Installing a pull-up bar in the ceiling (concrete) - Need advice

[Jani Melender]

Hello everyone. I weigh around 100kg now (blaming it on corona), and I've bought a pull-up bar that I plan to attach to the ceiling. It has 6 holes, and the holes in the bracket itself are 10.4mm in diameter.

Some screws and plugs came with it, but I'm wondering if they sent the right stuff. The screws are 7.5mm in diameter and 8cm long, and the plugs are 10mm in diameter and only 5cm long.

Do you really need to drill 6 *centimeter* deep holes that are 10 millimeters in diameter to get this to work?

Isn't it enough to just go buy plugs that are 6-8 mm in diameter, get suitable screws, and drill the holes maybe 5-6 cm deep?

I have a sturdy hammer drill that has bits in 5mm and 8mm diameter. Grateful for any answers.

 

[proffsrik]

Now, I don't know what the bar looks like, but 4 screws (two on each side) are likely a minimum. Keep in mind that the load isn't just downward; there will also be a moment when you swing your body. I usually don't trust screws that are included. Ikea has even stopped including them because so much depends on the specific conditions. They don't know whether your ceiling is made of wood, concrete, or lightweight concrete. Fishers duopower is a good plug. In the image, you'll see the load table for these.

 

[Jani Melender]

Thank you, but how do you interpret it?

Now I don't know what the bar looks like, but 4 screws (two on each side) should be a minimum. Remember that the load isn't just downward, there will also be a moment when you swing with your body.
I usually don't trust screws that come with it. Ikea has even stopped including them precisely because so much depends on the specific conditions. They don't know if your ceiling is wood, concrete, or lightweight concrete. Fishers duopower are good plugs. In the picture, you can see the load table for these.

Concrete. I forgot to mention.

 

[proffsrik]

Example of how to interpret:
On the line for concrete of quality C20/C25 or better, for instance, a plug of size 8x40mm can support a load of 1.1kN, which is the gravitational force on a mass of 112kg if we consider g=9.81m/s²

 

[Jani Melender]

Hmm, I have now drilled 10mm holes that are 8cm deep in my concrete ceiling. But the plug (in fairly soft plastic) doesn't seem to go all the way in, it gets stuck after 3-4 millimeters..

What have I done wrong, or what should I do? I have various tools.

 

[proffsrik]

Have you measured the plug with calipers to ensure it is truly 10mm in diameter?
The same question applies to the hole itself.
I've experienced situations where, as low-quality concrete drills wear out, the diameter of the carbide tip decreases, and the holes become slightly too small.
Typically, the plug should go into the hole when you tap it lightly with a hammer.

 

[Jani Melender]

Have you measured the plug with calipers to ensure it is really 10mm in diameter? Same question applies to the hole itself. I have experienced that when concrete drills of poorer quality are worn, the diameter decreases from the carbide tip and the holes become slightly too small. Usually, the plug should go into the hole when you tap it lightly with a hammer.

Well, isn't that something, the plug is 11.7 millimeters. I guess that's "imperial" measurements. Oh well, I'll go buy a new screw and plug then... thanks for the help. =)