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flying-benedictus OP t1_ire9q58 wrote

Reply to comment by CaptainPolaroid in Foam/paste that can be injected into a hole and when it hardens, it's as strong as hardwood? by flying-benedictus

English is my L2 language, I looked up stud and it seems it's usually referring to wood. There's no wood behind, only metal. There's already a hole in the metal, but how can I attach something to it? Making a hole at the other side to place a nut is an option, but really, is there no option that doesn't require ripping off my wall from the other side?

I've thought about rivets, since it allows to create a widening behind the hole without having to place a nut or similar. But afaik most rivets are made of aluminium and the hole is 8mm, so it may not be very strong.

I am trying with this https://webshopresources.silvan.dk/resources%2fimages%2f1807876_large.jpg?id=1570697940000&width=1230&height=1230 but I am having trouble closing it, because the plug turns with the screw, since the two little spikes skid over the metal stud.

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CaptainPolaroid t1_iree0l2 wrote

What is your native language?

If there is metal behind the wall, this means it's a 'metal stud' wall. As a whole, the wall has a lot of sturdiness because of all the connecting components. But I have no experience mounting something as important as a handrail to it.

Personally, I would opt to get backing in there: https://www.google.com/search?q=metal+stud+backing&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwij5oyUlM76AhXjgv0HHQE8AqQQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=metal+stud+backing&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEOgQIIxAnUNIGWOIKYNgLaABwAHgAgAFEiAGcApIBATaYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=qyBAY-PkJ-OF9u8PgfiIoAo&bih=937&biw=1920&rlz=1C1VDKB_nlNL982NL982

But this requires ripping out a section of wall.

I think as an alternative you could mount a backboard to the front of the wall that follows the handrail (example). That way you can secure to the studs where possible and get more screws in there. This will spread the load. But since I have no experience with metal stud, I would prefer it if someone corroborates this.

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Peopletowner t1_irehsup wrote

Could be referring to metal lathe if a plaster wall. Doesn't sound like op should be doing this particular project themselves.

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CaptainPolaroid t1_irejlct wrote

Oh. Right. Good point. I assumed metal stud as he has plasterboard.

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flying-benedictus OP t1_irho8w6 wrote

Spanish.

The handrail is made of welded metal and connects only to the stairs, which are floating, so the fastening to the wall is preventing the rail from wobbling. Perhaps something could bend badly if a lot of sideways force were applied and the fastening to the wall is nonexistent, but at least among fit adults you would need a quite reckless behaviour for this, since once one notices it's loose, one can just stop using it when walking up the stairs (it just takes a bit more load on the legs when doing it so many times a day). But it's never gonna fall or anything like that, since the other points are very firmly attached to the metal frame that holds the floating stairs. So the setting in the image is not possible, but I have considered attaching a vertical wooden panel to the wall to grab from different points to the wall, and then the end of the rail to that.

But for the moment I managed to make it quite secure with that metal dowel I mentioned in the last post. If it gets loose again I may consider the plank, or making a hole at the other side.

As for whether the metal behind is just a stud for the plasterboard or something stronger, I don't know. It's a 250-year-old-house renovated 40 years ago, and has a combination of old wooden and newer metal structure inside. Could be a bit more structural than just the metal studs used to hold the plasterboard in place, especially since it's a corner of sorts, but it's very difficult to know.

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