hanging a mantle

[bluetsilk]

Have a brick fireplace. Also have your basic slab of exotic wood (7feet by 18 inches, 2 inches thick) that I would like to place on this fireplace as a mantle. Not sure how to hang it, but am sure want the hanging to be invisible. Am thinking of drilling 4-5 half inch holes in the mortar line, placing a metal rod along with epoxy in those holes, making sure they are plumb and true. And long enough to stick out 8-10 inches. Then drilling matching holes ( maybe a wee bit larger) in the wood slab. Then sliding it onto the rods with or without epoxy. That should allow for a nice invisible installation. Anyone have suggestions or shoot down commments? Or a better way?

The fireplace has a gas fireplace in it that is used infrequently, but will be about 2 feet below where I envision the mantle.

thanks.

[RayV]

Use only 3 rods (how much weight?)

1/2" is probably too big a hole for the mortar joints How will you drill the holes level/straight into the wall? Do you have drill press to make the holes in the wood straight?

Sounds like it will work but be difficult to execute.

Have a friend with a welder? Clamp a piece of steel to the back of the wood and drill through the metal and wood together to make sure it is all lined up. Weld the rods in place on the plate and the screw the plate to the wall with Tapcon screws. Over engineered for sure but that's half the fun.

One of the pros at rec.woodworking have probably already solved this problem, try a post there.

[DanG]

Install the rods (all thread works well) in the wood. Bend the rods as required to insure they are square and true - this should not be necessary if you use care on the drilled holes. Drill oversized holes in the masonry, install epoxy screens or umbrellas, and epoxy. You will need to brace and carry the mantle while the epoxy sets up. Here is what I use:

I normally use C6.

______________________________ Keep the whole world singing . . . . DanG (remove the sevens) [e-mail]

[RayV]

Your technique sounds like a good and easy to execute plan except for the all thread. The OP stated the wood is 18" wide. I think the all thread would bend unless the fireplace had a smooth surface like brick for the shelf to press against. Maybe some rebar if you can get it as thin as the mortar joints, still bendable but not as flexible as all thread. Maybe drilling the hole for the rods near the top of the shelf so bottom portion could press against the wall preventing the rods from bending. Overall good plan of attack.

shelf rod _________________ / ---------------------------

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[DanG]

You have lost me completely. The board is the limiting factor, OP stated it was 2" thick. Biggest all thread I would attempt would be 1 1/4". 3/4 all thread would probably suffice just fine. The stuff is available in many sizes and alloys ( the 2" and 4" diameters would be difficult to use in his board):

the whole world singing . . . . DanG (remove the sevens) [e-mail]

[bluetsilk]

______________________________

Thanks all. Would likely get steel rod from junk/metal yard, as it comes in all sizes, metals there... the technique DanG suggests sounds like a good flow, and easier to manhandle/brace the chunk of wood than what I was thinking. It is always nice to have things level and plumb once you are done, no? Do have a large drill press (and drills!) and a hammerdrill for the masonry, so I suspect all that is left is the ol' screwing your courage to the sticking point and just doing it..

BTW, the wood (narra) will be cut and shaped to reflect a shape on the fireplace, so it isn't just an ol' slab of wood stuck on the wall; hopefully will flow nicely with the fireplace and wood already in the room.

Again, thanks to all. oldluddite/aka bluetsilk