Using plastic "anchor screw" where no stud available?
Question:I often have to put objects on my walls where there's no stud, or the stud is in an inconvenient location. For example, right now I want to hang a couple of electric guitars from my bedroom wall, "off stud".
The guitar hooks came with plastic anchors, and I'm just wondering - how efffective/safe are these? What rules should I follow in inserting them? I've never cared much about this in the past, but the guitars I'm hanging are very valuable, and dear to my heart, so I want them to be safe. Thanks!
p.s. I've read that you should use metal anchors for plaster wall, and plastic anchors for drywall - how do I know which I have?
Answers:
Whichever you use, make sure to follow the directions for drilling a hole first using the size drill bit specified for the size toggle you are using. I've seen people trying to use a metal anchor by just pounding into a wall, which is not too bright. You will be able to tell what material your wall is when you drill your hole for the anchor. If it's a relatively newly constructed house, you probably can count on it being sheetrock. Plaster is typically found in older homes.
Two things you can do...1 thing you should. You should throw away the ones that came with it. Go to a hardware store and get heavy duty screw in anchors or get toggle bolt anchors. The screw in type should work just fine, but the toggle bolts will give you the most support. They will know what you are talking about, and will show you what to use.
I wouldn't hang more than 5 or 10 lbs on one of the plastic anchors. And for something you are going to be taking on and off the hooks, well, they'll eventually wiggle loose. Not only that, but if you don't install it correctly (drill the hole too big, or to small), they just don't work at all.
You should use a molly bolt which will expand behind the drywall (little wings spread out as you screw it tight). You can get the hammer-in kind which are easiest to use. You should match the length of the shaft to the thickness of the drywall. Probably 3/8 inch.
Check here for a good article - http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/inffa...
The first two answers are both correct! always use the most heavyduty winged bolt you can get. This is what caught my attention. You said that the guitars were very valuable, you may not want to HANG them at all. You may want to consider another method of display. If for some reason they should fall, you wouldn't be able to replace them. Just a thought.
Here is a type of anchor specifically for drywall, which has incredible holding power. You can get nylon ones or aluminum for heavy duty applications. These (or the ones I have at home) say they have a rating at 25lbs each in 1/2" gypsum wall board.
I'll include a link to an online site - however your local home improvement store will sell these also.
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