I've just bought a french oak railway sleeper to use as a floating mantel over our fireplace.
It's 4' x 8" x 4" and weighs around 20kg.
It came with two threaded spindles sticking out of the back. They protrude around 10cm and are approx 22mm in diameter. Their pitch is 3'.
To fit it, I was told by the company to drill two 22mm holes in the brickwork, squirt in some silicone resin and insert the spindles.
I'm looking for advice on the best way to go about this and wonder whether there are any things I need to be aware of?
I plan to either hire (around £40) or buy (around £60) an SDS+ drill and 22mm bit for the job.
Do you think these would do the job:
www.screwfix.com/p/energer-enb465drh-4-8kg-sds-plus-rotary-hammer-drill-230-240v/63303
www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-sds-plus-masonry-drill-bit-22-x-450mm/58576
As the drill bit above is 450mm long, would it be hard to use? Wouldn't it wobble all over the place as I try to start drilling? Would it be better to try to find a shorter drill bit? Or could I drill the holes with a smaller bit first?
Also once the resin sets, if the sleeper is not quite flush against the wall, is it virtually impossible to get it out and remount it?
Thanks.