Fasteners for masonry
Plastic plugs
Plastic plugs are designed for wood screws. They are a simpler version of the nylon screw plugs, and come in a range of colour-coded sizes. (See the Just for fun exercise for more details.)
Learning activity
Audio 11 (mp3 |6|KB)You're probably familiar with at least some of the fasteners we've described in this lesson, and you may have used them many times in your work. However, there could be particular fasteners that you have never used or even seen before.
Patented designs are always known by their brand names, such as 'Loxin' (a type of expansion sleeve anchor bolt) and 'Chemset anchor stud' (a chemical anchor).
Choose a masonry anchor that you either currently use at work, or would like to know more about. If you're not very familiar with the anchor, do some research on what its particular advantages are (that is, why it is used in certain situations) and how it is fitted. If possible, see if you can use it in a couple of jobs to find out for yourself how it works. When you've finished, write down the following details:
- Brand name of fastener
- General class of fastener (e.g. 'expansion sleeve anchor', 'nylon anchor' etc.)
- Advantages (including the applications for which it is most suitable)
- Disadvantages (including situations where you would not use it).
Share your findings with other learners in your group and your trainer. You may take digital photos of the anchor, both loose and in a completed job, to include with your answers.