They come in all different shapes, sizes and designs, but all serve more or less the same purpose and are specially designed to work better than nails when it comes to setting up, replacing, or expanding drywall structures and surfaces. If you can’t find the Sharkie, the Toggler – Alligator is basically identical. These anchors don’t have a fancy flip-out toggle or an impressive load rating, but they do pop open after you put a screw into them, and that makes them better-than-average for holding up a small shelf. How to Use Dry Wall Anchors: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow We didn’t have a full mounted-and-taped wall to test the real maximum strength with, but you’re more likely to break a large chunk out of your wall than to see one of these anchors pop through. Do you think the anchor might have not fastened well enough bc I used the drill? The anchor we tested takes a #8 screw and needs a half-inch hole; it failed after only 50 pounds of shelf load when the anchor cut through the inner drywall paper. A wide variety of threaded drywall anchors options are available to you, such as 12mm, 5/16in, and 3/16in. All of our reviews are unsponsored, so we earn money by using affiliate links. In our shelf test, which creates a tensile load prying the anchor out from the wall, WingIts held strong until the drywall screws holding our test wall to the frame started to fail at 100 pounds. drywall. We found eight of the strongest and most innovative products that will help you install your decor and even moderately-heavy shelves on standard drywall without a wooden or metal stud for support. First, you need to flip the toggle back into line, which is possible with a small piece of wire. A sturdy wall anchor from Grainger lets you hang even a heavier object securely and confidently. It is distinguished by the big threads which make for a tighter grip in the drywall. E-Z Ancor 1 in. Threaded anchors, (also called self-drilling anchors and E-Z anchors) are the absolute easiest choice and one of the most effective.They have a point on the end so you can tap them into the drywall. Best Toggle Bolt. While there are actually many types of drywall anchors available, some are more common than others. Fortunately the hole they leave behind is only about a half-inch, since the plastic pieces are only just strong enough to hold the toggle in place on the back of the wall. They may also be used to connect two pairs of angles at 90°. How to Hang a Picture Exactly Where you Want it. The simplicity of the self-drilling design makes them easy to work with, but they’re just far enough behind the E-Z Ancor – Toggle Anchor that we had to give those top place for a general-purpose anchor. We also eliminated options like molly bolts that require extra work for little return in actual strength for a drywall installation. In our test, the Snap-Toggle held up just as well as the WingIts anchor, which is to say, our test drywall started peeling off the studs before the anchor broke through. The anchor has a single point that drills a clean hole and prevents paper damage. If you over-torque the included screws directly into the anchor, the support wings can begin to twist and tear out a chunk of drywall, so be careful when tightening things up. These anchors are designed to be self-starting, meaning that no pre-drilled hole is necessary, but in practice it is very advisable to pre-drill a small hole. Then just stick a screwdriver into them and screw them in the wall. At that point Your anchor is ready to receive one of the included 1/4-20 machine screws, which tighten the toggle securely against the back of the wall as you mount your shelf or television.Read more…. Threaded drywall anchors are plastic or metal. WingIts require a three-quarter-inch hole for mounting, and the flange left on the outside is a full inch. These drywall anchors look as strong … Qualihome #1 Best Quality Zinc Self Drilling Drywall Anchors. A spring-loaded toggle holds against the back of the material. Product Rating 4.5 /5. The anchor we tested takes a #8 screw and needs a half-inch hole; it failed after only 50 pounds of shelf load when the anchor cut through the inner drywall paper.Read more…. The biggest factor in anchor strength for most applications is how well the anchor spreads tensile load (pulling away from the wall) across a wide area of the inside of the drywall sheet. The large threads are intended to hold strongly into drywall and will accept #6 or #8 sheet metal screws. The big downside with a toggle bolt is that you need to insert the toggle with the bracket you’re hanging already on the screw — once you pop that anchor through the wall, backing out the screw will mean dropping the support into that black hole behind your drywall. That's why I've partnered with HomeAdvisor.com to provide you with free quotes from qualified local professionals. None of our reviews are sponsored. Powder-Actuated Accessories ... Worldwide leaders of anchors … Not as easy to get support arm pointing vertical as with a push-in anchor, Drywall will probably pull off the wall before this anchor pulls out, Skinny #8-32 size screws are easier to use for some brackets, Recovering anchors means making a one-inch hole, Smallest hole possible for easy repair when you move, Your contractor friends might laugh at you, Pierces drywall without a pre-drilling step, An inexpensive way to hold up a decorative shelf, Hard to install with a manual screwdriver, Like a standard plastic anchor, but more secure, Drill-then-insert install is better for some jobs, Accepts up to a large #14 screw (#12 included), Removing bigger screws may spin this anchor, Reliable performance for lightweight loads, Easy to remove, the anchor just drops away inside the wall, You have to install these with your bracket, shelf or TV mount attached, Install with just a hammer and screwdriver, Over-torque the screw and you could tear out a chunk of drywall, Bright green anchor flange might be too visible for some jobs. Everyone who owns a screwdriver probably knows that drywall isn’t strong enough by itself to support cabinets, flat-screen TVs or large mirrors. We tested the large 5/16″ size to see if it might fare better than smaller anchors, but Hillman also sells these in two smaller sizes or as a kit with a drill and driver bit. Threaded drywall anchors (plastic anchors) are recommended only for average weight, up to 20 pounds/10 kg; Make sure you don’t install the anchor on electric wires, above an outlet or light switch Installing drywall anchors. If you need to mount a grab rail, television, or some other piece of hardware that absolutely has to be secure, drilling into wooden studs is always a must. Different screw sizes are available, but based on our tests the strength is going to be about the same. (In that order of priority.). 4.4 out of 5 stars 87. After compiling a list of all the top recommended anchors, we eliminated basic options that weren’t at least rated to the strength of an easy-to-use self-drilling anchor like the Toggler – SnapSkru. The WallClaw’s hammer-in anchor is one of the most unique solutions we’ve seen, and it would be useful to have one in certain situations where you don’t have access to a powered drill or screw gun. You shouldn’t have to pay more than 25 cents per anchor. 5% coupon applied at checkout Save … Powder-Actuated Loads. Designed specifically for wallboard, these could often thread right into the holes left by the plastic anchors. If you need to remove these anchors, punching them through the wall or trying to cut the plastic support off and dropping the metal toggle inside the wall is really your only choice. Compare; Find My Store. And, when you need to hang something more weighty, toggle bolts are unbeatable. Picture Hanging Kit for Sawtooth, Keyhole and D-Ring Hangers, How to Hang a Heavy Object on a Wall Using Toggle Bolts. A few designs are basically permanent, so you need to make a larger hole to remove them. Nearly everyone has seen the plastic plug anchors that you often get for free with wall brackets, but, spring-toggle anchors like these from Hillman. This mechanism is often used specifically for mounting lightweight decorative items overhead, things like ceiling lights. For hanging decor items to brighten up a blank wall, a drywall anchor is definitely overkill. With a screw-in anchor, you risk breaking the edges of your hole if you need another half-turn so the arrow points up. These anchors come in three basic types: sleeve, toggle, and expansion. But if you can only get one or two screws into a stud, and there’s no way to add a piece of wood to span the studs you have access to, then these are the anchors we would trust with the heaviest weight.Read more…. A sharp awl and a drywall saw can be even easier than a drill, so long as you keep your hole centered. Daniel remains unapologetic about Canadian spelling, serial commas, and the destruction of expensive travel mugs. Drywall anchors . Rounded Head Toggle Bolts. ... Threaded Rod Anchors. Watch our quick tip video on how to install a drywall anchor so whatever you're hanging on a wall is safe and secure. That’s better than a threaded zinc anchor or plastic plug, but this was the only anchor that couldn’t take 70% of … Look for a two-piece design with a brace inside the wall that clamps down when you tighten your screw through the anchor. Threaded Drywall Anchors. The self-drilling design goes in easily with a screw gun or even a manual screwdriver. We deal with all sorts of anchors, from plastic sleeve anchors to self-drilling threaded anchors and even molly and toggle bolts. Plastic hollow wall plug anchors require that you first drill a pilot hole. We bought anchors from Hillman because they’re relatively inexpensive and easy to find, but almost any toggle bolt will do the same job. Ron Hazelton answers all your questions and demonstrates How to Patch a Hole in Drywall. 267. TOGGLER 100-Pack Assorted Length 1/4-in dia Toggle Bolt Drywall Anchor (Screws Included) Item #790483. Known as “molly bolts” or simply “mollies,” these metal sleeve-type hollow wall … We tested the “Gorilla Grade” hooks from the 30 piece Home and Office Pack with weights hanging off the hook instead of trying to pull it away from the wall. MOLLY BOLTS. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The genius of this anchor is the way it clamps itself to the wall. There’s a small mark on the flange so you can make sure the toggle points up, maximizing the weight it can hold, but you shouldn’t over-tighten the anchor once it’s seated just to line that up. Threaded drywall anchors, for example, work great for medium and lightweight objects like picture frames. Toggles for Toggle Bolts. 962 threaded drywall anchors products are offered for sale by suppliers on Alibaba.com, of which screws accounts for 9%, anchors accounts for 4%, and bolts accounts for 1%. Some anchors also require making holes in your wall as big as 3/4″. Different screw sizes are available, but based on our tests the strength is going to be about the same. Self-drilling anchors like our top pick can technically go in with just a manual screwdriver, but if you had to put in a dozen anchors without a drill the hammer would save your wrists.Read more…. Then the toggle pulls tight against the inside of the wall as you thread the screw in.Read more…. How to Install Drywall Anchors. They don’t live up to the promise of excellent load bearing as well as we’d hoped, though. The threaded shank is screwed directly into the drywall so they don't need a premade hole to sink into the drywall. A small high-strength machine screw can still work with a larger bracket hole if you add a fender washer, but an oversize screw won’t go through a small hole unless you get out the drill. Join our newsletter to get notified of the best products available for your home. Some of the included varieties are: 22 pieces of plastic anchors, 4 pieces of augar anchors, 6 pieces of ¼-inch wall anchor hooks, 6 pieces of hollow door anchors, and a few other types of items. Drywall Anchors with Screws (25-Pack) E-Z Ancor Twist-N-Lock 50 Drywall Anchors E-Z Ancor Twist-N-Lock 50 Drywall Anchors with Screws (25-Pack) are great for hanging light fixtures, mirrors, clocks and picture frames in drywall. Installation type – If you’re handy with a screw gun, you probably won’t blink at pre-drilling holes, but you can save a lot of time with self-drilling anchors. PVC Tiles Are A Stunning Way to Hide Outdated Popcorn Ceilings, Facebook LIVE: How to Patch a Hole in the Wall, Top Questions to Ask When Hiring a Roofing Contractor, How to Put in a Garden or Greenhouse Window. The manufacturer rates the full shear strength of these anchors to 300 pounds in half-inch drywall. in 1/2 in. ProjectFarm on YouTube showed these anchors holding almost double their rated shear-force strength, and we’re glad we tried them. Most of us will probably want to punch the anchor through the wall or just paint over it rather than go through all that work. This is much like a traditional plug-style plastic anchor, but like the Toggler – SnapSku, it expands and resists being pulled out quite well. For even more load-bearing capacity, the WingIts – Master Anchor uses a set of three plastic legs to spread force evenly over a wide area. But a small nail isn’t very secure against earthquakes, and they start to slide in or wiggle after you remove a painting or clock and put it back a few times. Just because these anchors perform well in brand-new drywall under lab conditions doesn’t mean you should trust them completely in a random piece of old and potentially-damaged drywall in your house, but if you need an anchor that performs as well as possible, this is the one to beat. In our test, this anchor performed just as well as the SnapSkru when holding a shelf bracket under load, up to 55 pounds hanging off the end of the bracket.Read more…. You zip a small plastic flange into place — almost like tightening a zip-tie — and snap off the extra length of the straps. ML Nylon Plugs MNA Hammer Screw 304 Stainless Steel MNA Nylon Disc Countersunk T40 Nylon Frame Plug PA3500EX High Powered .27 Cal Fastening Tool PA3500EX Insulation Fastener Kit 1/4" Drive Pins Mickey Pins with washer.27 Caliber Safety Strip Load Trak-It® Charging Solutions Hex Head Zinc Yellow Passivated Flat Post Heads 316 Stainless Steel Countersunk Sleeve Anchors Tie Wire … This can make them a bit firmer and able to hold heavier objects. Hammer-in anchors are also an option, though pushing through the drywall backing paper can tear it and make a weak spot. Drywall Wall Anchors. The E-Z Ancor – Toggle Anchor is the best drywall anchor for most jobs, with easy self-drilling installation and enough support for moderately heavy loads. Install directly into a mounting surface to suspend threaded rod from ceilings and walls. Toggler designed these anchors for a single-use installation: After you make a half-inch hole, the toggle can be inserted through and leveled against the wall with long, plastic positioning straps. Twist-N-Lock 50 lbs. For example, this toilet paper holder right here, if you take a look over here, you'll see what happens. You shouldn’t have to pay more than 25 cents per anchor. Its unique, slim design allows the fastener to make a small hole that does not disrupt the consistency of the drywall. The real disappointment is in the weight test, though, with the anchor pulling out a small chunk of drywall at only 40 pounds of load on the shelf. Use one that will safely support the weight of the object to be suspended. If you have plastic anchors that are pulling out of the wall, well, now you know, what to do about it. The legs are flexible, so they also absorb more shock than other fasteners without slipping. We looked for recommendations from handyman blogs, forums, and publications like This Old House to narrow down what we were expecting from anchors we found. These anchors pierce the drywall (ideally with a sharp hammer blow) rather than boring through, and that makes them a little bit quicker and easier to install than anchors that require pre-drilling. Get Ron's videos and articles delivered to your inbox every weekend. Reply. #drywallanchors #drywall #diyforknuckleheads http://diyforknuckleheads.com Wall Anchors. As a matter of fact, you get up to 10 different types of anchors when you purchase this kit. Less than 10 lbs: plastic sleeve anchor; 10 to 25 lbs: self-drilling threaded drywall anchors; 25 to 50 lbs: Snaptoggle, molly bolts, or traditional toggle bolts We earn a commission when you purchase items through our links. Hollow Door and Drywall Anchors (50-Pack) are ideal for use in hollow core doors and drywall. )or Zip-It, this type of anchor is a basically a large, outside-threaded nut with a point on the end! Now a better choice for a hanging job like this would be something like this threaded anchor. These anchors are made of plastic or metal, and have a threaded shank. screws (included). Model #24200. © 2020 Your Best Digs - All rights reserved. Known by the trade names such as EZ-Ancor (not a typo!! for pricing and availability. Each clamp includes a bracket and square washer. No hole needs to be first created, as these anchors are simply screwed into place through the drywall. Be sure to check that out for all of the details. When multiple vendors made the same product, we picked the option with better reviews, a better price or better availability. There’s nothing between what you’re hanging and the wall surface, either, unless you add a washer. Wall-Dog™ Scru-Lead™ Legs® ... Threaded Studs, Rod Hangers & Assemblies. Then you need to use a utility knife under the flange and pry it away from the wall while you twist the anchor out. The Monkey Hook has this problem licked: The hook is even easier to install than a nail, and it’s much more secure. When you move out or decide to move whatever you’re hanging, there are two obstacles to removing this anchor. They also use bigger 1/4″ machine screws, which is a fairly common size that might be a better match for what you’re mounting. That’s better than a threaded zinc anchor or plastic plug, but this was the only anchor that couldn’t take 70% of the rated shear weight on our shelf bracket. are the next most common. You can drive them in by hand as I'm doing or by using a drill and bit driver. We tested a cast-zinc anchor that is supposed to help in situations where you might accidentally hit a stud, but it fared so poorly in testing (it held half the weight of pop-open plastic anchors) we didn’t include it in the final list. Plastic Hollow Wall Plug. Now it's just a matter of slipping the fixture back on the bracket and tightening the set screw. Ron Hazelton talks with Eddie Griffin, owner of Brown Roofing, and gives you the top questions to ask when hiring a roofing contractor. Support type – Pop-open anchors are easy to install and hold well compared to drywall alone, but if you want to hold up a shelf you need an anchor that spreads the weight out. If you prefer to pre-drill a hole rather than using a self-drilling anchor, but you don’t need something as complicated as the WingIts or Snap-Toggle anchors, the Hillman – Sharkie is a good pick. Clamps are zinc-plated steel for good corrosion resistance. Drywall anchors might be small, but they are one of the only reliable ways to mount drywall panels into position. 100PCs Plastic Self-Drilling Drywall Anchors,#8 Threaded Wall Anchors and Screws Kit, 50 Self-Tapping Anchors + 50#8 x 1-1/4'' Screws, Holding Up to 50 Pounds for Hanging and Mounting. To hang a picture, just push the sharpened tip through the wall a quarter-inch above where you want your hook. But many of us need a way to mount in a specific location without the support of a wooden stud, and few of us can add a brace just for decorating. In addition to the original size and Gorilla Grade hooks, this package also has ten hooks that sit closer to the wall for tricky items that need to be as flush as possible. Quickly and Easily Hide Popcorn Ceilings with PVC Tiles. Threaded Drywall Anchors. The manufacturer rates these for a full 100 pounds of shear load (straight down to the floor instead of out from the wall). Your Best Digs saves you time and money with reviews of the products you need. Use a toggle anchor to hang a plant or mobile from a drywall … $9.99 $ 9. Once the threaded drywall anchor is in place, insert a screw to hang the item and the job is done. Metal (3) Metal is an extremely hard material and can include stainless steel, carbon steel and alloy steel. Screw size – If you’ve got a particular bracket you need to bolt to the wall, note the size of the holes and compare your options. They offer a holding strength of up to 40 lbs. The E-Z Ancor toggle design held quite well, up to 70 pounds of load on a shelf 10 inches from the wall. We wrote a pretty thorough article on how to install drywall anchors. Not everyone is in a position to do a project themselves. He emigrated from Canada to California in 2013, and now writes for Your Best Digs full-time. Hollow Door and Drywall Anchors E-Z Ancor 1 in. Threaded rod anchors for drywall are ideal for light-duty applications. A flip-down toggle bar is threaded to accept the included #8 machine screw. Plastic anchors like this come packaged with a lot of accessories, but I don't like them for certain types of fixtures. Install with only a #2 Philips screwdriver and #6 x 1-1/4 in. This page contains pictures, descriptions, and load ratings for the most commonly available wall anchors for drywall, plaster, and masonry, including solid and hollow walls and ceilings. Monkey Hooks are fairly expensive compared to other fasteners, but they’re so easy to use it’s worth keeping some around for those times when you have a sudden need to put up a landscape painting or a new clock. No pre-drilling is necessary in drywall - anchors screw directly into wall and will not break if they hit a stud. If you need a less-expensive anchor that’s only going to hold up a decorative shelf, the Toggler – SnapSkru self-drilling plastic anchors are a good compromise between economy and strength. ProjectFarm’s channel on YouTube has an admirable dedication to thorough testing of products like these, so we were eager to check well-reviewed products they didn’t test and to verify their results. We bought anchors from Hillman because they’re relatively inexpensive and easy to find, but almost any toggle bolt will do the same job. The Threaded Drywall Anchors is injection molded of engineered plastic or long lasting Zamak. Once the anchor is firmly in place, I reattach the bracket, using pan head screws. The bigger-gauge hook started to dig down into our fresh sample drywall at 55 pounds.Read more…. As you push the screw through the center of the anchor, it pops the toggle out. Nate Mullin January 19, 2017 at 3:46 pm. Expansion Anchor: Solid wall expansion anchors are intended for use in concrete, brick, marble and other stone. We tested with a shelf bracket, loaded so weight will pry the anchor out of the wall. A threaded insert, on the other hand, can handle a heavier load and will perform better especially when used to mount bathroom fixtures such as towel bars, soap dishes and toilet paper holders. If you need maximum strength, the Wing-Its – Master Anchor will hold fast until you pull your wall apart, and Monkey Hooks are great for decorating. The Arrow Drywall Anchor All-in … These anchors are driven into a pre–drilled hole the same size as the anchor. Threaded Drywall Anchor also goes by the name of EZ-Ancor, Wallboard and Zip-It trade names. Depending on the type of anchor these can hold 30 to 90 lbs. Plasterboard Wall Anchors. Every handyman has different preferences for fasteners, and drywall anchors see a lot of debate. Hole and flange size – If you’ve got the world’s strongest anchor but it leaves an ugly plastic flange sticking out past the edge of your shelf bracket, it’s not much help. These clamps are commonly used to suspend HVAC, conveyor, and other overhead systems. If you would prefer to use smaller bolts, the BA size Snap-Toggle uses 3/16-24 bolts and only really gives up some theoretical tensile strength; your drywall is still the weak link. This mechanism is often used specifically for mounting lightweight decorative items overhead, things like ceiling lights. The manufacturer suggests this makes them good to use after you’ve tried other anchors and had a small blow-out, but our experience was that it mainly just took slightly longer to ream out a 3/4″ hole — many basic drill kits don’t have bigger than a 3/8″ bit. If you have thin drywall or need to mount something to a hollow core doors, however, these solutions are untenable. The constant pulling on this causes these to pull right out of the wall. Nearly everyone has seen the plastic plug anchors that you often get for free with wall brackets, but spring-toggle anchors like these from Hillman are the next most common. Our test load was 55 pounds before the anchor wings collapsed and it popped out of the hole.Read more…. Use drywall hangers, plug anchors and conical anchors to hang framed artwork and documents, mirrors and other room decor on wallboard walls. If you’re looking to get … Drywall Anchor kit - Hollow Wall Anchors with Screws ，self-Drilling Hollow Wall Anchor, for Drywall，Nylon - Plastic - Buildex，all-100 pcs (Anchor 50+Screw 50) 4.3 out of 5 stars 594 $11.99 99. For the simplest installation that still has good strength, it’s hard to beat the E-Z Ancor – 25220 Drywall Toggle Anchor. The real disappointment is in the weight test, though, with the anchor pulling out a small chunk of drywall at only 40 pounds of load on the shelf. All of these drywall anchors achieve the same basic result. … ARROW 160455 Drywall Drill Bit Screw and Anchor 142-piece Kit. A conventional plastic anchor, like the one on the left, can work well in tile, plaster or concrete, but it has limited holding power in drywall. Well, there you go. TOGGLER 100-Pack Assorted Length 3/16-in dia Toggle Bolt Drywall Anchor … There’s a mark so you know which side the anchor leg will pop up on. Daniel is a Canadian farm boy who grew up to be a nerd with a literature degree and too many hobbies to count. We do extensive research and hands-on testing, so you can trust the products we recommend. If you want all the load-bearing strength you can get, but the one-inch flange on the WingIts anchors is too big, the Toggler – Snap-Toggle BB anchor might be just what you’re looking for. The Hillman Group Toggle Bolt. The design is similar to an old-fashioned toggle anchor, but the plastic straps position the support perfectly and keep it tight, so there’s less chance of the anchor digging a corner into the paper and weakening the wall. Toggle Anchors for Drywall, Plaster, and Wood Paneling. A secure way to hang threaded rod from a pair of angles, such as those used in ceiling joists, without the need to drill or weld. I used a 1/4 inch drill to open the hole in the drywall and then used the threaded anchors above (I was planning to use other anchors but changed my mind last minute). For the sake of brevity, we’ll stick with some of the more common types. Reusable designs – Some anchors will pop out of the wall easily when you remove the screw, but others will require prying or even poking around with wire inside the screw hole to straighten the flip-out anchor so you can pull it out. Threaded drywall anchors are available in both nylon and metal.