Rawl plugs for garage shelving

danrv

Hi
I’m putting up a couple of 7ft shelves in my garage for jars of nuts/bolts/nails etc. I have twenty 200mm x 250mm London brackets and plan use five per shelf, screwed into regular brickwork.
Wood is 220mm wide.
I haven’t got the right size Rawl plugs but do have some alloy 1.5” Alex plugs. Just wondering if the plastic ones would be better than the old type.
Any help appreciated.

tacpot12

Alex plugs aren't meant for heavy loads, so I don't think they will be  suitable - see here ALE-2012 (ucanfast.com)
I can't see any mention of plastic Alex plugs. To be safe, use some red or brown plastic rawlplugs. The shorter red one hold an incredible amount fo weight - you don't need the brown ones for shelves, but you can use them if they are all you have. You local hardware store, and possibly even your local supermarket, will sell rawlplugs, so get some of those. 

danrv

tacpot12 said:

Alex plugs aren't meant for heavy loads, so I don't think they will be  suitable - see here ALE-2012 (ucanfast.com)
I can't see any mention of plastic Alex plugs. To be safe, use some red or brown plastic rawlplugs. The shorter red one hold an incredible amount fo weight - you don't need the brown ones for shelves, but you can use them if they are all you have. You local hardware store, and possibly even your local supermarket, will sell rawlplugs, so get some of those. 

Thanks, that’s helpful.
I have a selection of sizes/colours although I’ve only enough of the brown and red ones (three per bracket).
Bit confused about length or how long the screws/plugs need to be. Maybe the plugs are a particular length according to colour.

danrv

KeithSussex said:

There are quiet a few combinations of wall plugs & screws, every one has their preferences. These are good wall plugs with some technical information  https://www.plasplugs.co.uk/solid-wall-fixings/originals-bjp-concrete-brick/50-plasplugs-heavy-duty-concrete-and-brick-fixings-clip-pack/
Drill an accurate 7mm hole. use brown wall plugs,  match them with 50mm 8 (gauge)  screws and you will have a nice secure bracket to brick wall fixing.

If your feeling adventurous,  screw directly into the brick wall with concrete screws. 

Good luck 

Thanks. The brown ones I have are Plasplugs general purpose. I was thinking that the plug needs to be as long as the screw.
They’re about one inch long.

Le_Kirk

The plug needs to be slightly longer than the screw and I would use brown plugs and No 8 x 1 1/2" or No 8 x 2"

williamgriffin

danrv said:

tacpot12 said:

Alex plugs aren't meant for heavy loads, so I don't think they will be  suitable - see here ALE-2012 (ucanfast.com)
I can't see any mention of plastic Alex plugs. To be safe, use some red or brown plastic rawlplugs. The shorter red one hold an incredible amount fo weight - you don't need the brown ones for shelves, but you can use them if they are all you have. You local hardware store, and possibly even your local supermarket, will sell rawlplugs, so get some of those. 

Thanks, that’s helpful.
I have a selection of sizes/colours although I’ve only enough of the brown and red ones (three per bracket).
Bit confused about length or how long the screws/plugs need to be. Maybe the plugs are a particular length according to colour.

You'll only need three per bracket.

danrv

Le_Kirk said:

The plug needs to be slightly longer than the screw and I would use brown plugs and No 8 x 1 1/2" or No 8 x 2"

Thanks. I have the screws but need to buy some longer plugs. Most of them are 1” long.

williamgriffin

danrv said:

Le_Kirk said:

The plug needs to be slightly longer than the screw and I would use brown plugs and No 8 x 1 1/2" or No 8 x 2"

Thanks. I have the screws but need to buy some longer plugs. Most of them are 1” long.

They'll be ok.

danrv

williamgriffin said:

danrv said:

Le_Kirk said:

The plug needs to be slightly longer than the screw and I would use brown plugs and No 8 x 1 1/2" or No 8 x 2"

Thanks. I have the screws but need to buy some longer plugs. Most of them are 1” long.

They'll be ok.

But the screws are 1 1/2” or 2”. If the plugs should be longer, I need new ones.
Looking at them online, the drill diameter is given but nothing about the plug length.

Alanp

Drill the correct depth/ size hole for the plug and screw you are going to use, insert rawlplug, then tap rawlplug in to hole until it’s just inside the hole, ( you can slightly screw in the screw or use the head of the screw to knock the plug in) you don’t need to hammer it in just a gentle tap

danrv

Alanp said:

Drill the correct depth/ size hole for the plug and screw you are going to use, insert rawlplug, then tap rawlplug in to hole until it’s just inside the hole, ( you can slightly screw in the screw or use the head of the screw to knock the plug in) you don’t need to hammer it in just a gentle tap

Thanks. Good vid here that covers the length of screw and what plugs to use.
https://youtu.be/TQ13gug7aQ4