they work)
- gluing wood to the ceiling and drilling into that.


What is the best way to put them up?

Grenage

When I did this (I assume you're using a metal drill piece), I simply drilled in and used self tapping screws.

Wassa123

I have HSS drill bits, though they are old so I might need new ones.

I've looked up self tapping screws and there's a large variety of them! A lot of them look like regular screws.

Is it something like these that I need?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TIMco-00061PPSD-Head-Self-Drill-Screw/dp/B0058CUZIW

I'm trying to find some around 3cm, but also with a small head as theres not a lot of wiggle room in the bracket

lstar337

Wassa123 wrote: »

I've looked up self tapping screws and there's a large variety of them! A lot of them look like regular screws.

They are.

Maybe you should put the drill down. :rotfl:

Wassa123

What screws can go through metal?

The self drilling screws with a mini drill bit on the end like I linked to?

flashg67

self drilling screws won't self tap into metal, you need a drilled pilot hole first then self tapping screws, eg http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/POZI-FLANGE-SELF-TAPPING-SCREWS-A2-STAINLESS-STEEL-FLANGED-TAPPERS-No-6-8-10-12-/361063732473?var=&hash=item54111354f9:m:m7jTFk80YMija2ySp6sl_3g

Alternatively, glue wood on as already mentioned - I've done this successfully, backed up by plasterboard fixings (screws cut down first though) - eg http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PLASTERBOARD-SPRING-TOGGLE-FIXINGS-WITH-SCREWS-HOLLOW-CAVITY-WALL-ANCHORS-UK-/111647731141?var=&hash=item19feb92dc5:m:mmH9OXCHxsTiTh_9nT1_jmA

Wassa123

Won't be able to use the plasterboard fittings, there's no gap between the metal and the plasterboard.

I'll look into getting some new drill bits to drill a pilot hole. Would the screws with a mini drill bit on the end not work?

wealdroam

Wassa123 wrote: »

I'll look into getting some new drill bits to drill a pilot hole. Would the screws with a mini drill bit on the end not work?

No. They're for thin sheet metal.

firefox1956

Your drill bit is obviously blunt.
Get yourself a new one, they are cheap as chips at Toolstation / Screwfix etc
HTH

Wassa123

Thanks guys!

Bought some new HSS-Co drill bits and some self tapping screws and slowly managed to get them into the lintel.

phil24_7

flashg67 wrote: »

self drilling screws won't self tap into metal, you need a drilled pilot hole first then self tapping screws, eg http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/POZI-FLANGE-SELF-TAPPING-SCREWS-A2-STAINLESS-STEEL-FLANGED-TAPPERS-No-6-8-10-12-/361063732473?var=&hash=item54111354f9:m:m7jTFk80YMija2ySp6sl_3g

Alternatively, glue wood on as already mentioned - I've done this successfully, backed up by plasterboard fixings (screws cut down first though) - eg http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PLASTERBOARD-SPRING-TOGGLE-FIXINGS-WITH-SCREWS-HOLLOW-CAVITY-WALL-ANCHORS-UK-/111647731141?var=&hash=item19feb92dc5:m:mmH9OXCHxsTiTh_9nT1_jmA

They will if you buy tek screws:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=tek+screws&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=79drV435IMeagAa-xJSgCA