Fleetwood Couple wrote:
Thanks Scott, I am working in my big compartment that is part of the slide so no issues with tanks or other issues. I was ablable.to locate 2 aluminum tubes but there only an inch wide and to far apart to reasonable use for the intended purpose. I will look into the Rivnuts hopefully HD or lowes carries them.
Fleetwood Couple,
You won't find Rivnuts or, "Nutserts" at Lowes or Home Depot. They are a specialty fastener and, require a special tool to install them. Harbor Freight has them but, they are, as normal, CHEAP! But, will most likely work. The one I have is called a Huck and it's hydraulic. It normally runs anywhere from $175.00 - $275.00, depending on where and when you buy it. The nutserts I use are steel, not aluminum. The Harbor Freight version has a seriously hard time compressing the steel ones.
The principle of the nutsert is exactly like a rivet. A hole is drilled and, the rivet is inserted into the tip of the gun and, pressed into the hole. You then squeeze the trigger until the rivet snaps. In the use of a nutsert, again a hole is drilled, only much larger than what would be drilled for a rivet, and, the nutsert is THREADED onto a mandrel at the tip of the gun. It is then pushed into the hole and, you squeeze the trigger, more than once, until you think the backside of the nutsert is compressed enough to "clamp" both sides of the metal you're attaching it to.
Then, the mandrel is threaded out of the nutsert and, vuaaaaaaaala, you have a machine thread (nut) ready to accept a machine screw that will hold a bracket/clamp/shelf etc. to a wall. That method is seriously stronger and more reliable than just using sheet metal screws or, tek screws (self drilling screws).
But, it's a bit more costly than using the weaker, cheaper fasteners. The good part is, once you've purchased the tool, and a few extra nutserts, you'll find several uses for them for the rest of your life. Good luck. Below is an Amazon link to a nutsert tool and various nutserts. Again, I use the steel versions.
Scott
Nutsert tool and various nutserts
Fleetwood Couple wrote:
So here I am ready to get organized drilled small pilot holes in the back of the basement to mount some fancy spring clips and it appears this is just Styrofoam and nothing for the screw to bit on. Does anyone know if there is any support beams or studs in these compartments ?
First off, I want to thank all of you for the nice comments. As stated, it's kind of a hobby for me now that I'm not doing it for living/overtime assignment.
Fleetwood Couple,
Many of these compartment walls are lined with a foam. There should, be a light duty aluminum backing behind that foam. One of the first things you or, anyone intending on mounting things on either the back wall or side wall of a compartment should do is, try and investigate just what's behind that wall you're getting ready to drill a hole through. Sometimes you need to get under the coach and probe around, do some measuring, anything you can, to make sure that you're not going to drill into a FUEL OR WATER TANK or, anything else of importance.
But, on many of those walls, they are basically light skinned aluminum, steel or possibly plastic or fiberglass walled cabinets with foam in between the skins. So, if and when you drill, do be careful and when attaching a bracket/clamp/tool holder/etc. do not screw down things too tight. You'll crimp the two sandwich walls together or, possibly even pull the screw head or nut right through the light skinned wall.
I've used many body washers on the back side so that will not happen. It spreads the load out for the clamping screw and nut. As to your question of "Studs", well, not that I've found. For much of the mounting of many of those brackets and holders, it was "blind" fastening. What that means to those of you that are not aware of that term is, you cannot get to the back side of the wall with a nut or, backing of any type for the screw (that holds the intended bracket)to attach to.
In that case, I use what's called "nutserts" or also known as "Rivnuts". They are a fastener that acts much like a rivet only, there's machine screw threads left when you remove the mandrel. Then, all you do is put your bracket in place and, screw in a machine screw. That's much stronger than using sheet metal screws.
Scott
Billinwoodland wrote:
Fire up, awesome job. My dad was great at organizing storage areas like you are. For me, well, I know there's a 10mm socket in there somewhere!
Billinwood,
I thank you for your nice comments. While compartment organization was a side job for me as a fireman, on all new fire trucks we accepted, it's kind of a hobby now. It's really not that I'm anal about this sort of stuff, it's more about, if I want to do a 5 minute job, I don't want it to take 30 minutes to an hour 'cause I can't find the tools, equipment, items, repair parts etc. but, I know I have them.
I just like to be able to reach into a compartment, knowing EXACTLY where something is, get it, use it, put it back in the same spot when done.
Scott
