
Minimum Embedment Depth by Diameter of Wedge Anchor
Wedge Anchor Diameter | Minimum Embedment Depth |
1/4” | 1-1/8” |
5/16” | 1-1/4” |
3/8” | 1-1/2” |
1/2” | 2-1/4” |
How do you install a wedge anchor?
- Using the hammer drill and appropriate drill bit, create holes in the concrete for the wedge anchors. ...
- Remove the dust or debris in the holes so they can’t affect the quality of installing the wedge anchors. ...
- Insert the wedge anchor in the holes or through a base and concrete. ...
- Tighten the wedge anchor using a spanner.
How to install a wedge anchor?
Install washer and nut onto the threaded end of the Red Head® wedge anchor, leaving the nut flush with the top of the anchor body. This will protect the threads during installation. Insert Red Head® through the fixture be fastened and into the hole in the concrete, using a hammer strike the nutted end of the Red Head® wedge anchor until the ...
How to install concrete wedge anchors?
Wedge Anchor
- Determine the minimum length of wedge anchor to use by adding the thickness of the material to be fastened to the minimum embedment for the diameter of the anchor to ...
- These anchors can be installed at deeper embedments than the minimum embedment depth. ...
- Use a bit that is the same diameter of the anchor being installed.
How to install a red head wedge anchor?
Red Head® Wedge Anchor Installation
- Anchor Types. The Red Head® wedge anchor is manufactured in different materials and plated differently to meet different application requirements.
- Wedge Anchor Diameters. ...
- Depth of Embedment. ...
- Length. ...
- Spacing. ...
- ITW Red Head® Wedge Anchor Installation. ...
- concrete Fastening Systems, Inc Installation Instructions. ...
- Red Head® Wedge Anchor Installation Torque. ...

What is a wedge anchor for?
"Wedge anchor" is a generic term for a type of anchor used to fasten a variety of materials to concrete. Some companies have different brand names for their wedge anchors such as Kwik Bolt, Power Stud, and Thunderstud.
Where do you use a wedge anchor?
0:262:49Home Remodeling Tools : How to Use Wedge Anchors - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo lay out all your material spot your hole drill. The hole. You want the hole to be. As big as theMoreSo lay out all your material spot your hole drill. The hole. You want the hole to be. As big as the fattest part of the wedge anchor. Because. It's just going to get hammered in there.
How do you use wedge concrete anchors?
1:192:53How to Install Concrete Wedge Anchors - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTake the wedge anchor. And place the nut on the threaded end so as to protect the threads whenMoreTake the wedge anchor. And place the nut on the threaded end so as to protect the threads when hammering it into the hole. Next place the anchor through the fixture. And into the hole tapping.
Which is better wedge anchor or sleeve anchor?
Sleeve anchors are fairly simple to use and are primarily used in brick or block. They can be used in concrete but are not considered as strong as a wedge anchor. So, for light to medium holding applications, a sleeve anchor is a good choice.
How deep should wedge anchor be in concrete?
A 5/8” concrete wedge anchor requires a 5/8” hole to be drilled into the concrete. The hole in the concrete needs to be drilled a minimum of 1/2” deeper than the concrete wedge anchor will penetrate into the concrete.
How much weight can a wedge anchor hold?
Technical Specifications for Wedge AnchorsSizeMinimum EmbedmentPull-Out (lbs.)5/8”2-3/4”37493/4”3-1/4”49787/8”3-7/8”62941”4-1/2”73295 more rows
Are wedge anchors the same as expansion anchors?
A wedge anchor is a mechanical type expansion anchor that consists of four parts: the threaded anchor body, the expansion clip, a nut, and a washer. These anchors provide the highest and most consistent holding values of any mechanical type expansion anchor.
Can you use wedge anchors in concrete block?
Wedge anchors should never be used in a block wall or any hollow base material. Cinder block can sometimes be difficult for fastening: It is hollow, brittle, and inconsistent. The holding power depends on the quality of the cinder block.
How do you anchor something to concrete?
Simply drill a hole into the concrete, hold the fixture you're fastening over the hole, then use a hammer to tap the anchor into the hole. As you drive in the pin, the sleeve expands outward, trapping the anchor in the hole.
What is the strongest anchor for concrete?
Wedge anchorsWedge anchors are typically the strongest anchors, but not every application requires a heavy-duty anchor. Some will do just fine with a plastic wall anchor or a nail-in version.
Are wedge anchors better than Tapcons?
Tapcon and wedge anchors are pre-installed mechanical anchors that attach structural objects to concrete structures. However, the wedge anchor suits heavier-duty applications, vs the Tapcon anchor that typically serve lighter deployments. Another difference between them is in their fastening method.
What anchors can I use in concrete?
These types of concrete anchors would be the Tapcon®, flat or round head sleeve anchors, or any female type anchors where a specific bolt head can be chosen to be inserted into the anchor. These female type anchors would include the: drop-in anchor, machine screw anchor, double expansion & single expansion anchors.
What is wedge anchor?
Purchase Wedge Anchors. "Wedge anchor" is a generic term for a type of anchor used to fasten a variety of materials to concrete. Some companies have different brand names for their wedge anchors such as Kwik Bolt, Power Stud, and Thunderstud. The different brands of wedge anchors all work on the same principles are made from ...
How Does a Wedge Anchor Work?
Once installed, these wedge anchors cannot be removed without destroying the concrete. The size of the anchor is always equal to the size of the hole that needs to be drilled into the concrete. The tolerance between the hole and anchor is very tight. As the anchor is hammered into the hole, the clip is recessed in the gap of the conical space, allowing the anchor to penetrate the hole. To set the anchor, the rod must be pulled up (which occurs while the nut is being tightened), making the clip move out ward on the tapered space, wedging itself between the rod and the wall of the hole.
How to determine the length of anchor needed?
To determine the length of anchor needed, simply add the thickness of the fixture to be fastened to the minimum embedment for the anchor diameter being used, plus the thickness of the nut and washer (thickness is typically close to the diameter of the anchor): This will give you the minimum length of anchor required.
What is the best anchor for concrete?
When anchoring into concrete, wedge anchors are an excellent choice because of their holding values. The holding power of the wedge anchor, as with any anchor, is always dependent on the quality of the concrete. As a rule of thumb, a safety factor of 4:1 or 25%, is generally accepted as a safe working load. Holding values are also derived from the depth of the embedment- the deeper the embedment, the better the holding values. The wedge anchor must be embedded into the concrete up to or past the minimum embedment depth to obtain published holding values. It is also essential to ensure that the anchors are not placed too close together or too close to an unsupported edge.
What type of anchors are used for concrete?
Concrete wedge anchors are available in different types of steel as well as different plating. The type of steel and plating to use is based on the application's environment. Zinc-plated carbon steel wedge anchors are used in interior applications, where corrosion is not a factor.
What is the second piece of a wedge anchor?
The second piece of the wedge anchor is a steel slip or sleeve, that is permanently assembled around the conical section of the rod. Each wedge anchor also requires a nut and washer to complete the installation.
How far apart should an anchor be from an unsupported edge?
For example, a 1/2" diameter anchor should be at least 2-1/2" from any unsupported edge of the concrete. Also, two anchors should never be set less than ten diameters from each other.
How do wedge anchors work?
Wedge anchors derive their holding values through expansion against the base material. The expansion is created through mechanical means once the anchor is inserted into the hole in the concrete. The mechanical expansion of the wedge anchor is produced once the anchor is inserted into the hole in the concrete and the nut is turned clockwise. ...
What is the difference between wedge anchors?
A difference between the different types of wedge anchors is their ability to resist rusting. The zinc plated wedge anchor should be used in a dry environment where no moisture is present.
How far from the unsupported side of the concrete should a wedge anchor be placed?
The wedge anchor must also be placed so that it is no closer than 1.5 diameters from the unsupported side of the concrete. Wedge anchors are manufactured from different materials that are used in different applications.
How far apart should anchors be from each other?
Generally, the spacing requirements used by the concrete anchor industry are that the anchors should be spaced a minimum of 10 anchor diameters away from each other and a minimum of 5 anchors from an unsupported edge of the concrete. Spacing closer will cause a decrease in holding values or there may not be any holding values at all.
How does a nut work on a wedge anchor?
Turning the nut clockwise pulls the anchor body up through the nut, which makes the expansion clip slide down the cone-shaped, necked down a portion of the anchor body and expands the clip against the wall of the concrete and the wedge anchor body.
What is the expansion of a wedge anchor?
The expansion of the wedge anchor creates forces upon the concrete that must be taken into consideration when using wedge anchors. The distance between wedge anchors and the distance from an unsupported edge of the concrete is critical. Both of these distances are critical because the expansion forces created are cone shaped and ...
Can you use a wedge anchor in concrete?
The wedge anchor can only be used in solid concrete. Wedge anchors are designed not to be used in other masonry materials such as brick or hollow block. The expansion clip on the wedge anchor is placed on the anchor body in a manner and location that makes the expansion tolerance location critical. This critical tolerance location ...
What is wedge anchor?
A wedge anchor is a mechanical type expansion anchor that consists of four parts: the threaded anchor body, the expansion clip, a nut, and a washer. It is designed for use in solid concrete only. These anchors provide the highest and most consistent holding values of any mechanical type expansion anchor.#N#Installing an anchor into concrete can be accomplished by following the directions below.
How to install a wedge anchor?
Install the wedge. Each box of anchors comes with the correct number and size of nuts and washers. Take one washer and place it over the threaded end of the anchor body. Then take one nut and thread it clockwise onto the anchor body until the top of the nut is flush with the top of the anchor body.
How to anchor a concrete block?
Direct into Concrete - Insert the anchor directly into the predrilled hole in the concrete with the clipped end going first. Strike the nutted end of the anchor with a hammer until the anchor is embedded into the concrete the required distance, see minimum embedment chart above. Make sure that a minimum of three to five threads are below the surface of the concrete and there are enough threads above the surface to accommodate the thickness of the material being fastened and space for the nut and washer.
How to determine the minimum length of wedge anchor to use?
Determine the minimum length of wedge anchor to use by adding the thickness of the material to be fastened to the minimum embedment for the diameter of the anchor to be installed with space for the nut and washer.
How to set anchor in concrete?
To set the anchor in the concrete, turn the nut clockwise with your fingers until tight. Then use a wrench to turn the nut clockwise three to five full turns, or until the specified torque value is reached for the diameter of the anchor being installed. Over torquing the anchor may cause the anchor to spin in the hole and the holding values will be compromised.
How to anchor a nut in concrete?
To set the anchor in the concrete, turn the nut clockwise with your fingers until tight.
How to clean a hole in a drywall anchor?
Clean the hole by using a wire brush, vacuum, or compressed air. Use a wire brush to clean the hole, and then vacuum the hole.
Parts of a Wedge Anchor
Anchor Body – is made from galvanized carbon steel or stainless steel; it is threaded on one end for a portion of its length while the diameter is necked down and cone shaped tapering up to the nominal diameter at its other end.
Drilling the Holes
To install a wedge anchor in concrete, a hole must be drilled into the concrete. The hole must be drilled using a carbide bit in a hammer drill in the hammer and rotation mode to ensure proper hole size and consistency. The tolerance between the hole size and wedge anchor size is critical for the wedge anchor to achieve its holding values.
Inserting Wedge Anchor
Directly into Concrete – Once the hole in the concrete has been drilled then the wedge anchor can be inserted into the hole.
What is a male wedge anchor?
Anchors here are inserted through the object or a fixture. The male anchors are then inserted into a hole that was already drilled before. Male wedge anchors are the most popular because they can be inserted easily, prevent corrosion, and are very strong.
How many inches does a wedge anchor expand?
Wedge concrete anchors were named after wedges that can open up and expand till it is 1/16 th of an in ch around its base. When the bolt is already tightened, this expansion occurs.
What is a concrete sleeve anchor?
Concrete Sleeve Anchor. Concrete sleeve anchors are male anchors or fasteners like the previous one. It involves a threaded bolt being enveloped or surrounded by an expander sleeve at one end, while at the other end there is a washer and a nut.
What is split drive anchor?
Usually, split drive concrete anchors are best suited to light-duty tasks. They are suitable for either concrete, block, or brick materials as the base. 4. Stud Concrete Anchor. As we know, the wedge and sleeve concrete anchors use a tightened nut so that the anchors expand a lot against the hole’s walls or sides.
How to expand a stud fastener?
But to expand a stud fastener you need to hammer onto the top part of the stud. The stud expansion anchor has threading on the top end and on the bottom end, there is a drilled hole consisting of vertical slits.
What is an anchor used for?
Since anchors are used for connecting different kinds of elements to concrete bases, you need to be careful in choosing the right one.
What is a lad shield anchor?
The lad shield concrete anchor is also a female anchor. It involves a sleeve that is ribbed and slightly tapered. This sleeve is made of zinc alloy that is unthreaded. The sleeve fits into a pre-drilled hole on the base, that could either be of concrete, mortar, brick, etc.
