Hang object on fieldstone fireplace?

[Wylie]

I have a 1920's fieldstone fireplace. I want to hang this sun above the mantle. Weighs under 15 lbs. I was thinking about putting a cement screw in the mortar, but I wonder if that is too brittle.

Has anyone tried this or do you have another suggestion. Thanks!

[tufhelp]

:-/ I just had a run in with cement screws… Direct TV put up my dish with them and they didn’t last 6 months. They screwed the dish bracket to the side of the chimney (cinderblock covered with stucco). The stress and vibration of the dish slowly loosened all four of the screws. I didn’t feel they were long enough though, but my installer says, “Nah, we do this all the time.” I’m thinking it would be lucky if they penetrated through the stucco into the cinderblock, and even into the cinderblock I’m not convinced they would hold in this situation. Now granted the moment on the arm of that bracket with a dish hanging in the wind isn’t quite the same as a decoration inside of a home but for my sense of security, cement screws aren’t in the cards.

[MadTripper]

I'm assuming you are going for the mortar so you don't permanently scar your stone work. If you don't mind sinking something into one of the stones, you have a few options that will work. You will need a masonry bit and preferably a hammer drill. Use either a tap-con or a nail with wire wrapped around it as a hanger. The tap-cons are pretty self explanatory as they are like a drywall screw on steroids. If you don't have any handy or feel like shelling out the cash for them, you can wrap some steel wire around a nail and hammer it into the hole. This will be just as strong as the tap-con. Be cautious not to crack any of your stones.

If you are dead set on going into the mortar, I would figure out what is behind it and try to use that as your support medium instead of the mortar. Depending on the depth of your stone, perhaps a 3" drywall screw will work. If the depth of the stone is beyond that, you might be able to use a long tap-con.

Hope this helps!

Tripper

[JAK]

I'm thinking something that fits between the stones, and expands out, then is only covered up by the mortar.

[MadTripper]

Perhaps you could clean out an area of mortar and use an epoxy with a screw?? There are expansion anchors made of lead that may work. Hope you get it figured out.

Tripper

[annabella1]

chewing gum, duct tape bobby pins ;D

[DaNgEr_KiTtY]

if your hanging point has to be the stone then i would epoxy my hanger onto the stone. if i could use a mortar joint i would just use a regular masonry drill bit & not a hammer drill! a simple lead or plastic anchor for a number #10 stainless sheet metal screw should hold it np. note the recommended drill size when you select your anchors & screws. drill hard materials such as mortar at a slow speed so not to heat up your drill bit. this will add length to the life of your bit.

[ol_hoot]

I'd drill a hole and use a lead type lag bolt.
As you screw the bolt in it expands the lead anchor and seats it.

Then hang your sun on the bolt-head

[Westcliffe01]

I had a friend who built his own hang gliders. *He showed me one day where his harness is attached to (the outfit that they hang from when they fly). *It was a single 1/4" bolt. *Aircraft grade, for sure, but we tend to forget how tough any "good" piece of steel really is. *Think about the cable hooks used to arrest the jets making carrier landings. *Next time you get to hang around one of those navy exhibits, have a close and personal look at one of those things.

If I could, I would drill a somewhat deep hole in the mortar at a slight downward angle. *Then slip in a pin, the end of which will be pointing up, and hang your trophy. *Gravity will stop anything from coming out. The mortar will be loaded in compression (for which it is plenty strong).