Fence Repair

[Tinkerer2]

I have a section of aluminum fence where the bracket holding it to the post came loose. I took the fence section out and the screw (should have been 2) evidently chewed out the threads in the post and backed itself out. May have been stripped when the fence was installed. It was a small 1/2 in screw. Behind the fence is a 6 ft drop off so the fence needs to be sturdy. I had 2 screws that were slightly larger and 1 inch long. These screwed in but would not actually tighten up. I put the fence back together but the panel will wiggle. How should I repair the holes? Permanently mounting the bracket would be ok. Would rivets work in this situation. I think the holes in the bracket are about 3/16" in diameter (and probably the screw holes in the post too). Or should I make the holes in the fence post larger and use aluminum rivnuts? I've never used either.

Or maybe there is another way?

 

[CraigStu]

I'd be tempted to use 3/16 aluminum pop rivets. If you can find aluminum rivets w/ a stainless mandrel, the stronger mandrel pulls everything a little tighter before it snaps. Another option would be self drilling screws. I start them w/ a drill to get the drilling part done but then use a hand wrench or ratchet so I don't chance stripping the aluminum as the screw does it's final tighten.

 

[PopcornSutton]

Sounds like a good place for riv-nuts.

 

[Tinkerer2]

Sounds like a good place for riv-nuts.

Riv-nut tools seem to come with zinc plated riv-nuts. Would these be ok or should I also get aluminum riv-nuts? Concerned about corrosion creating an even larger hole around the riv-nuts making them useless. Don't care about not being able to ever get the bracket off because that isn't necessary to disassemble the fence.

 

[PopcornSutton]

Well I don't think I would worry about it, but you could use some no-lox or similar on the nuts that protects aluminum wiring from corroding.

 

[Rst277]

I have a section of aluminum fence where the bracket holding it to the post came loose. I took the fence section out and the screw (should have been 2) evidently chewed out the threads in the post and backed itself out. May have been stripped when the fence was installed. It was a small 1/2 in screw. Behind the fence is a 6 ft drop off so the fence needs to be sturdy. I had 2 screws that were slightly larger and 1 inch long. These screwed in but would not actually tighten up. I put the fence back together but the panel will wiggle. How should I repair the holes? Permanently mounting the bracket would be ok. Would rivets work in this situation. I think the holes in the bracket are about 3/16" in diameter (and probably the screw holes in the post too). Or should I make the holes in the fence post larger and use aluminum rivnuts? I've never used either.

Or maybe there is another way?

Put JB Weld on the threads and install. That should eliminate any wiggle.