Installing Pull Up Bar on Brick Wall with Anchor Epoxy
Hi guys,
I need to install this pull up bar on a brick wall. Pull up bar photos – attached with this post.
The 6 inch brick wall is not very hard, except for the top 1 inch or so & brittle after that.
I am trying to figure out the best way to do this. I was initially planning on breaking large cavities in the walls to fit the 4 flanged prongs and covering it with concrete and add a few anchor bolts for support. Then I read about epoxy grout anchor bolts which can take heavy loads and I am now wondering if I would be better off drilling 4 holes in the main frame of the pull up bar and just use epoxy anchor bolts.
I would still need to fit the prongs in but if the anchor bolts are good enough to take the load I can make do with much smaller cavities for the prongs and use epoxy for the prongs as well rather than use concrete. Do is this sound like a good plan?
I live in India and I will be using a locally available Anchor Epoxy.
I also wanted your advice on the epoxy applicator. The product description (see below) speaks about using this primarily for tile grout. Can I use this to apply anchor expoxy grout for the anchor bolt & also the prongs in my pull-up bar frame?
http://www.contractorsdirect.com/Tile-Tools/Grout-Floats/Rubi-Joint-Applicator-For-Grout-Mortar
Thanks in advance for your help
Replies
installing pull up bar
What is a pull up bar?
What are you pulling up? How much weight are you pulling up?
Is the masony wall structural and load bearing?
Is the wall solid masonry or concrete masony units or what?
Just a few questions that first came to mind.
A pull-up bar is for (duh!) doing pull-ups/chin-ups.
I don't know how thick the wall is or what's on the other side, but if the wall's not too thick, you can access the other side, and appearance isn't an issue, the best approach would be to through-bolt and use a metal plate or large washers ("fender washers") on the other side.
The device in the link you give is essentially a conventional caulking gun with a reloadable cartridge. Though the basic concept is sound there are a couple of problems you'd encounter with using this specific unit to apply epoxy:
The unit does not mix the epoxy as it exits, meaning you must pre-mix the epoxy, load it into the cartridge, and apply it. In the time it takes to do all this your standard 10-30 minute epoxy will be beginning to set.
Epoxy is very hard to clean off a tool once it begins to harden (and no dream to clean up before then). You'd maybe be able to use the device twice (if you were lucky) before it became hopelessly gummed up with hardened epoxy.
In the US you can get anchor epoxy (or, more often, 2-part acrylic anchor adhesive) in "caulk" cartridges (that fit as standard cartridge caulking gun) and which mix the epoxy/adhesive as it exits the cartridge. This setup would be much more practical in your case.
Thanks a ton Dan.
Can you please share the link to the epoxy I can use in caulk cartridges? I haven't been able to find something like this.
The wall is 6 inches thick but I won't be able to use a through-bolt as I have a room on the other side of the wall.
It would be something like this, though I know nothing of the specific brand and vendor: http://www.tooldistrict.com/product-p/6115364.htm
Thanks Dan!
The cartridge / gun based systems seem expensive for a one time use.
I found a local anchor grout supplier (15 min pot time) which I'm supposed to mix in a pot & apply. Can I use a grout bag to apply? Can you suggest a cheaper way to apply this?
Whether a grout bag will work depends on how thin the adhesive is. It's iffy but maybe worth a try.
Keep in mind you'll need some sort of "dam" to hold the adhesive in place until it sets, or it will want to run out.
And, of course, you'll need some temporary support for the bar, to hold it in place while you inject the adhesive.
(And take "pot time" with a grain of salt -- which is to say only halfway believe it. In particular, temperature will affect the speed of setting enormously.)
Dan: I spoke to the manufacturer of the adhesive and they told me that it is thick enough that I can roll into small pellets and insert it in the holes. They also told me that they can extend the "pot time" by adding some additives and that it can hold for up to 30 minutes.
I have ordered the adhesive and should get it in a few days. I will keep you guys posted and take pictures.
Thanks for your help
Tornado
This might be what you want. They have both dual cartridge (special dual cart gun required) and single cartridge.
Take a close look at the specs and see if possibly it's outsourced to your country.
Best of luck.
EDIT the whooops.
http://www.simpsonanchors.com/catalog/adhesives/set/
What?
How about.....
Am I the only person who thinks of Tap con type screws for this application?
whoops.
http://www.simpsonanchors.com/catalog/adhesives/set/