need help with caribou mount on fireplace

[mikeintac]

I'm hoping some one has some good advice on how I can get my caribou safely mounted on my fireplace.

I have a sandstone fireplace, and the blocks poke out about 1.5" beyond the grout.  Years ago I mounted a 15# deer head up there - I put a 3" long, 1/4" expanding bolt (lag) in the grout.  I drilled in about 1.5", put the bolt in, tightened things up, and it worked fine.  I needed the bolt to stick 1.5" out of the grout in order to accommodate the stone blocks.

This month I picked up a caribou mount from the taxidermist.  It weighs 35# and (once mounted) will extend out 40" from the fireplace.  A lot bigger than my deer....

I want to use the same hole I had for the deer.    I opened the hole up and tried to mount it with a 3/8" expanding bolt (just like the one I had for the deer but a little bigger).  No dice - once I got it up there, I put a little pressure on the mount and the bolt slid right out. 

I was thinking of drilling bigger and deeper into the grout.  When the 3/8" bolt popped out, some concrete came with it, so now I'll have to move up to 1/2" anyway.  Perhaps if I go 2.5" into the concrete, and put a screw shield in there?

I'd appreciate any tips.     

Thanks a lot,
MIT

[ghosthunter]

Well I guess I would take you same bolt and put it in with a high grade epoxy glue.
Let it cure and see hom that works.

[Ridgeratt]

You could always try some pour rock. It's a great stuff.

https://www.fastenal.com/products/details/63090

Your on the wrong side for me to help you ,but someone should know a guy.

[lokidog]

Well I guess I would take you same bolt and put it in with a high grade epoxy glue.
Let it cure and see hom that works.

 

Or fill existing hole and start over.  I would make sure my mounting bolt goes more than 1 1/2 inches in though.  There is a blue colored concrete screw the threads into a hole that is slightly smaller, not sure if they have one over 3 inches though.

[lewy]

What ever you do, go overkill. I came home from work one day to an elk shoulder mount laying on the floor with a broken skull plate, along with a broken banister, no fun

[lokidog]

I would look at anchoring a plate, that has the desired mounting bolt, with two concrete screws three or four inches apart.  That way you can maximize depth of anchor bolt/screw and reduce the load per screw by one half.

 

[2labs]

Hey Mike, if you have a stone face fireplace. Most likely there's O.S.B or plywood behind the stone. Go to a hardware store and get the biggest expanding wing type dry wall anchor they have. The big ones have a bolt with them. If the bolt isn't long enough get one that is. I've hung a ton of under cabinet microwaves with these.
I'm in parkland right now. P.M for help if you need it.

[Bean Counter]

My fireplace is gas and enclosed. Curious if a real fireplace esp a wood burning one would soot up the mount... 

[Knocker of rocks]

Powers makes some very good fasteners.  I think a couple of the long screw fasteners would work in your existing hole, be long enough to get several inches of embodiment, and not scar your stonework.

http://www.powers.com/mechanical.php

Hey Mike, if you have a stone face fireplace. Most likely there's O.S.B or plywood behind the stone. Go to a hardware store and get the biggest expanding wing type dry wall anchor they have. The big ones have a bolt with them. If the bolt isn't long enough get one that is. I've hung a ton of under cabinet microwaves with these.

It would be nice to see a photo and know if this is stone fascia onto plywood, OSB or GWB, or is it in an older house and stone over CMU.

My fireplace is gas and enclosed. Curious if a real fireplace esp a wood burning one would soot up the mount... 

A masonry fireplace should have a liner well inside of the brick facing, probably with a CMU structure holding the whole kit and caboodle up.  It you are getting soot thru any penetration on the veneer, that is indicative of a serious problem with the liner and should be addressed immediately.  There are several ways to do it, and it most likely can be done from above with limited impact to the existing chimney and wallet.

[mikeintac]

Thanks a lot for the input.  I'll take a pic and post it later this week.  The fireplace is actually out of commission - long story, no liner.  So for the time being, no worries on soot.  The last bolt I tried was Powers - unfortunately, the longer they get the bigger the head...causing problems on the mount end.  I have used the blue screws on other projects too - they are great, but I can't find them as big as I need here.  I think deeper is better too.  Thanks again, M

[huntnnw]

one of the worst things for a mount is heat

[mikeintac]

Thanks for the tips and comments everyone - I was able to get it up on the fireplace yesterday.  I used a 3/8" x 4.5" lag bolt in a shield.  About 3" of the bolt was in the grout.  Hopefully on the overkill side of things.   

MIT

[jackelope]

one of the worst things for a mount is heat

Fireplace is inoperative. 

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

[Bean Counter]

one of the worst things for a mount is heat

How much heat are you talking about? My elk from last year is in a room with a west facing window that gets a lot of afternoon sun and the elk is close to it. The blinds are always closed, but I can't help but wonder if its subtly cooking a bit sitting there.