Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I just finished my install today. Plan on at least 4 hours for this project. The joist do not have to be EXACTLY 48" as other reivews stated. That is the MOST the distance can be. You can be as close as 46 1/2. There is play in the bar that attaches the two ends. Here's my contribution to make this easy and keep it a one person job. Get a 4 foot piece of 1 1/4 lattic piece of trim. You can find it at any big box hardware store. This will be used as your template when drilling holes. I have a finished ceiling Before getting started, I used the 4' lattice to outline the joist. Instead of using a stud finder, which doesn't always work, I just use a finish nail to find the edges of the joist which are 1 1/2" wide. I marked the joist at one end and measured 48" down then found the edges of the joist. I put the lattice between these marks on both ends, then traced the lattice with a pencil In step 7, you notice the only indicate 7 bolts to be installed, but 9 in step 8. You have to remove the nylon rings in order to reach all 9 bolts, but this isn't mentioned. With the nylong rings off and the arm sitting on top of the lattice piece of wood, mark all the slots in the middle with a pencil. Make sure to mark the center of the T-bracket, too. This is critical for hanging the arms by yourself. Since the pre-drill hole size is 1/8, make the template holes one size larger at 3/16 with a drill. With the template, use a wood screw in the center template hole to temporarily attach to the joist so you have both hands free to line up the lattic to the trace marks I mentioned before. Now drill the pre-drill holes with the 1/8 bit. The manual doesn't mention this but there are those keyhole type of holes in the middle part of the arm. BEFORE you grab the arm in step 7, but the first lag bolt in the middle pre-driller hole, leaving about 1 1/2 inch. Now pick up the arm and angle it over the lag bolt in the middle. It takes a little wiggling, but it will eventually slide in. Now tighten the lag bolt, but not 100% Now the joist is hanging hands free from one lag bolt. Now, you are free to mount the other lag bolts by yourself. The stock lag bolts are junk. I shredded two when installing. I did install the stock lags so I could line up the two arm properly, but came back later with high quality lags of qty. 12 5/16" with a 3 1/2 length lag bolts. Trying to enlarge this existing gaps don't work very well. What I recommend is drilling BETWEEN the existing slots. First use a smaller bit to get thru the metal easier and create a pre-drill hole. I think I used a 3/16". Then I used a slightly larger bit like a 7/16" to cut a hole to allow it pass thru the new hole in the metal. Make sure you use eye protection and cover your forearms. The metal shaving are burning hot! Don't attach the 5/16" lags until Step 9 alignment is done.