18
votes
Accepted
Can I screw only the bottom screw into a stud?
No.
First off, the top screws take up most of the load. The weight of the shelf + stuff will try to pull the top screws out of the wall, the bottom screws comparatively hold very little actual load.
...
- 2,289
13
votes
Can I screw only the bottom screw into a stud?
It sounds like you've found some horizontal blocking (nogging) typically designed to slow down the spread of fire.
At minimum attach the top of the bracket to the blocking since those will experience ...
- 16.5k
11
votes
Accepted
What type of anchor is this and how do I remove/replace/tighten it?
It's one o' these...
image source
To remove it...
Grab the flange with a needle-nose pliers and bend it outward. Flex it in and out a few times and it'll pop off. Do the same for the other half if it ...
- 130k
9
votes
Can I screw only the bottom screw into a stud?
The bottom screws are there more to keep things aligned. The top screws carry the load, where the weight on the shelf gets amplified because of the short distance from the top screw down to the very ...
- 5,369
8
votes
Why can't I get self drilling anchors into the wall
Assuming you do have plasterboard/drywall, I've found a couple of tricks to make these plastic anchors go in more easily.
The first is to start with a metal one, then swap it to the plastic sort. ...
- 6,063
7
votes
Can a drywall ceiling toggle bolt hold up a 18.5lb chandelier?
The toggle bolt will probably hold up just fine with a 20 lb. weight, but I can't say the same for the drywall itself.
Even if the drywall seems to hold for a while, do not trust it by hanging a 20 ...
- 1,261
6
votes
Mounting table to the wall--HELP!
There is ONLY one way to safely do this: Screws into studs.
I would not trust any kind of "anchors". The problem is that while the basic weight of the furniture itself might be just 44 lbs., ...
5
votes
Can I mount a large projector screen to metal studs with just screws?
Mount to the studs; plasterboard isn't really intended to take that much weight, toggle bolts or not. Screws directly into the studs will do fine. Predrill with a bit no larger than the base of the ...
- 27.6k
5
votes
Drywall anchors fell out - any suggestions?
I suspect the EZ Anchors hit the cinderblock behind the drywall and spun in place, tearing up the drywall and causing failure.
The only solution that I can think of is to use a masonry drill to drill ...
- 35.1k
5
votes
Why can't I get self drilling anchors into the wall
If you pull out the anchor and then stick a screwdriver in the hole, does it stop between 1 and 2 inches deep? If so, you probably have drywall over brick or block. In which case there is only 1 to 2 ...
- 21.1k
5
votes
Accepted
Can I ceiling mount a 15 lbs projector on drywall + 0.5 inch plywood?
That screw will work but is unnecessarily long and fat. You'll have to predrill and hope you don't encounter anything inside the ceiling. You seem to have a sprinkler head there, so you especially ...
- 34.3k
4
votes
Accepted
Best practice for attaching drywall to split-level basement concrete wall with step
This depends on whether you just want to put up drywall, or insulate as well. You're never going to have a better chance to do the latter.
Per This Old House, if you just want drywall or paneling, the ...
- 27.6k
3
votes
Why can't I get self drilling anchors into the wall
The first thing that came to mind is that there is a nail-plate where you want to put an anchor. Any type of screw-in anchor should go into drywall easily. If they will not there is something ...
- 25.1k
3
votes
Self drilling dyrwall anchor cannot go all the way into the hole
I believe you’re trying to set those into the wooden top plate of your wall.
If you had any wood shavings while drilling, just use a long (>3”) wood screw.
Those anchors are fine, but are for ...
- 20.4k
3
votes
What mounting solution should be used to mount this wine rack?
You want to find studs. Do not use drywall anchors or else you will find a thousand dollar bottle of wine staining the carpet.
I would use a nice backing board(stained wood) and mount it as a shelf, ...
- 22.9k
3
votes
Are these screws / anchors good enough for mounting this decorative shelf on drywall?
The anchors that you show can be used to mount the shelf.
However I prefer nylon ribbed anchors as they have a better holding capacity. They come in various sizes to hold various weights.
Pop Toggles ...
- 25.1k
2
votes
Securing a large screw hook in drywall without an anchor
Look for a large adhesive hook, easy to find a one able to hold up to 37+ lbs by spreading force over area on wallboard. No need for some complicated construction project. Remove your screw, put up ...
- 21
2
votes
What part of a toggle anchor determines its strength?
The screw needs to draw tight in the anchor for proper hold, but that doesn't mean the object being hung has to be involved. You could put a washer on the screw followed by a short spacer (or smaller ...
- 1,522
2
votes
What part of a toggle anchor determines its strength?
Drywall can be surprisingly strong at holding heavy weight; that is, except for those rare times when it isn't.
If you are concerned about what would happen if it fails, don't do it.
I had a heavy TV ...
- 824
2
votes
Options to anchor a printer stand or metal shelf to the wall?
One stud may suffice. Or you can do something like attaching a piece that spans the back of the cabinet and is wide enough to span two studs and screwing that to the wall
Or you can just not worry ...
- 27.6k
2
votes
What type of anchor is this and how do I remove/replace/tighten it?
I would go so far as to put in a roll holder with a large wooden back surface, one that covers this area completely, AND is wide enough to go over one stud.
OP should pull the anchor out or push it ...
- 10k
1
vote
Can I mount a large projector screen to metal studs with just screws?
With just the two small brackets provided I would not hang 66 pounds on drywall.
You could hang a big 66 pound screen on drywall. Since it's not a TV and people won't be touching it all the time, it ...
- 34.3k
1
vote
Can I screw only the bottom screw into a stud?
Another option would be to find two verticals, and cut the shelf width so that the brackets aligned with them. Or at least use one upright for one top fixing, and an expanding plasterboard fixing for ...
- 5,198
1
vote
What part of a toggle anchor determines its strength?
What you can do is use the toggle anchors to mount hooks and then hang the mirror on the hooks.
"Molly Hook" source DK hardware
But last time I bent up some fence wire to form the hook, ...
- 19k
1
vote
What part of a toggle anchor determines its strength?
Toggle anchors typically have a section that flares out as a fastener is inserted, this creates friction between the anchor and the surrounding substrate (in your case, drywall). Some anchors have ...
- 2,319
1
vote
Drywall anchor/screw won’t go in but doesn’t appear to be stud
I like @nmr's suggestion that this might be old-fashioned plaster applied over wooden lath. That isn't hard to drill through, but it's harder than modern plasterboard and I wouldn't be surprised if ...
- 27.6k
1
vote
Accepted
Screws and anchor to install leaning Ikea cabinet into wall
So I went with a hybrid approach since I can only align one hole to a stud. For the hole that cannot be aligned to a stud, I bought a pack #6-#10 of Hillman DuoPower anchors from Home Depot, which fit ...
- 111
1
vote
Screws and anchor to install leaning Ikea cabinet into wall
Cabinet screws are what you need to use. They are readily available on line and in most hardware & big box stores.
Cabinet screws have a wide head that prevents the screw from digging into the ...
- 6,788
1
vote
Screws and anchor to install leaning Ikea cabinet into wall
You want wood screws(screws made to go into wood).
The fine and course threads you saw are for machine screws and bolts. They need nuts or threaded holes.
For cabinets I would use #10 or #12 wood ...
- 22.9k
1
vote
2 x 4 in the way of Drywall - Existing home
If that is just 1/4 inch then the quickest and easiest way to drywall is to put up a 1/4" sheet and then the 1/2" over it.
- 25.1k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible