Spax Lag spin out in sheetrock to stud

[pdude]

Anyone have this problem? Or recommendations?

I'm using 1/4" x 4" SPAX lags into a wall in the garage wall which on the other side is a room in my house. I'm hanging some metal racks on the garage and on certain studs it does a spin out when all the way in. Others are fine and it's solid. For the ones that spin out and I pull them out part way they seem to be holding the thread and are not loose. I tried moving the hole over just 1/4" left/right with same results. I verified the stud with both a stud finder and magnets.

I'm thinking one of the following is the issue:
* I'm using a strong driver, so I could be stripping the stud as I noticed my bit holder was not perfectly circular.
* I went pass the stud with the 4" so perhaps the spax aren't gripping on the sides ? I tried 3" with same results. Maybe just start with a 3/8" lag and start again on the same hole?

Thanks for any comments.

 

[PoorOwner]

I install them with ratchet by hand. Only need to be snug and a little more. No need to go crazy on it. You would notice the bolt get hot even using a hand tool.
You likely overtorqued it with a power tool. Or pilot hole is too big.

There should be little reason it needs to be 4” long but then with dry wall and what you are bolting down it should not be long enough to go completely thru a stud.

 

[pdude]

I install them with ratchet by hand. Only need to be snug and a little more. No need to go crazy on it. You would notice the bolt get hot even using a hand tool.
You likely overtorqued it with a power tool. Or pilot hole is too big.

There should be little reason it needs to be 4” long but then with dry wall and what you are bolting down it should not be long enough to go completely thru a stud.

That makes sense. I probably did over-torque them.

For those that can spin with a hand ratchet, do you think those are still solid connections since they appear to be biting the stud?

 

[Hexen]

That makes sense. I probably did over-torque them.

For those that can spin with a hand ratchet, do you think those are still solid connections since they appear to be biting the stud?

Depends on the design of the shelves as to how they'll be applying force to the screws, and how close together the 'spinny' screws are (vs alternating with solidly-installed screws), but I'd think it would be fine... unless you plan on loading up the shelves with your vise/anvil collection. Keep in mind that some cut-rate construction only has studs at 24" OC instead of 16", so if yours are 16" spacing you've got a lot more support to start with than someone in a 24" house would have for the same shelf design.

Edit: The next reply pointing out that you could just go up to a larger diameter replacement would certainly be a good solution if you want to be safe.

 

[PoorOwner]

I would replace the spinning one with 3/8. It had been compromised. Use a real 3/8” with pilot hole. Not those no pre drilling 3/8” replacement that are actually not 3/8.

Last I checked the spax lag are actually real lags. They are coated and have serrated teeth on front. These features make them take less effort (torque)to install and you will notice they have a smaller hex head then you normally see on a galvanized hex head lag bolt.

 

[ItsNemo]

Could also be bottoming out on something more solid (brick, metal plate, etc).

 

[ard]

Termites?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Sounds like you are stripping the holes out.

 

[tipsy]

Studs on the flat rather than how we are used to them being? So only 1-1/2" instead of 3-1/2"? That would put the majority of the lag all the way beyond the stud.

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

That wall could also be the staggered studs where they only use a 2x3 from either side alternating so you do not have noise transmission through the wall. Especially between the garage and house. Take a cover off an electric box and peek inside with a borescope?

 

[matt_i]

The 4" seems like a long way to me. 3-1/2" + 1/2" drywall = all the way thru the stud.

I would use 3" screws.

 

[ishiboo]

Those Spax lags are awesome. You're doing something wrong if you can't get one to be solid in a 2x4. Are you sure you're not hitting like strapping or something?

 

[driftpin]

Is he trying to sink them in metal wall studs, not wood 2 x 4's?

Those Spax lags are awesome. You're doing something wrong if you can't get one to be solid in a 2x4. Are you sure you're not hitting like strapping or something?

 

[pdude]

I think I was possibly over torquing them.

I put in several other mounts on the same wall and used 1/4" x 3" Spax (instead of 4") and hand tightened half way (as I did a smaller pilot hole) till it was too tough to go further, and then used a multiple speed driver and used it on the lowest speed so the lag went in real slow and them all seemed to take. So it seems like I might have been over torquing the initial ones.