What anchors to use on plaster walls?

Plastic wall anchors, Molly Bolts or Toggle Bolts? Plastic wall anchors don’t work with lath and plaster walls. Instead, use plaster anchors made of metal like a molly bolt or a toggle bolt. Be sure to use one that’s long enough to get behind the plaster and lath.

How much weight can a molly bolt hold in plaster?

Toggles, anchors or molly bolts are surprisingly strong. A 1/8 toggle can hold 30 pounds on 1/2-inch drywall and a 3/8-inch toggle can handle a hefty 50 pounds or more safely. Screws (and screws with masonry anchors for heavy items) are your best choice for hanging things on plaster walls without picture rail.

Can I use molly bolts on plaster?

Molly bolts Nonpointed versions require an installation hole, and work well in old plaster-and-lath walls.

Do you need anchors for plaster walls?

Lath and plaster walls can’t accept typical plastic anchors. Toggle or molly bolts are required. Be sure to use ones that are long enough to get behind the plaster and lath. Drilling a hole with a masonry bit will be required, more below on installing toggle and molly bolts.

Do toggle bolts work on plaster walls?

Metal toggle bolts can support heavy loads in drywall, plaster and hollow-core concrete block. Plastic versions hold medium loads in drywall and plaster. To install: Bore a hole in the wall large enough to accommodate the toggle. Fit the item to be anchored over the bolt, then insert the toggle and tighten.

How do you install a molly bolt on a wall?

If the hole is too small then the bolt may get stuck and it will be difficult to pull it back out without damaging the wall. If this happens then use pliers to dislodge the anchor. Take the screw and insert it into the Molly bolt. Push it into the space you created. Screw the bolt in place using a screwdriver.

Is it safe to use molly bolts on plaster?

The safest thing with plaster is to drill into studs but studs are a bit hard to find in plaster, plus … we don’t always want to hang things where the studs happen to be. 🙂 So I’d go with Molly bolts as long as you make sure they’re long enough.

What are molly bolts and what are they used for?

Molly bolts are wall anchors that can be used to hang moderate weights on walls. They are sturdier than other anchors since the anchor expands at the back once lodged in the wall.

Which is the best Molly Bolt for drywall?

Yes there are others like screw-in anchors, toggle bolts and a bunch of other things, but these Molly wall anchors are my favourites so that’s why I’m talking about them and telling you to use them too. When you buy a box of Hollow Wall Anchors there are 3 things you need to look for on the box:

What anchors to use on plaster walls?

Plastic wall anchors don’t work with lath and plaster walls. Instead, use plaster anchors made of metal like a molly bolt or a toggle bolt. Be sure to use one that’s long enough to get behind the plaster and lath. When drilling into plaster, you’ll need to use a masonry bit.

Can you use concrete screws in plaster?

Screws (and screws with masonry anchors for heavy items) are your best choice for hanging things on plaster walls without picture rail. For lighter items, simply screwing into the plaster with a 1 1/4” drywall screw is usually enough to get the job done.

Do EZ anchors work in plaster?

Nonpointed versions require an installation hole, and work well in old plaster-and-lath walls. To install: Seat the round flange flush with the wall surface by tapping the screwhead. Turn the screw to “mushroom” the slotted sleeve against the back wall surface.

Do you need wall anchors for plaster?

Lath and plaster walls can’t accept typical plastic anchors. Toggle or molly bolts are required. Be sure to use ones that are long enough to get behind the plaster and lath. Drilling a hole with a masonry bit will be required, more below on installing toggle and molly bolts.

Do you need anchors for plaster walls?

Do stud finders work on lath and plaster walls?

To function properly, the wall surface must have a consistent density level, and be less dense than the wood stud. Stud finders, however, will not always return accurate results with lath and plaster walls because of the very inconsistent method by which they are constructed.

Can you put screws in plaster walls?

Screws are your ultimate option for hanging things on plaster walls without picture rail. For lighter items, screwing into the plaster with a 1 1/4” drywall screw can get the job done. For heavy items, you can opt screws with masonry anchors.

How to install wall anchors in plaster walls?

Place two small pieces of painter’s masking tape on the wall in the shape of an “X” at the location you want to install a wall hook or other fastener. Select the correct size drill bit according to the instructions on the package of toggle bolts and chuck it into the drill.

Which is better for wall anchors concrete or drywall?

As a general rule, hollow walls like drywall and paneling will hold less weight than solid walls like concrete and some plasters using the same anchor. The type of installation will also have a bearing on load capacity.

What kind of anchors can you use in hollow walls?

These are intended for light loads up to about 30lb when used in hollow walls, to heavy loads of about 100lb when used in solid masonry walls. These will not hold as much weight in a ceiling and should only be used for very light duty if at all in those cases. These are used in hollow walls including: drywall, plaster, paneling, and cinder block.

What should I hang on a plaster wall?

I have a bathroom utility organizer I need to hang on a plaster wall. The organizer is lightweight aluminum, weighs about 5 pounds, and will be holding fairly light items such as toothbrush holders and bath towels. Do I need to use anchors before installing screws and mounting hardware for plaster walls?