Plasterboard Fixings 35mm or 50mm for 11kg mirror?

[SkinnyP]

I want to hang an 11kg mirror off 2 screws onto a hollow stud wall, only I dont know where the studs are.

I was thinking something like this should work fine (assuming I dont hit the studs), but should I go for the 35mm or 50mm version?

http://www.screwfix.com/p/spit-driva-tp12-panhead-...

Thanks.

[nyt]

Almost certainly overkill, but I've been looking at:

http://www.wickes.co.uk/gripit?utm_source=google&a...

[SkinnyP]

nyt said:

Almost certainly overkill, but I've been looking at:

http://www.wickes.co.uk/gripit?utm_source=google&a...

Nice but yes overkill and looks like it requires more effort than the regular screw in fixing

[barker22]

I'm not a fan of the pig tails or worms as people call them, they can be a mess and if they don't grab properly can leave you with a massive hole in the wall.
I would recommend these myself, but you need a specific setting tool to use them. So if you could borrow one that would be best as it works out expensive for putting 2 holes in the wall as a one off job.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/fischer-5-x-37s-bp-hm-me...

But the worms you initially looked at should be fine aslong as they grip the wall, you will know straight away if they have

Edited by barker22 on Saturday 13th September 10:41

[Spudler]

barker22 said:

I would recommend these myself, but you need a specific setting tool to use them.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/fischer-5-x-37s-bp-hm-me...

Agree. Will hold a lot more than specified.

[SkinnyP]

Spudler said:

Agree. Will hold a lot more than specified.

I agree but they impossible to remove should I want to replace the mirror.

[B17NNS]

barker22 said:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/fischer-5-x-37s-bp-hm-me...

These. Definitely these.

[FRMATT]

B17NNS said:

These. Definitely these.

I've got a much cheaper version of these from toolstation and they're pretty good even without the proper tool

[B17NNS]

FRMATT said:

I've got a much cheaper version of these from toolstation and they're pretty good even without the proper tool

Yup, Screwfix do an unbranded (non Fischer) item too. Works just as well. I don't use a setting tool. If you tap the metal teeth into the board it usually grabs and you can do up using the screw.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/hollow-wall-anchors-16-3...

£2.45 for ten.

[SkinnyP]

B17NNS said:

Yup, Screwfix do an unbranded (non Fischer) item too. Works just as well. I don't use a setting tool. If you tap the metal teeth into the board it usually grabs and you can do up using the screw.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/hollow-wall-anchors-16-3...

£2.45 for ten.

Can you remove them easily though?

[brianb]

barker22 said:

I'm not a fan of the pig tails or worms as people call them,

Witches titts

[B17NNS]

SkinnyP said:

Can you remove them easily though?

Nope.

You can knock them in a bit though. Skim of filler and a sand and all's well.

[Murph7355]

I'd drill a pilot hole somewhere unobtrusive to see how thick your plasterboard is. Some in my place is too thin for hollow walls to grab properly!

You also need to a setting tool, and to know where the studs are accurately.

If it's a newer property you are likely to be OK, but older places can be a nightmare!

[V8RX7]

SkinnyP said:

I want to hang an 11kg mirror off 2 screws onto a hollow stud wall, only I dont know where the studs are.

I was thinking something like this should work fine (assuming I dont hit the studs), but should I go for the 35mm or 50mm version?

http://www.screwfix.com/p/spit-driva-tp12-panhead-...

Thanks.

I've found these to be far from great - they can chew up the plasterboard rather than cut into it.

The plastic versions are worse.

IIRC the 50mm refers to the screw length (rather than the fixing)

I've hung far more than 5.5kg off a standard brown rawl plug without issue.

[Neil - YVM]

V8RX7 said:

SkinnyP said:

I want to hang an 11kg mirror off 2 screws onto a hollow stud wall, only I dont know where the studs are.

I was thinking something like this should work fine (assuming I dont hit the studs), but should I go for the 35mm or 50mm version?

http://www.screwfix.com/p/spit-driva-tp12-panhead-...

Thanks.

I've found these to be far from great - they can chew up the plasterboard rather than cut into it.

The plastic versions are worse.

IIRC the 50mm refers to the screw length (rather than the fixing)

I've hung far more than 5.5kg off a standard brown rawl plug without issue.

I know they are meant to be self drilling, but they don't chew the plasterboard if you pre drill the plasterboard with a 5 or 6 mm bit.

[J18NHS]

5mm drill , 2 x red rawl plugs ,2 x 2inch 8's,

Slightly angle the drill upwards when drilling your 5mm hole, tap/knock your red plug into hole and screw your 2"8's in by hand until there sticking out enough for ya mirror , if it's flush fit to the wall you'll get away with shorter screws.

You can usually find where the studs are by tapping the wall, it'll go from a hollow noise to a solid, that's your stud, once you've found 1 the next one will probs be 600mm to the left or right

Edited by J18NHS on Sunday 14th September 11:42

[SkinnyP]

V8RX7 said:

SkinnyP said:

I want to hang an 11kg mirror off 2 screws onto a hollow stud wall, only I dont know where the studs are.

I was thinking something like this should work fine (assuming I dont hit the studs), but should I go for the 35mm or 50mm version?

http://www.screwfix.com/p/spit-driva-tp12-panhead-...

Thanks.

I've found these to be far from great - they can chew up the plasterboard rather than cut into it.

The plastic versions are worse.

IIRC the 50mm refers to the screw length (rather than the fixing)

I've hung far more than 5.5kg off a standard brown rawl plug without issue.

You mean these? I've got loads of them but dont know the load rating...

[V8RX7]

Neil - YVM said:

I know they are meant to be self drilling, but they don't chew the plasterboard if you pre drill the plasterboard with a 5 or 6 mm bit.

Oh I took one look at the end and I pre drilled.

I was doing a houseful of curtain rails - after the first one with the "better fixings" I went back to std plugs.

[V8RX7]

SkinnyP said:

You mean these? I've got loads of them but dont know the load rating...

Yes.

They won't quote one because so many people can't drill a hole properly.

One won't hold my weight - I suspect 2 might but 3 definitely would (I'm 75kg)

I'll try it tomorrow.

[SkinnyP]

V8RX7 said:

Yes.

They won't quote one because so many people can't drill a hole properly.

One won't hold my weight - I suspect 2 might but 3 definitely would (I'm 75kg)

I'll try it tomorrow.

Cheers.

Sod it I'll give it a go, it may save me buying a pack of anchors and the tool which I'll never use again...