Gladiator Gearwall on an interior wall

[coleman10]

Hi. I'm interested in putting some 4' lengths of Gladiator Gearwall on an interior wall with metal studs. It's for my son's bedroom. He already has a a Gladiator cabinet, a 41" Craftsman bottom chest, and a small mid-chest. He loves all this stuff and he loves to be organized. Anyway, we were thinking of putting the Gearwall stuff on the wall above the bottom chest. It wouldn't be holding a great amount of weight - perhaps a few shelves that would hold his trinkets, collectibles, and perhaps a small boombox. My concern is the metal studs and how tightly the screws will hold. True, there won't be a great deal of weight on the tracks and the what there will be will be somewhat distributed, but I still want this thing securely fastened.

Has anyone attached this stuff to an interior wall, drywall with metal studs? What screw recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[PhysicsDude]

Are you sure they're metal studs? That seems unusual for a residential house.

In any case, yes, its perfectly fine. I install commercial electrical equipment all the time spanning 2 or more metal studs with 1 5/8" self tapping screws.

If you're ultra paranoid about the weight, the best thing you can do is install 1/4" toggle bolts. That's what we use when installing heavy stuff on metal studs - such as TV mounts, large electrical panels, etc. If you drill a 5/8" hole in the drywall and stud (you have to hit the stud right on the money) you can get a 1/4" toggle bolt in there. I've installed electrical panels that weigh over 100lbs this way that span 2 studs.

 

[coleman10]

Are you sure they're metal studs? That seems unusual for a residential house.

Yep. My previous home built in 1975 had wood studs. Hell, the walls were wire lath, brown coat, and plaster. Solid as a rock. We moved to another home last year that was built in 1988. It has metal studs and drywall. I sure do miss my old walls. I hate drywall and hate metal studs even more.

In any case, yes, its perfectly fine. I install commercial electrical equipment all the time spanning 2 or more metal studs with 1 5/8" self tapping screws.

If you're ultra paranoid about the weight, the best thing you can do is install 1/4" toggle bolts. That's what we use when installing heavy stuff on metal studs - such as TV mounts, large electrical panels, etc. If you drill a 5/8" hole in the drywall and stud (you have to hit the stud right on the money) you can get a 1/4" toggle bolt in there. I've installed electrical panels that weigh over 100lbs this way that span 2 studs.

If I go the route of toggle bolts, I may as well forgot about hitting the stud dead on and just put them anywhere into the drywall. It would still hold the weight and I wouldn’t need to worry about hitting the studs right on center.

Honestly, there’s no way I’m putting that many half inch holes in the walls. It just makes for larger repairs later on when my son is older and may want to take the tracks down.

I think I’ll give it shot with fine thread screws into the studs. With the way the tracks lock together to create a single unit, I think it’ll be okay.

Thanks.

 

[Lelandwelds]

I think I’ll give it shot with fine thread screws into the studs.

Thanks.

Metal studs are like standing on a beer can. If the can isnt dented, it will hold 300 lbs. As long as metal studs are screwed together with sheetrock faces, you can hang a stupidly heavy weight from them. If your builder used the 20 ga ones, added diagonal strapping, or doubled some up and added a few tack welds, you can really get crazy.

Dont worry about metal studs. Your screws can fail though.

 

[coleman10]

Dont worry about metal studs. Your screws can fail though.

If you’re referring to the screws pulling out of the studs, that’s my main concern.