nbpt100
Well-known member
I am looking for the practical thought process as to which type of fastener to use for hanging shelving to a plaster and lath wall. Molly bolts or conventional toggle bolts. Maybe one stud can be used but not 4.
toggle bolts or Molly screws in a plaster wall?
- Thread starter nbpt100
- Start date
rkevins
Well-known member
also look at togglers
https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=toggler drywall anchors
https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=toggler drywall anchors
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I use those when I need to hang something heavy. They're great. As long as you can drill a 1/2" hole and have enough wall depth to insert the metal bracket, they seem to work well.
four.cycle
Well-known member
I just use a regular old metal toggle bolt. Drill the 1/2" hole, slip the toggle through until it opens up.
Mix up some "Fix-all" with some water and put it into a little zip-lock bag. Snip off just the corner. Squeeze a glop of it into the hole.
Pull back on the screw and rotate it, making sure that toggle is completely coated with that wet Fix-all. Fill the hole with Fix-all and tighten
it up. Allow to cure overnight before re-hanging the 90-pound mirror behind the sofa that went crashing to the floor yesterday and put the gigantic dent in the top of the baseboard heater.
Works like a charm.
Mix up some "Fix-all" with some water and put it into a little zip-lock bag. Snip off just the corner. Squeeze a glop of it into the hole.
Pull back on the screw and rotate it, making sure that toggle is completely coated with that wet Fix-all. Fill the hole with Fix-all and tighten
it up. Allow to cure overnight before re-hanging the 90-pound mirror behind the sofa that went crashing to the floor yesterday and put the gigantic dent in the top of the baseboard heater.
Works like a charm.
The Bean
Well-known member
The walls in my house are all lath and plaster (except where I redid the 3rd floor with GWB. The problem with L&P is you loosen the plaster keys when you hammer or drill through and vibrate the lath. It's impossible to find the studs with studfinder.
Good luck.
Good luck.
lath as in wood lath or " gypsum lath board"?
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
They still need a 1/2" hole, or at least all the ones I have used do. That's for a 1/4-20 bolt
Yes, Even the 10-24 still requires a 1/2" hole. But the threaded part of the anchor covers it up well unlike a conventional toggle. I did see on the spec sheet plaster is included as an application. I think this is worth the upcost. I did read on the Lowes site that people like how they work but a few said about 1 in 10 is a dud. So you need to buy extra to make up for that possibility.
four.cycle
Well-known member
why does it matter if the thing falls down inside the wall?
you're going to be dead before anyone finds it there.
I have done a whole LOT of these installs for myself, mother, sisters, and other people.
I only use one of two methods now:
the little expanding plastic drywall anchors that require drilling a small hole and use a #10 screw for lightweight stuff on plasterboard walls.
or
the 10-24 toggle bolt which requires drilling a 1/2" diameter hole, and I always use that method above to insure that there's no possibility that sonofabitch is ever going to shift or loosen up or fail. When you're dealing with pieces of framed original artwork in frames that are 3 feet x 4 feet, you don't take chances.
you're going to be dead before anyone finds it there.
I have done a whole LOT of these installs for myself, mother, sisters, and other people.
I only use one of two methods now:
the little expanding plastic drywall anchors that require drilling a small hole and use a #10 screw for lightweight stuff on plasterboard walls.
or
the 10-24 toggle bolt which requires drilling a 1/2" diameter hole, and I always use that method above to insure that there's no possibility that sonofabitch is ever going to shift or loosen up or fail. When you're dealing with pieces of framed original artwork in frames that are 3 feet x 4 feet, you don't take chances.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
In the several boxes I have used, I think one didn't work. Definitely no where near 10% failure rate for me, but maybe I'm lucky
428PI
Well-known member
Sheet rock screws hold wonderful without drilling and hopefully find the stud. Don't try and drill it unless you want to hang small pics.
Zeke
Well-known member
Never hit a P&L wall with a hammer. I have wood strip lath in a 95 YO house and I use DW screws. 90% of the time I hit wood, sometimes a stud. If I don't hit wood I move up or down 1/2".
Not true that you can't find studs. Use the magnet style and look for a row of nails.
Not true that you can't find studs. Use the magnet style and look for a row of nails.
Meursault74
Well-known member
I installed a handrail for a getting into a shower with those. 2 on each side. The third hole on each side I could screw into the stud with a wood screw. This was over drywall. I had never seen those fasteners before, but they were right next to the handrail at the store. Glad I used them. I have used the traditional winged anchors before and had some already. In this particular installation this new type was the better choice. I could orient the wings and lock them in place so they would not spin and interfere with each other when snugging up the rail as the holes were near each other on the flange.
75gmck25
Well-known member
For some recent work I started using this type of toggle bolt.
The plastic part just holds it in place so you can insert the bolt, but then the bolt goes all the way through and threads into a metal toggle. It will all stay in place if you remove the bolt.
FLIPTOGGLE Fliptoggle 3/16 in. x 2-1/2 in. Plastic with Screw Philips and Slot Head 188lbs Toggle Bolt (10-pack) 420R - The Home Depot
The FLIPTOGGLE provides extra holding power in drywall and plaster materials. Easy and fast to install, these toggle bolts are twice as strong as regular toggle bolts of the same diameter. The FLIPTOGGLE
www.homedepot.com
The plastic part just holds it in place so you can insert the bolt, but then the bolt goes all the way through and threads into a metal toggle. It will all stay in place if you remove the bolt.
fsae0607
Well-known member
That's exactly what I use in my house that also has plaster.For some recent work I started using this type of toggle bolt.
FLIPTOGGLE Fliptoggle 3/16 in. x 2-1/2 in. Plastic with Screw Philips and Slot Head 188lbs Toggle Bolt (10-pack) 420R - The Home Depot
The FLIPTOGGLE provides extra holding power in drywall and plaster materials. Easy and fast to install, these toggle bolts are twice as strong as regular toggle bolts of the same diameter. The FLIPTOGGLEwww.homedepot.com
The plastic part just holds it in place so you can insert the bolt, but then the bolt goes all the way through and threads into a metal toggle. It will all stay in place if you remove the bolt.
Sometimes you can fish them up/out with a magnet. I've done a few with the big welding magnet from Harbor Freight. Or, a magnet on a string.
I am sure you can at times. Usually you have a 1/2 or5/8" hole with a conventional toggle. If you can do it all the more power to you!!!!
As a follow up I used the Toggler's as recommended. I was delighted at how well they worked. I made a practice run on a piece of wood before i attempted to do the job so I understood how to use them. The box I bought did not have any installation instructions for some odd reason. Plenty of other info but not that. Maybe it was a piece of paper that was not included by accident. I did see a video but I just wanted to be sure before I set a sail.
When drilling in old plaster you have to be very careful. The strength is as good as the wall integrity. I tried to find the studs with a magnetic stud finder but it was not strong enough to find anything. Nothing. I think the tool was Called "Stud buddy".
Another possible nice feature is that it uses a standard machine screw( 1/4-20 or 10-24). If you want a decorative screw you can usually find something that will be suitable. Worst case paint something in the style you like.
I would recommend the Togglers to anyone putting heavy items on a plaster wall. Even on dry wall. A bit more expensive but they have one of the highest load ratings and as well discussed, they do not fall behind the wall if you remove the screw. I have hung TVs on dry wall with the OD screw style fasteners. The ratings were around 75lbs per fastener. They work nice but if you need a higher load rating this is the way to go. Thanks to all who commented.
The Bean
Well-known member
Paint fresco on plaster. Done and done.
niget2002
Well-known member
I've started using these too. They do work well.For some recent work I started using this type of toggle bolt.
FLIPTOGGLE Fliptoggle 3/16 in. x 2-1/2 in. Plastic with Screw Philips and Slot Head 188lbs Toggle Bolt (10-pack) 420R - The Home Depot
The FLIPTOGGLE provides extra holding power in drywall and plaster materials. Easy and fast to install, these toggle bolts are twice as strong as regular toggle bolts of the same diameter. The FLIPTOGGLEwww.homedepot.com
The plastic part just holds it in place so you can insert the bolt, but then the bolt goes all the way through and threads into a metal toggle. It will all stay in place if you remove the bolt.