A dowel is what? Types, sizes, applications

The rapid development of building technologies entails the development and creation of not only the latest materials, but also the introduction of various fastening systems. Among these fasteners, a dowel is widely used. This is a special element used for fastening various designs. Industry produces a lot of different types of dowels to solve a huge number of tasks. Consider what it is, as well as the main types of these products.

Characteristic

The dowel is a fastening element, which is designed for installation and connection works. Now the industry produces a huge number of types of these elements. Each type is suitable for a particular material. There are products for concrete, metal or wood, as well as plasterboard structures.

Such fasteners are used when access to the edge of the connecting rod is difficult or impossible. For example, you need to make a hole in the wall to install a locker in the kitchen or shelves in the room - this requires a dowel. Also the dowel is the ideal choice when the wall is hollow or has voids in it. Any other fasteners and systems will simply be ineffective.

What are the dowels, the principle of action

This fastener in appearance is a cylindrical rod. If we talk about materials, then this is nylon, polypropylene, metal, polyethylene. The industry also produces metal dowels-anchors.

The product consists of two parts. The first is the spacer. It will expand in the process of installation, due to which the fastener will turn out to be reliable. The second part is indisputable. Individual products have special cuffs. They prevent the dowel from falling through the hole.

Kinds of dowels, photo

In building stores a wide range of products is presented. But you need to understand that each of them is suitable for solving specific problems. There are several varieties of these elements:

• Polypropylene.
• Spacious.
• For work with plasterboard.
• Nylon.
• Adjusting.
• Type "butterfly" and "umbrella."
• Dowel nail.
• Frameworks, etc.

We will analyze the main types of dowels and their application.

Universal polypropylene

These are the simplest dowels, but they are like for a huge part of the fastening work. These elements can be chosen when working with stone, concrete walls, brick. In the process of screwing the screw, the plastic dowel will be wound on the metal, thereby strengthening the fastening.

Universal spacer

It is also a polypropylene product. However, its peculiarity is in the presence of struts. Due to these details, the element is well held inside the hole made.

Dowels for working with gypsum cardboard walls

These parts are designed and manufactured specifically for fastening in plasterboard or gypsum fiber walls. If you need to install something in the porous concrete, then choose this option. Data are produced by fasteners made of metal or plastic. Metal products are called "molly". When working with them, there is no need to pre-make a hole. The tip of the dowel is a feather drill bit.

Nylon fasteners

These elements are made of nylon. You can use them for almost any task. They are ideal for all surfaces. Due to the presence of special "whiskers", this dowel is securely held in any wall. With such fasteners, self-cutters from 0.02 to 0.16 cm in diameter are used.

Butterfly

These types of spacer dowels are designed for serious fastening work. This element is capable of withstanding enormous loads, even if it is fixed in a hollow wall. Such fasteners are made mainly of metal.

Adjustment dowel

This product is designed for fastening the planking for the plating.
The main feature of these parts is the possibility of adjusting the position of the elements with respect to the base to which the fastener is made.

Umbrella

These are special types of dowels, and their application is also special. They are not used in most fastenings, but are designed only for installation of thermal insulation materials from mineral wool or polystyrene. In appearance, the detail really resembles an umbrella - so, there is a wide round hat. It is necessary to keep the heater. They are made of metal and plastic. However, there are other umbrellas. They are designed for drywall and hinged structures. A metal umbrella-molly dowel is a nail with shoulders, which are securely fixed in a hollow wall. In this case, the load is distributed evenly. With this type of fasteners, you can hang even the heaviest chandeliers in suspended plasterboard ceilings.

Clamp

In appearance, this fastener is a loop. These products are made of plastic. These clamps are designed for installation work on electrical wiring. The use of these dowels is very simple. First, in the base, make a hole of the required diameter, then the wire is pressed with a yoke. The edges of it are inserted into the hole. In this way, corrugated pipes of small diameters can be attached.

Frame dowels

These parts are made of metal - their use is quite specific. They are designed for installation of window, as well as door boxes. But there are other tasks that help to solve these types of dowels. And their use (see photo in our article) is relevant for fastening the skin through plaster or heat-insulating materials.

Dowel nail

This is one of the types of ordinary dowels. The difference in the possibilities of quick installation is enough to hammer it into the wall. These products are widely used in repairs. With them you can quickly and securely fix the skirting boards, lighting fixtures on the ceiling, any materials to any grounds.

The use of dowels-nails makes it possible to easily fasten to concrete, wood or a brick wall. Especially fast is the fastening of the plinth, the work on finishing the outer walls, work with gypsum board systems. Dowel-nails are often chosen for carrying out heat insulation work, for installation of castings under balconies and windows.

The main components of the nail is a threaded screw, which is narrowed towards the sharp part. This feature makes it possible to work with these elements not only with a screwdriver or a drill. It is allowed to use a hammer and plastic dowels.

The main difference of this type of fasteners from other types is that the main part works on the principle of a nail rather than a screw. But some elements that are manufactured by modern industry, can have a slot on the head for a cross-head screwdriver. But twist them with a screwdriver - quite a long time. The hammer is most effective.

The plastic part in the process of clogging expands, thereby providing a reliable and, most importantly, durable fastening. An anvil on one of the edges has a special cuff. It does not allow the element to completely exit into the hole. The shape of the cuff can be different.

An important point is the technical characteristics. The main parameters are the length, as well as the diameter of the nail. Take a standard dowel-nail. Dimensions and types - from 40 to 140 mm in length, the pitch is 20 mm. The diameter is from 5 to 7 mm. To work with these fasteners, the diameter of the hole beneath them is from 6 to 10 mm. Conditionally, the fastener model is denoted by two indicators. This is the diameter of the hole, and also the length.

Self-tapping screws

Dowel fasteners include the use of self-tapping screws. There are several types of these products according to the material into which they will be screwed. The industry produces self-tapping screws for wood, metal, products with a press washer, screws with a drill, for concrete, brick and stone. The product for wood differs by a rare step of carving. So, here the distance between the turns is greater than that of metal products. This is because the wood is less dense and harder. These elements can be black, golden and white. The choice of color depends on what you need to work with. Most often with dowels use a black and golden element.

Types of screws and dowels are different in length. Thus, the length of black screws - from 11 mm to 200 mm. As for the diameter, black starts from 3.5 to 4.2 mm. Diameters of yellow - 2,5-6 mm.

Features of the choice of dowels

When choosing a dowel, its shape is only one factor, which is usually oriented. About others forget, but in vain. It is important to know which size to choose. For example, a 6 x 40 anchor is suitable for installation of various profile structures in the walls of a slag block. Another size will not work - the product will simply drop out of the hole. For walls in panel houses, as well as for non-empty walls, another dowel is needed. Dimensions and types - 6 x 60 or 6 x 80. They will help securely fix any structure on the wall. Nothing will fall out or fail. They can be used even on the ceiling.

When selecting the length of the part, it is necessary to remember the loads that the fastener will experience. The shorter the dowel and the screw, the less load it will withstand. In addition, diameter is very important. For ordinary domestic work, parts with a diameter of 8 to 10 millimeters are suitable. The difference in the depth of the hole affects the maximum load.

Selection of drill bit for dowel

The basic rule when working with this type of fasteners is that the diameter of the drill must correspond to the number or size of the dowel. In an ideal situation, the plastic or metal element should hardly fit into the hole. As for the material of drills, for skilled concrete experts recommend choosing a winning tool. It suffices for the decision of the majority of building tasks. To acquire more expensive drills does not make much sense.