Discounted
Fixings

Discounted Fixings FAQ’s

Blades

Q: How do I choose the right Diamond Cutting Disc?
A: Work out what materials you expect to cut with a diamond cutting blade (e.g. house brick, building block, block paving block, concrete fence post, roof tile, etc) & then look at our extensive selection of Diamond Cutting Blades to see what materials they can cut. Price is the next consideration. Generally the higher the price the longer the cutting life will be expected so long as the blade is used on the correct materials.

Tip: Our best selling Diamond Cutting Blades are the Dronco ST & General Purpose Blades from Unifix. They are reasonably priced, well-known for quality & offer a good lifetime usage.

Drill Bits

Q: How do I attach a keyless chuck to my SDS drilling machine?
A: You need to purchase the V57190 SDS Plus chuck adaptor. This fits into your SDS drilling machine like an SDS drill bit. It is threaded to accept a 13mm chuck & also features an internal thread to accept the chuck locking screw.

Q: Which Tile drill bit do I choose?
A: For ease & value we recommend the Turbolite tile drill bits. They feature a sharp high grade carbide tip & come with a handy water spray pen to help cool the drill bit. Any cordless drill, set in low gear is all you need.

Tip: If you are drilling lots of tiles or more valuable tiles then consider using the PG750 Diamond tipped tile drill bits. They work the same as the Turbolite tile drill & all you need is any cordless drill set in a low gear.

Q: What accessories do I need with a Diamond Core Drill Bit?
A: Decide if you will be using a drilling machine with a chuck or SDS drive (see our Power Tools selection for dedicated Diamond Core Drilling machines). Then you will need a ‘Chuck Adaptor’ (the Diamond Core Bit screws onto this) & most probably an ‘Extension Rod’ & ‘Pilot Drill Bit’.

Note: Diamond Core Drill bits MUST be used on ROTARY only.

Fixings

Q: Where can I use the Thunderbolt?
A: Into any solid material: Concrete, stone, brick & blocks. It cuts its own thread into the base material & because it’s non-expanding it will take heavy loads. And you can use this fixing instead of sleeve anchors, shield anchors, etc.

Q: What are the most popular sizes of MSA Plus Plasterboard Fixings?
A: Size 6 for radiator brackets, Size 8 for Kitchen cupboards & wooden battens & Size 11 for heavy items such as brackets. Use sizes 4, 9 & 13 for ‘double skinned’ walls. Tip: make sure you order a MSA Plus “Pro” Gun to use this product.

 
Plumbing & Heating

Q: What size screws do you recommend with Unifix Pipe Clips?
A: If you are fixing into a solid wall then its 8 x 1½” & Red expansion plugs for Single Kliploks & 10 x 2” & Brown expansion plugs for Double Kliploks.
Tip: if its plasterboard walls then we recommend either the Twister or MSA Plus Size 3 for Single Kliploks & the MSA Plus size 8 for Double Kliploks.

Screwdriver Bits

Q: What size screwdriver bits do I need to go with the screws I have ordered?
A:

Screws

Q: When do I use Twinstart screws?
A: We recommend these when using Plastic Expansion Plugs, Nylon Plugs & the Unifix Boardmaster as they expand the plug rather than cut into them. Its design is close to the original Twinstart woodscrew manufactured to BS1210:1963 & was until the mid 1990’s universally used in the Construction Industry & this is why they are imperially sized. It does of course also work well in wood.

Q: When do I use Chipboard Screws?
A: When fixing into wood, plastic or sheet materials. Their sharp point & deep single thread make them easy to drive in without pre-drilling. The Yellow Passivated finish also blends in more naturally with wood & offers a good level of corrosion resistance. Developed in Europe in the 1990’s they are metrically sized. The Unifix Hyper Plus is the most technically advanced screw we sell.

Sealants & Adhesives

Q: What is the difference between high & low modulus silicone?
A: Silicone is mainly used to make a weatherproof/ waterproof seal on a joint (e.g. between window frame & brickwork or between a bath & a tiled wall). Most building materials when joined together will be subject to movement (e.g. shrinking in Winter & expanding in Summer) whether indoors or outdoors. It is important that the silicone seal is flexible enough to cater for these movements & that the seal stays intact protecting the joints.
Low Modulus is more flexible than High Modulus because it requires only a low force to ‘stretch’ it once it’s cured. Low Modulus silicone is therefore normally used on the outside of a building & around bath tubs.

Q: What is the difference between Neutral & Acetoxy cure?
A: Cure is the word used to describe the process of silicone sealant changing from its liquid state to its ‘rubberised’ state.

Acetoxy curing silicones give off acid during the curing process (smells like vinegar) & are suitable for most materials. Neutral curing silicones give off alcohol during the curing process are designed for use on acrylics, polycarbonates, natural stone, stainless steel & other surfaces that may be sensitive to Acetic acid.

Low modulus & neutral curing silicones are slightly more expensive than High modulus & Acetoxy curing silicones.

Q: Is Silicone sealant paintable?
A: No. If you need to paint or stain over a sealant then a non-silicone based product such as Unifix Acrylic or CT1 Sealant should be considered.

Q: What’s the best product for removing cured silicone?
A: Try CT1 Multisolve. It will also remove wax, inks, tar, adhesive, sticky labels & even chewing gum.

Q: Which Adhesive do I chose?
A: We sell a wide range of branded adhesives to reflect the level of choice available. Adhesives fall into two categories: solvent based & solvent free. Both work well but solvent based adhesives tend to have better ‘grab’ properties but have to be used with caution especially indoors. If you want the best (heavy duty bonding, high instant grab & solvent free) then would recommend you try CT1 Power Grab ‘N’ Bond.

Q: What safety precautions should I take with Sealants, adhesives & glues?
A: Always check if need to work in a ventilated area. Wear safety gloves if using PU expanding foam, Super Glues, adhesives, etc. I you use an expanding foam gun then make sure you flush it through with a suitable cleaner. Use a dust sheet or a surface protection product like ‘Protecta Carpet’ to avoid expensive spillage accidents. It’s also worth keeping some cleaning products handing such as hand wipes, paper roll, etc.

Tip: Try CT1 Multisolve to tool your sealant joints & use it to clean up any spillages either on you or around you. It has amazing degreasing properties & is safe to use on skin, clothing & most building materials.