how to secure a screw on a hollow aluminum door

[Omegachi]

I am trying to install a door closer on my new aluminum door, I followed the instructions for a regular wood type door install and used a regular wood screw on the hollowed door and it didn't work. When I operated the door couple of times, the door closer where the screwed were installed on the door just ripped out, should have seen this coming...

I went down to homedepot and talked to a worker there and he said to use a plastic anchor, I don't believe him so now I am here. So, anyone here ran into the same problem I had? If so, how did you end up properly securing the screw to the hollow door.

The door is approximately 1.5" thick and the aluminum is probably 1/16" thick.

Please let me know if you need additional info.

 

[Number1]

Use oversize metal screw. I just did this on my aluminum door. Holding better then ever.

 

[olds]

Sheet metal or a self tapping screw.

 

[jagec]

there are plastic anchors that can work for this, like this kind:

But just using a big screw is easiest.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah self tapping screw is probably what you want. It's what is normally used in duct work. Just don't over screw it, you want to screw it in till it's tight, but you don't want to over tighten.

 

[bruceb]

Presuming the door is hollow (or at least has about 1/4 inch behind the hole) then you want to use one of these tools.
It is called a threaded insert tool and once you have one you will wonder how you ever did without it. I have had a similar product since the late 1970's .. it puts threads into any sheet metal and can be had in many thread sizes.

http://www.harborfreight.com/45-piece-threaded-insert-riveter-kit-1210.html

 

[Omegachi]

yea, i was researching rivet nuts, but the guns i found are pretty pricey...

 

[Doppel]

If all else fails and appearance doesn't matter so much, drill all the way through the door and on the other side connect it with washers and nuts. this way you're not relying on pull-out strength at all. I had to do that on a hollow wooden door a while back and this approach was the third I tried. Held like a charm.

 

[olds]

yea, i was researching rivet nuts, but the guns i found are pretty pricey...

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-riveter-set-38353.html

 

[0roo0roo]

http://fastenerline.com/core-door-anchors/63498-1-8-long-hollow-core-door-anchors.html

?

 

[stahlhart]

Drill and tap the hole(s) to the next largest size, and use machine screws to match the thread tap?

 

[alkemyst]

a lot of times epoxy > fastener in these kinds of things.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

If all else fails and appearance doesn't matter so much, drill all the way through the door and on the other side connect it with washers and nuts. this way you're not relying on pull-out strength at all. I had to do that on a hollow wooden door a while back and this approach was the third I tried. Held like a charm.

Yeah, I'd just thru bolt it and call it a day.

 

[CurseTheSky]

The regular-sized screws ripped out of our aluminum storm door. So, we went over to Home Depot with the same question, figuring there would be some kind of threaded insert or something. Instead, the pointed us to an over-sized self-tapping screw. It worked like a charm.

 

[Meghan54]

The regular-sized screws ripped out of our aluminum storm door. So, we went over to Home Depot with the same question, figuring there would be some kind of threaded insert or something. Instead, the pointed us to an over-sized self-tapping screw. It worked like a charm.

Exactly. Had to laugh at the OP's comment about using a wood screw in a metal door. Completely wrong threads which is why they pulled out.....strange that there are different screws for different types of materials, eh, OP? Who woulda thunk it?

 

[someone16]

Stick paperclips in the hole and try to screw it in again. Worked out ok for me.

 

[Golgatha]

marked for later viewing.

 

[Jeff7]

a lot of times epoxy > fastener in these kinds of things.

This could work too. Devcon makes a "Metal Welder" epoxy that's pretty strong, and Lord Corporation's also got some epoxies that work well on metal. I'll try to remember to get a model number once I'm at work.