Butterfly Dowel (28 Photos): Metal And Plastic For Drywall, 10x50 And Other Sizes. How Do I Install Them?

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 12:09

Today, when carrying out work on wall cladding and other structures, drywall is widely used. Initially, a metal-profile frame is mounted, plasterboard sheets are attached on top of it. They can be fixed with various fasteners. But most builders prefer to use butterfly dowels, since this particular type of fastening has enormous advantages.

What is it and what is it for?

The butterfly dowel is ideal for fixing gypsum sheets (ordinary drywall, consisting of a gypsum sheet sheathed with thick cardboard). Not only qualified builders can work with this type of fastener, but also ordinary amateurs - it is enough to know the technology of screwing them in.

The butterfly dowel has an unusual shape, which is clamped when the screw is tightened, and the expanding legs are adjacent to the back of the gypsum board . Thanks to this system, the area of the base material becomes larger.

The load from the suspended element is evenly distributed over all installed fasteners, so it is much easier for them to hold even a large weight.

A distinctive feature of the butterfly dowel is the ability to fix the multi-layer plasterboard cladding . At the same time, the strength of the fastener is characterized by a tight fit of the ribbed part, which does not allow the butterfly to budge. In the professional field, this fastening element is called a dowel-nail. Its design consists of a self-tapping screw and a base made of durable plastic that looks like wings.

Dowels-nails used for hollow structures consist of several parts. A collet is a metal bushing and a screw with a countersunk head or round head . But if necessary, you can choose a different screw - it all depends on the type of working base. For example, Hilti sells screwless drywall anchors.

Butterfly dowels, unlike their counterparts, have a number of undeniable advantages

• The thickness of the plastic part of this fastener ranges from 10 to 20 mm. This is quite enough for carrying out several procedures of unscrewing and screwing in screws.
• When screwed on from the reverse side of the drywall, a retainer is formed, which contributes to an even distribution of the load over the total area of the material. The places where the anchors are screwed in become less vulnerable.
• Due to the presence of the longitudinal section of the ribs, the dowel is firmly held in the base. The main thing is that the thickness of the fasteners is not less than the created hole.

Many people do not understand the importance of nail dowels when working with drywall. This sheet material is used as a wall and ceiling leveler . Drywall is very fragile in structure, and is not able to withstand a heavy load. For this reason, only lamps, paintings and other lightweight decorative elements can be hung on it.

Butterfly dowels are also used to fix chipboard, PVC panels and other sheet-like materials . Some masters assure that this type of fastening is suitable for concrete, however, for such a strong base, dowels-nails with an unusual sleeve have been developed.

Species overview

Fans of constructing small shelves from a metal profile, in principle, do not know how diverse the fastening material is. Today, butterfly dowels are made from plastic, metal and nylon . The same goes for size. The smallest version of the 8x28 mm butterfly dowel. They are strong, sturdy, fit snugly in the hole. But they are used when working with lightweight structures. The main thing is to remember that bases with a self-tapping screw are extremely rare in the sale kit. Basically, you have to buy them separately.

The 10x50 mm butterfly dowel variant has significant differences . The spacer elements of the structure are wide. And a special tongue ensures additional fixation to the base. This dimensional variety is in great demand in the construction industry. Butterfly dowels 10x50 mm are made from nylon, propylene and polyethylene. This explains the elasticity of the fastener. The universal version of butterfly dowels is supposed to be used when working with both sheet and solid materials.

Builders advise against using this type of fastener for fixing large heavy structures.

Sellers in stores often mark only the best parameters of the product they are interested in. According to them, one butterfly dowel can withstand a weight equal to 100 kg. And this is not surprising - the seller is important for large sales and large revenue. In fact, load information can be found on the manufacturer's packaging. According to the standard, the butterfly dowel can withstand 28 kg, a run-up is possible per unit.

In addition to the dimension, the dowels-nails are divided according to the principle of operation into pass-through and expanding options

• Checkpoints . This type of fastener is designed for ceiling fixing. They easily hold tablet lamps, chandeliers. With their help, you can also fix wall structures, for example, a massive painting, sports equipment and other devices that require a high load.
• Decompressing . This type of fastener is used when hanging objects and things weighing no more than 15 kg on walls. These can be sconces, lamps in the children's room, a hanging cabinet for toys.

Materials (edit)

Today in hardware stores you can find butterfly dowels made of metal, plastic and nylon. Metal dowels are considered to be an improved version of the fastener . They are distinguished by their practicality and high level of reliability. The only drawback is the high cost. But those who want to get the maximum quality from the planned repair include metal butterfly dowels in the estimate.

It should be noted that most manufacturers process screw-in screws with an anti-corrosion mixture, which increases their scope . Metal dowels-nails are very popular among professional drywall makers. These fasteners are flexible, convenient, and easily screwed into the base.

The nylon and plastic butterfly anchors are a simplified version of the fastener . They are much more common on the market, they are resistant to rust. However, along with the advantages presented, they have some disadvantages. First of all, they have low strength indicators, as well as a reduced limit of withstand loads. They can be used for mounting drywall sheets.

The even distribution of the load will direct the minimum weight of the material onto each butterfly dowel. But the most remarkable thing is the low cost.

Dimensions (edit)

The dimensional varieties often used in construction work have already been discussed earlier. However, the dimensions presented are only a small part of the fastener options that can be found on the construction market or in a specialized store . For more detailed information, it is proposed to look at the table of technical characteristics and dimensions of the screws used to fix drywall.

It was previously specified that butterfly dowels with dimensions of 9x13 and 10x50 mm are in great demand among professionals . But here it is important to note that self-tapping screws with a length of no more than 55 mm can give full disclosure. Craftsmen also recommend taking into account the distance from the outer point of the drywall to the wall. For the installation of a metal profile, for fixing chandeliers or shelves to the ceiling on the wall, it is preferable to use dowels-nails in the size of 6x40, 8x28 or 35x14 mm.

Marking

Each construction tool and material is individually labeled. Professionals in their field, seeing the encryption, immediately understand what is at stake . But amateurs in this case have a hard time. But in fact, there is nothing complicated in the concept of "marking". The alphabetic and numerical values of the code tell you about the technical characteristics of the product.

For example, it is proposed to consider the option of a butterfly dowel, the marking of which looks like this: HM 6x80S . The first letters "HM" allow you to determine the value of the fastener. In this case, it is said that this fastener is intended for hollow structures. The number "6" is the thread diameter, "80" is the size of the dowel length. The last letter is the screw type. In this case, "S" is indicated, which indicates a semicircular head with a straight slot. However, there are other options as well. For example, "SS" indicates the presence of a hex head, and the letter "H" indicates the presence of a hook.

How to use?

Novice craftsmen, who first took butterfly dowels in their hands, are slightly lost. They know the technology of their application, but in practice in working conditions they only watched the experienced specialists from the outside. For this reason, before starting work, you need to practice a little at home.

In fact, the principle of working with nail dowels is very simple and very convenient

• First of all, you need to check the complete set of butterfly dowels. In some cases, you have to additionally buy screws.
• Then it is required to determine the place of installation of the structure.
• Next, you need to make the markup. This requires the use of a level. It is this tool that will help to expose even indicators, otherwise the wall will be damaged.
• Now you need to take a screwdriver and insert a drill into its head. It is worth noting that drywall is a pliable material, so a drill for wood with a diameter of 8 mm will be enough. Many people know that the power of a screwdriver is not too high, but more is not required. Experienced builders recommend putting a plastic cup on the drill. Thus, it will be possible to protect your airways, and not to clog the floor with debris from drilling structures. A hole is drilled.
• Next, a dowel is taken, it must be tightly clamped with your fingers and pushed into the hole made.
• After planting the dowel, it remains to screw in the screw.
• The fixing element is supposed to be fixed at the very end. Its size depends on the thickness of the screw. For example, for a 3 mm dowel, it is preferable to take a screw with a thickness of 3.5 mm. It is very important that the screw goes into the dowel to the very end. With this dimension, the dowel wings open as much as possible, due to which they are attached as tightly as possible to the wall.
• If it was not possible to install the dowel at the first attempt, it is necessary to pull it out and check the internal condition of the hole. It is possible that debris has formed inside, which has become an obstacle to the entry of the element.

Interior designers and decorators most often use butterfly dowels in their work . With their help, it is possible to hang various decorative elements on the walls and ceiling. Butterfly dowels are a favorite type of fastening for theatrical scenery - they are easy to assemble, easily removed.

Particularly anxious users manage to restore their original appearance after use and reuse them.