# Rehanging a flag support in brick - the holes are too big! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 16, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehanging-a-flag-support-in-brick-the-holes-are-too-big/489654 "2009-03-16T19:38:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f1d935/32.png) [@Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dilton_Doiley_Philosopher_King)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehanging-a-flag-support-in-brick-the-holes-are-too-big/489654/1 "2009-03-16T19:38:28Z")
I have a metal flag support that was originally screwed into brick. The support broke in a recent storm and when I tried to replace it with a new one, I noticed that the screwholes in the brick/mortar are now too big to fit the same screws. I can’t use a different size screw because they won’t fit into screw holes in the metal support. I don’t want to redrill new holes; I would like to be able to use the existing holes. What I can put in them to tighten up the screws? Can I fill the holes with wood glue and then put the screws in? What suggestions have ye, for fixing these holes in my masonry? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehanging-a-flag-support-in-brick-the-holes-are-too-big/489654/2 "2009-03-16T19:46:40Z")
[http://www.instockfasteners.com/PRODUCTS/concreteanchors.ASP](http://www.instockfasteners.com/PRODUCTS/concreteanchors.ASP) I like these: > [@](#): > > Wood Screw Lead Anchors Wood Screw Lead Anchors > Wood Screw Lead Anchors are wedged into a hole and then expanded for a tight fit with the insertion of a wood screw or similar item. They are used where strength requirements are not as great as when shields are used, and are not threaded internally. but your situation may call for a different design. You local hardware store will have a selection of masonry anchors to choose from ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehanging-a-flag-support-in-brick-the-holes-are-too-big/489654/3 "2009-03-16T20:10:35Z")
I’d say some sort of anchor, or if there is enough room on the support you could widen those holes to accomodate a larger screw. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehanging-a-flag-support-in-brick-the-holes-are-too-big/489654/4 "2009-03-16T20:13:02Z")
> [@Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](#): > > What suggestions have ye, for fixing these holes in my masonry? Fill the holes with mortar, not wood glue, and redrill them to the proper size. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehanging-a-flag-support-in-brick-the-holes-are-too-big/489654/5 "2009-03-16T20:49:47Z")
If you’re friendly with any plumbers, see if you can get some lead wool from them and pack it into the holes to create your own custom masonry anchors. You should then be able to re-insert the screws securely without needing to re-drill. It’s a bit expensive and hard to find at regular stores. Don’t try to substitute steel wool - it will only rust away in a few months, leaving brown streaks down the wall. Failing that, drill the holes out to fit regular lead anchors and use the existing screws. The “nuclear option” would be to patch the holes with mortar, then re-position the bracket just enough so you can drill new holes in solid brick and use Tapcon screws. These are the blue screws that don’t need anchors - you just need to use the right size drill bit for the screws. You don’t want to drill holes in mortar if you can help it, as mortar tends to be much weaker than brick. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rehanging-a-flag-support-in-brick-the-holes-are-too-big/489654/6 "2009-03-16T21:46:58Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > [http://www.instockfasteners.com/PRODUCTS/concreteanchors.ASP](http://www.instockfasteners.com/PRODUCTS/concreteanchors.ASP) > > I like these:but your situation may call for a different design. > You local hardware store will have a selection of masonry anchors to choose from What Squink said.