Hanging a chandelier - between joists

[Corazones]

My wife wants a simple (for candles only) bent steel chandelier, weighing under a kilo. to be hung on its one hook from the ceiling before Christmas. Simple - I would normally position it beneath a joist for a firm fixing. But... the middle of the dining table is between two joists, which is exactly where it has to go, so it has to be a cavity fitting.

I can't even access the floor above to add a noggin. And she would prefer me not to fit a wooden pattress to the ceiling and hang the hook from that.

The most reliable, spring-toggle fixings only work with the screw supplied and not with a hook, and I am dubious of using anything more flimsy - imagine the result if it let go and descended directly onto the Christmas cake. Also, many cavity fittings need to fix a firm surface like wood to plasterboard in order to hold them in place while being screwed up, although I supposed I could use a flanged hook.

Any suggestions or recommendations, please, to save our Christmas meal from disaster? Many thanks,
Alec.

 

[Burnerman]

You can fix a hook to a spring toggle, but you'll need one with the same thread, obviously......you could probably fabricate something from a long 5mm screw - plus some imagination!
Having a flange (nut and washer) will allow the toggle to pull tight.
John

 

[Jackrae]

I assume the light fitting has cover plate that fits tight to the ceiling. If so, then you could make a hole large enough that would let you slip in a strip of steel, say 20mm x 3mm of 300mm long. In the middle of this you have a tapped hole to hang the fittings from.
This strip will then spread the light weight over a much larger area of the ceiling boarding.

 

[Johnmelad]

I assume the light fitting has cover plate that fits tight to the ceiling. If so, then you could make a hole large enough that would let you slip in a strip of steel, say 20mm x 3mm of 300mm long. In the middle of this you have a tapped hole to hang the fittings from.
This strip will then spread the light weight over a much larger area of the ceiling boarding.

Or a strip of slightly thicker wood.

 

[Corazones]

Thanks for those ideas. Actually there's no cover at the top, just a plain chain all the way up; however, I could simply poke a strong steel rod through the top link and ease that up into the ceiling. I would still need to cover the larger hole, but I could probably rob a conical cover off another light fitting. Thanks, guys!
Alec

 

[Newboy]

or move the table!

 

[Jackrae]

Now that's the most sensible idea yet !

 

[Corazones]

or move the table!

Easier said than done - it's over seven feet long, so there's little room for adjustment in a crowded room!

 

[foxhole]

One of thses will hold several kilo's just screw into ceiling and add a screw eye or hook.


http://www.orbitalfasteners.co.uk/en/products/plasterboard-fixing-nylon-rawl-pno.-07-025

 

[Johnmelad]

One of thses will hold several kilo's just screw into ceiling and add a screw eye or hook.


http://www.orbitalfasteners.co.uk/en/products/plasterboard-fixing-nylon-rawl-pno.-07-025[/QUOTE]

Might hold several kilo's in a wall but not in a plasterboard ceiling.

 

[gregers]

del boy n rodney.

 

[mattylad]

Hook into both joists then a (matching the chandelier) rod between them.
Hang the thing from that.

It can move anywhere between them then and will be a talking point :

 

[Corazones]

Thanks, Mattylad - a brilliant idea, I might just try it!

 

[foxhole]

One of thses will hold several kilo's just screw into ceiling and add a screw eye or hook.


http://www.orbitalfasteners.co.uk/en/products/plasterboard-fixing-nylon-rawl-pno.-07-025[/QUOTE]

Might hold several kilo's in a wall but not in a plasterboard ceiling.

Held a 3 kilo mirror ball on a ceiling for over a year no problem.