Putting screws into floorboards (through a carpet)

[bez]

(2011-09-17 14:16)krap Wrote:  This is interesting as I think it's not a question of differentiating between wobble and topple, as you have to look at the weakest link in any stage of the design. But I'd suggest both wobbling and toppling concerns are totally redundant anyway in this real life situation.

I think you don’t want the speaker to wobble, vibrate or rattle from the sonic point of view, and certainly not to topple easily for obvious reasons. Never mind kids - I’ve seen drunken adults lean too heavily on speakers, and as you say, over they go

[Sound Hound]

Hi Mouldy,
I've been doing exactly what you are suggesting for years. When you are quite sure you have the correct position for your speakers, placing them on posidrive screws does improve the tune. Whereas it shouldn't make a difference, I've found that it does because the speakers just don't rock as much. When you have carpet and underlay for the spikes to penetrate, the spikes just dont seem to be able to penetrate the floor boards as well as they otherwise might and so the speakers rock a little. What I do is as follows - when you're happy with the speaker position, remove the spikes completely, then , using a speed controllable drill driver, slowly and carefully screw your posidrive screw through the hole the spike was in - taking care that you get it as central as you can, screw it into the floor a few turns (not too far - just flush with the top surface of the stand so you don't damage the thread of the stand). Repeat for the other three spikes. Remove all 4 screws, move speaker away, screw the screws back into the holes you just created. Getting the right length of screw is paramount - you don't want to screw down into pipes or wiring - very bad idea! But if you are sure there is a joist free of such items where the screw is - so much the better. You may need to use longer screws for the pilot holes than for the final fix. If you've been carefull the spikes when refitted will sit in the head of you posidrive screws. As someone said earlier, a good quality woodscrew wont pull the carpet (never has in my experience - but be very carefull with low quality corded carpet types - these can pull - always go SLOWLY with your driver!) and the mark left by same after removal will be no worse than that left by a spike. Test this by experimenting under a piece of furniture for reassurance.
PS You'll need firm pressure on the driver to ensure the screw starts screwing into the floorboard immediately after it's gone through the carpet and underlay, otherwise the carpet will start lifting. If you want to be 110% sure the screws you plan to use wont pull the carpet, again, test on an offcut. Happy Experimenting !!

[mouldyolddough]

Well, I finally got around to doing this after tidying up my cabling and I've found that everything seems much more defined and less wooly. Very surprised at the result.

[DaveBarth]

Hi Mouldy,

Do you have a picture or two (spikes on screws and trunk-ed K400) for us?