Yuu
Posts: 303
Joined: 9/4/2006 From: Shawano, WI, USA Status: offline
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Dai.... the photo in post #7 is worth a thousand words. That photo is called "stick framed" and usually the wood ceiling joists are 16" on center, so you will find a joist each 16" from the other. Note the joists run from outer wall to inner support... usually, but not always. Next, not shown, is a framing method using roof 'truss' construction, which are usually 24" on center, thus are 24" apart. Truss frame usually runs from outer wall to outer wall, across the entire width of the building. Factory made trusses go up fast, and cut labor costs in the field job site. Stick framed is usually where the cost of shipping trusses, or the route into the job site, is too expensive. Your ceiling may be either kind. At the store, they have a little 3/4" magnet, pivoting in a little plastic case, used for locating drywall screws or nails which hold the drywall to the stud. About two bucks. Slide it gently across the wall or ceiling and find a screw or nail there may be a joist above it. Next, get some hooks as shown in one of the other pictures. Each has a 'load carrying capacity' and will be shown on the parts bin or on the hook itself. Some with a threaded shaft about the size of a pencil are good for 30 pounds or so. Then, look at the minor diameter of the screw thread..... the little diameter between the threads. This is the diameter of drill bit you want to use to drill the pilot hole for the screw. The parts bin also may have a drill bit size listed for that particular hook. You want threads in the wood, but not 'split' the wood, so pre-drill the holes. Then, I like to use a tiny 1/16" drill to drill several holes where the joist 'should be'... joists are usually 1-1/2" wide, so drill a couple little holes ... if the drill slides right through the drywall into air, you missed. Drill and find wood. Then determine the center of the wood joist. Drill into the wood... just far enough so all the threads on the hook are in the WOOD. Of course, the wood is 1/2" or 5/8" above the visable surface on the dry wall ceiling. They also have 'round eye' screws which are not hooks. BUT... there is also a 'machine screw' thread on a different type of hook ... they look the same, but the threads are smaller, for nuts and washers. But you want the bigger 'wood screw' type for screwing into wood. The local hardware store has them, and also the 'big box' lumber and home centers.
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