Fix oak beam to concrete chimney brest

Use concealed floating mantel brackets, & I also put a few dabs gripfill on back of lintel, to secure mantle to wall.

 

Hi Jay.

First remove all the leaves from the beam.

Now, will it be attached with a 3" projection and 8" height, or vikky verka?

Either way, the brackets shown by our resident genius KIAB (no envy intended or implied) is the best way to go.

Obviously, for a 3" projection, they'll probably need trimming down a tad.

Try and drill the receiving holes in the beam snuggly, but if it's loose so's the beam flops down a bit, then chust apply a goodly amount of solvent-free (or whatevs) adhesive in to the holes before pushing the beam into place, and supporting/bracing it tightly against the breast for a good day or so.

No need to fill the holes with adhesive - chust enough to coat most/part of the bracket prong and fill the 'loose' gap.

 

Depending on the type of Oak and the moisture content you are looking at around 20kg - depending on which is the Horizontal, the 3" or 8" you could have a significant force on any fixings and will need to ensure they are adequate.

 

Could fit a pair of corbels to oak beam, either oak or metal, to give abit more support.

And the concealed floating mantel brackets come in diffent lengths, & several styles.
You could get a local metal working palace, smithy to knock one up for a few quid.

Had a local smithy do a lambs tongue on a handrail a few months ago, cost a tenner.

 

It is more the actual fixings into the chimney breast that I would be concerned about. They need to be deep enough but not too deep to break through, use decent tight fitting plugs and screws ensuring they are not in soft mortar.

 

I would use coach screws 8x60mm (Turbo coach screws from our host, are very good) to secure bracket, easy to make recess in beam for the heads to sit in.

 

Are those with "cutting" type threads? The Turbo Gold screws I have here certainly are. In a conversation with Fischer a few years back they advised against using "Cutter" screws in their plugs - they rip them apart and to stay with ordinary wood screw type threads.

 

Interesting never seen anyone ask for a removable mantle piece before - especially at 5:24 am

I would go for one of the beams constructed to hide RSJ's. Going to be much lighter and easier to fix

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SOLID-OAK-BEAM-BOX-RSJ-COVER-CLADDING-FALSE-BEAM-6x6-/221254040873

 

Multimonti's/Thunderbolts for fixing the bracket to the wall.

 

I used a screw in anchor point when i have dine my floating shelves railway sleeper style. And are solid. Can even sit on it I guess

 

Have you cut a recess for fixing bracket base plate & screws in beam, otherwise beam will not sit flush against wall.

 

You should check that the holes in the wood are drilled square and that the bracket pole comes out of the wall square. You might need to slightly angle up the wall bracket.

Mr. HandyAndy - Really

 

If the wall or the beam has even a little bit of a bow or concave it will not push fully back.