Best way of mounting traps to the ceiling

[boggy]

Originally Posted by Ciaccona

I'll be installing 2'x4' bass traps to the ceiling and ceiling/wall corner.

I'm wondering which is the easiest way to have them hanging safely above me and my screen. Preferably with as few holes as possible.

..........

I usually build self supported wooden construction, no holes in walls/ceilings, look here for details: Hanging clouds on a soundproofed ceiling?

[seen-da-sizer]

Originally Posted by Ciaccona

My Ceiling has got 2 cm of some kind of plastering before a pretty hard concrete (I'll have to drill in there). Didn't get in there with a common drilling machine, gonna have to use a pneumatic one, I guess.

I concrete drill-bit may help. But in your situation I would hire a professional contractor to install hooks for hanging the clouds. To install anchors that hold in concrete without experience and right tools is difficult.

+1 for Boogy's suggestion.

[Ciaccona]

Hello boggy and seen-da-sizer, thanks for your help!

Originally Posted by boggy

I usually build self supported wooden construction, no holes in walls/ceilings, look here for details: Hanging clouds on a soundproofed ceiling?

That looks pretty awesome! In my situation this is not an option, though.
It's for a small room that's part of a rented apartment and we're talking a few traps here!
If I try to build something like that it's gonna be a mess and the whole house will collapse...

Originally Posted by seen-da-sizer

I concrete drill-bit may help. But in your situation I would hire a professional contractor to install hooks for hanging the clouds. To install anchors that hold in concrete without experience and right tools is difficult.

I just need to get the holes inside the ceiling, they will laugh at me!
With the right dowels it should work. What I'm not sure about is if I should use 2 or 4 anchors (or ring's) and wire to hold the 20 pounds...

[seen-da-sizer]

Originally Posted by Ciaccona

I just need to get the holes inside the ceiling, they will laugh at me!

Maybe, but not as much as when you try it yourself and failed. I drilled holes into concrete before and had much trouble. And these have been easy ones on the floor. Drilling above the head is much more difficult. But it is not an impossibly. But do a research on proper anchors first.

Originally Posted by Ciaccona

With the right dowels it should work. What I'm not sure about is if I should use 2 or 4 anchors (or ring's) and wire to hold the 20 pounds...

I used four per cloud. This allowed me to "angle" my 1st could above the mixer.

[2manyrocks]

I think I should amplify the caution that has already been given about making sure your anchors hold in the concrete. I have used some supposed concrete anchors that did not hold worth used beans. It is important to drill the hole with the proper size bit for the anchors without wallowing out the hole, and then the fasteners need to be good ones that bite into the concrete. Drilling the hole is an important step. Typically, an electric hammer drill works best.


That's assuming you have really have concrete....

In older structures, it is typical to have a finish coat of plaster over a rough coat of a rougher plaster over mesh. If it's plaster, it's possible for entire chunks of it to fall if you put much weight on it.

[seen-da-sizer]

Originally Posted by 2manyrocks

I think I should amplify the caution that has already been given about making sure your anchors hold in the concrete. I have used some supposed concrete anchors that did not hold worth used beans. It is important to drill the hole with the proper size bit for the anchors without wallowing out the hole, and then the fasteners need to be good ones that bite into the concrete. Drilling the hole is an important step. Typically, an electric hammer drill works best.

.

Also I may add, that if this is a "European" style of concrete ceiling, there may be electrical wiring in there. Use a tester for detecting possible wiring first.

Again, it is less embarrassing to call a pro first, than having him/her fixing a messed up job.

[Ciaccona]

Hi guys, thanks for your concerns!! haha

The building is only 12 years old. I think the ceiling may me a mesh of steel filled with concrete I may have drilled to one of the steel strings. It's about 30 cm thick. I'm gonna borrow one those tools where you can measure if there is steel or anything. Regarding electricity, I've drilled a few holes into other rooms of this flat, the electricity seems to be installed in a standard way close to the corners etc. Don't worry!

I'll probably ask my father to help since he's into that kind of things especially since his retirement.

I'll report back on thursday...

[Ciaccona]

So, just to report back after hanging the first 2 traps:

I've used 4 hooks per bass trap, connected it with wires (see pic).
Seems pretty safe so far. 2 hooks were also able to hold the weight.

Drilling the holes was straigthforward with a hilti kind of drilling machine, the detecting device indicated that there is a steel mesh inside the concrete, though. Hard to spot electricity like that.

I'll try to lift the trap a bit higher by shortening the wire slightly (just for the looks).
Also, gonna be getting some coloured cloth, looks too much like a padded cell all white.

[2manyrocks]

A little color contrast could be appealing, but what you've done so far looks very good.

Hopefully, you won't hit any live electrical wiring.

[seen-da-sizer]

Glad it worked. Nice job! And it is easy reversible: patch the holes, repaint, done.

[AwwDeOhh]

Originally Posted by Ciaccona

I'll try to lift the trap a bit higher by shortening the wire slightly (just for the looks).
Also, gonna be getting some coloured cloth, looks too much like a padded cell all white.

The lower you hang them, the lower the frequency they will be effective at.
I'd do some measurements to find the best gap.

[bruvvamoff]

You'll need an SDS drill to get into that concrete, and check for wires and pipes before hand.
Stay safe!

[Sebg]

Originally Posted by bruvvamoff

You'll need an SDS drill to get into that concrete, and check for wires and pipes before hand.
Stay safe!

+1

Forget so-called "hammer drills", proper SDS ROTARY hammer drills are the ONLY way to drill into concrete.

[2manyrocks]

Plain ole hammer drill works on small diameter holes, but SDS is easier to chuck and certainly the way to go on large diameter holes since the SDS bit won't vibrate loose.

Could start a thread, "what's the best _____ drill for under $250?"