Fixings for heavy shelf in plasterboard

diyaction

Found the perfect thread for this on here but everyone was posting links to Screwfix that no longer work!! :mad: Thanks Screwfix.

Basically we used those metal 'screw in' fixings but I guess they weren't strong enough as when the missus tried to adjust a shelf (they're on a rack) one whole rack came out of the wall. So now I have a load of holes in the wall, not sure what to fill them with or if I can get away just slamming another fixing in there. I saw someone in another thread recommend filling the gap with wood glue and shavings, does this sound wise?

I'm currently looking at the big spring-loaded 'rawlplug' things [can't post link due to being noob here]

or is there an advantage to using 'hollow wall anchors' like this - [can't post link due to being noob here]

Also I'm not sure if I have plasterboard or drywall, is this just a UK - U.S. thing?

Finally how many damn posts do I have to make before I can post links? :doh:

vaio

stick a space or otherwise disguise it so it doesn't get picked up as a link

jbainbridge

What is it you are trying to put up?

If it is very heavy and only allows for very few fixings you might just destroy the plasterboard.

diyaction

It's MDF shelves, will have some books etc. but nothing too crazy. They're supported on a white IKEA rack / bracket thing.

It worked OK last time I used heavy duty plastic wall plugs.. just these damn metal things tore out the wall.

scottishblondie

Hollow wall anchors (I call them brolly fixes):

http://www.screwfix.com/c/screws-nails-fixings/hollow-wall-anchors/cat840108

You need a drill and a special tool to install them (also on that page), but they're brilliant for fixing things in plasterboard.

Fill the existing holes with pollyfiller and then stay away from them when fixing up the shelves - the area directly around the holes will now be quite weak.

diyaction

Thanks all for the links + advice.

Hollow-wall anchors vs. spring toggles? Are the springs a !!!!!! to get in?

[This site is funny -> is b-u-g-g-e-r really a rude word??? ]

diyaction

DrylinePro looks good eh. Anyone had experience with them?

LittleMax

My OH swears by these



He was sceptical at first and said I needed to be careful what I put in the wall cupboards he had put up. We joked about it being only feathers and dusters, but we soon became more confident and more and more weight went in. He uses these types of fixings all the time now in plasterboard.

Edit - but it sounds like these are what you may have used?

diyaction

Yeah that's what we used! Hah, oh well. I think mine are a lot shorter than the one in your picture, but still from the info on

http:// www .drylinepro.com/all-about-wall-fixings.html# [delete the gaps]

it seems like they're on the weaker end of fixings

jbainbridge

No ... don't use those ones - I usually find the plaster board just crumbles away! Either the toggle or anchor type will do the job - they spread the load.

basill

scottishblondie wrote: »

Hollow wall anchors (I call them brolly fixes):

http://www.screwfix.com/c/screws-nails-fixings/hollow-wall-anchors/cat840108

You need a drill and a special tool to install them (also on that page), but they're brilliant for fixing things in plasterboard.

I agree!

These are best used with the setting tool, especially if you have soft plasterboard walls like ours, the ones that screw in cause the board to crumble and without the tool, the expanding ones did not always grip the board and failed to expand properly behind. They were hard to remove and left a bigger hole behind.

The setting tool grips the screw head and pulls the expanding section open without rotating.

I have used "Molly Piranah" fasteners and a setting tool from Homebase, these are similar to the one on the screwfix link and have provided very secure mountings for shelves, TV brackets and heavy mirrors etc, probably cheaper to buy at Screwfix though.


I had some early problems though, the cheap £3.79 setting tool shaped like a crowbar was rubbish, I returned it and replaced with with the type that looks like a staple gun.



B