The easiest thing to do, if it will work, is fill the hole and move over a few inches. If it’s block or another hollow material, you could use a toggle bolt. If it will work for you, can drill the hole larger and use the next size up lag shield and lag screw.

What is lag shield anchor?

The Lag Shield is a screw style anchor designed for use with lag bolts. It is suitable for use in concrete and the mortar joints of block or brick walls. In harder masonry materials, short style Lag Shields are used to reduce drilling time.

How strong are lag shield anchors?





Technical Specifications Lag Shield Anchor

Size Minimum Embedment Pull-Out (lbs.)
1/4” Short 1″ 150
5/16” Short 1-1/4″ 236
3/8” Short 1-3/4″ 442
1/2” Short 2″ 600

How do you use a lag shield anchor?

Insert the anchor into the hole and tap the fastener with a hammer to ensure it is flush with the base material. Set the fixture over the anchor and insert the properly sized lag screw through the fixture and into the anchor.

How much weight can a lag shield hold?

Suitable for masonry projects, the lead lag shields are less prone to rust and corrosion. The internally threaded shields allow for quicker insertions with a compatible drill bit. With a maximum weight of 326 lb, these lag shield concrete anchors come in packs of two.

Can lag screw be longer than lag shield?

Install the Lag Shield and Lag Screw





The length of the screw used with the shield is critically important in ensuring that the shield is properly expanded. The length of the screw must be the depth of embedment of the shield plus the thickness of the material being fastened plus space for any washers.

What is the strongest concrete anchor?

Wedge anchors

Wedge anchors are typically the strongest anchors, but not every application requires a heavy-duty anchor. Some will do just fine with a plastic wall anchor or a nail-in version.

Do lag bolts weaken studs?

This perpendicular bean gives the threads the full thickness of a stud to screw into as it would in a residential wall. My results were as follows: Traditional lag bolt easily stripped out the stud and lost traction.

Do I need to drill pilot holes for lag screws?



You must drill pilot holes so that you do not splinter the wood or damage the lag screw. Any screw with a large diameter needs a pilot hole for easier and quicker installation. Drilling a pilot hole ensures that your lag screw won’t break when you install it with a power drill. Torque can snap the head right off.

How strong is a lag bolt?

A lag screw’s pull-out capacity is strongest with southern pine, at 307 pounds. Each additional inch of screw thread adds the same amount of strength to the bond.

Will lag bolts hold in drywall?

Lag bolts will not hold in drywall alone. In order to secure heavy items to your wall, you’ll need to find a stud to drive it through. If you are not able to find a stud, wall anchors are a useful alternative.

Do lag bolts have shear strength?



The shear strength of a fastener is approximately 60% of its tensile strength, but this is only an approximation and unless you have graded lag screws, there is no way to determine shear or tensile strengths.

Are lag bolts stronger than screws?

Structural screws (also called “construction” screws) are stronger than lags and make longer-lasting connections. You can just zip them in with any 18-volt drill (no pilot hole required).

How do you drive a lag bolt?

To install a lag screw, first you have to align the materials you’re going to screw together. When they’re lined up, clamp them together so they stay in place. Then, using a bit with a slightly smaller diameter than your lag screw, drill a hole all the way through the materials where you want the screw to go.

Do lag bolts need washers?

Another important consideration when fastening with a bolt (regardless of whether it is a through-bolt or lag bolt) is the use of washers. A washer adds to the bolts area of holding power. The bigger the washer the better the holding power.

Why is it called a lag bolt?



The name lag screw derives from their original use in securing barrel staves, also known as lags. A lag screw requires a hole drilled at the same diameter as the shaft of the screw, a gimlet point helps pull the screw into the hole and tap its thread.

Can you use lag screws in metal?

Lag screws have sharp lead thread points and are available in Steel/Zinc, Stainless Steel, and Steel/Hot Dip Galvanized.

Can you use a lag screw in concrete?

The short answer is Yes! You can install a Lag Screw into concrete. Installing a lag screw into concrete is not a difficult process but it does require an anchor to install properly. Lag shields are concrete anchors that expand near the bottom to hold the shield inside of a drilled hole.