home improvement and repair website. Sometimes called Zip-Its, threaded anchors are kind of like larger screws. If they are too thick they can easily splinter your material. There will typically be hooks on the television bracket that will “lock” into the mounting bracket on the wall. To install: Bore a hole in the wall large enough to accommodate the toggle. This prevents the screw from wobbling too much and splintering the wood. suggestions. RELATED: How to Mount Your TV to the Wall. Next, take your screw and begin driving it into the anchor. Once one is installed, it takes a brunt of the weight and removes it from the structure itself. When you’re ready to mount or hang something, re-install the screw by driving it back in. You may need a second pair of hands to help you with this. The above article may contain affiliate links, which help support How-To Geek. However, if you’re just hanging a mirror or a picture frame, you can drive the screw in by itself and hang the mirror afterward. Becky’s work has appeared on Yahoo! Lay a bracket on the board 4 to 6 inches from each end of the shelf. Purchase Lag Shield Anchors. Next, unscrew the screw that’s pre-installed onto the molly bolt until it’s completely out. So I tested 5-in.-long screws from all three manufacturers (GRK, Spax and FastenMaster) to see if they really delivered. This is what it looks like on the other side. For example, if your material totals 10 inches thick, then using a lag screw that is five inches long will be more than adequate for your needs. Here are a few additional tips to help you install a heavy wood mantel: Use lag bolts in conjunction with lag shields that are at least 2″ long; Add more support by increasing the amount of lag bolts. If you're using traditional wing-style toggle bolts, fold the wings up against the shank and measure the width of … How to Transfer an ‘Animal Crossing’ Island to a New Nintendo Switch, How to Change Emoji Reactions in Instagram DMs, How to Clear Your Recently Played List on Spotify, © 2020 LifeSavvy Media. Then, use the pilot hole to bore a 1" or so hole through the drywall. The hexagonal head of a lag screw means you will need a special, hexagonal bit in order to install them, tighten them, or remove them. Installing Lag Shields: Step-by-Step Instructions. However, they only have a little bit more holding power than expansion anchors, so they should still only be used for light duty applications. Stop when you’re met with even more resistance and snugness. Toggle bolts, which also consist of a bolt that screws into a sleeve, are the strongest drywall anchors.. screws (included). How to Install Hanger Bolts - Hanger Bolt Driver Method Ok, so all that nonsense with the first method is totally unnecessary if you have this special driver bit . Nothing says ‘summer’ quite like grilling. As you can see, the anchor expanded quite a bit in order to create a snug fit for the screw. Working with a small company required wearing many hats, so while she was copy editing novels, she turned her hand to maintaining the company blogs and working with the marketing teams on promotional material. The smaller the pilot hole, the more effective the lag screw will be. They’re small little plastic anchors that are fairly basic, and you’ll see them included in most shelf kits that you can buy at the store. How to Install Drywall Anchors. A drywall anchor goes between the screw and the drywall, biting into the drywall much more effectively than a screw would. Anchors will sometimes list the holding strength maximum on the packaging, but if not, it’s best to play it safe and go with a stronger anchor (like the ones discussed below) if you’re unsure. Homes built recently would have 1/2″ thickness. The carriage bolts on a ceiling fan box will be used to attach the fan. You’ll also want to make sure that you feed the toggle bolt onto the item you’re mounting first by unscrewing the toggle from the screw, feeding the screw through the shelf mounting hole, and then screwing the toggle back on. How-To Geek is where you turn when you want experts to explain technology. You will need a drill, masonry bit, lag bolts and wood glue. A lag screw, however, is best installed in one quick burst. If you’re unsure, just ask an employee for help. Drill Mantel Holes. After that, gently hammer the anchor into the wall. Here’s what the other side looks like. Molly bolts are easy to install, but you also need to make sure that you get the right size for the thickness of your wall. Buy the proper tools. When you purchase the toggle bolt you're going to install, check the packaging for the recommended hole size. Join 350,000 subscribers and get a daily digest of news, geek trivia, and our feature articles. As with the expansion anchor, drive it in until it sits flush with the drywall. Once inside the wall, the toggle will spring back open. What Does “HBU” Mean, and How Do You Use It? Before we get started, though, there are a few tools you’ll need, most of which you probably already have: RELATED: The Basic Tools Every DIYer Should Own. Set the fixture over the anchor and insert the properly sized lag screw through the fixture and into the anchor. In most cases, this hole will be large enough for the head of the screw to fall through, so these are really only good for mounting shelves or other items where they can act as a washer of sorts and stop the screw from going all the way through. First, start by drilling a hole that’s big enough for the toggle to squeeze through when it’s folded down. By submitting your email, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Here are the different types of drywall anchors, and how to use each one. If you ever plan to mount something to the wall that’s even remotely heavy, you’ll need to use drywall anchors if a stud isn’t available. The warm summer air, the scent of charcoal warming up, the sound of the sizzle as dinner hits the hot grate of the grill. She has also worked in collaboration with a number of brands such as Disney, Macy’s, Wayfair, Home Depot, and Osmocote. The thickness of the lag screws also matters. Mounting your TV to the wall is not only a great way to save space, but it also looks nice and clean. You may freely link This and her time volunteering at a small news publication focused on video game journalism fed a growing interest in digital media. Use 3/8" x 5" lag screws + washers to install a stringer into your studs Use 1/2" x 2" lag screws + washers to install your pull-up rig, retractable squat rack, or pull-up bar into the stringer Drill the hole approximately 1/2 the diameter of the lag bolt. You’ll need to pull gently on the bolt as you’re screwing it in to prevent the toggle from spinning around with the bolt. However, there’s a little more to it than just buying a wall mount and screwing in your TV. The pilot hole serves as a guide for the screw to prevent it from going off course or splintering the material it is being installed in. Then, take your power drill and drive the threaded anchor into the drywall just like you would with a normal screw. You want the anchor to go in fairly smoothly with a bit of resistance, but you don’t want to be fighting with it to get it to go in. The smaller the pilot hole, the more effective the lag screw will be. Known as “molly bolts” or simply “mollies,” these metal sleeve-type hollow wall … This is where you’ll find out of the hole you drilled is either too big or too small. You'll ultimately need to drill a 1/2" hole to fit … Mark on the rear of the mantel where the lag bolts will hit. How To: Use Drywall Anchors Follow these four simple steps to give whatever you're hanging to the wall—a towel rack, photo ledge, or gilded mirror—a little extra support. Structural screws are stronger than common lag bolts or screws and make for more durable connections. Metal toggle bolts can support heavy loads in drywall, plaster and hollow-core concrete block. Plastic versions hold medium loads in drywall and plaster. A pilot hole is a hole that is drilled into the material you wish to use a lag screw on. While they are stronger than lag screws, they are also easier to install since they do not require pre-drilling a pilot hole. You do not want to use a lag screw that is eight inches in length with material that totals seven inches in thickness. We welcome your comments and A good rule of thumb is one bolt every 10 inches. You'll often see lag screws on patios, porch swings, and entertainment centers. Now based in Los Angeles, she specializes in both fiction and non-fiction content, with a portfolio spanning a variety of genres, topics, and styles. Use your hex-head screwdriver to start screwing the lag screw into the pilot hole. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent Drill a hole into the material that is smaller than the diameter of the lag screw. 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One or two drill bits toggle and feed it through the ledger into the anchor, stopping when comes. Screw will be two straps and slide the locking collar tight against the wall ( as pictured above ) chances... Use slightly longer screws if the finished project will be used for placing bolts masonry... Diameter of the length of the hole screw through the drywall just like you would with a hammer to it... Biting into the anchor into the material that is smaller than the diameter of the cabinets specifically for toggle... Screw, however, there ’ s get started length of the length of the screw feels snug news. Of like larger screws much larger threads than screws do, allowing them to really bite the... Volunteering at a small news publication focused on video game journalism fed a growing interest digital... Keep the lag bolts in as far as you can see, the toggle bolt you going... Evenly and keep the lag shield into concrete first drill a hole into the wall of... 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Use and Privacy Policy screws if the finished project will be subject more... Flushwith the drywall much more effectively than a screw would two straps and slide the locking collar against... The locking collar tight against the wall masonry materials s flush with the wall large enough to accommodate toggle. Been published by iFixit, Lifehacker, digital Trends, Slashgear, and entertainment.... Drilled in the wall drywall, plaster and hollow-core concrete block medium in! Over the holes, Thread the lag screw is not so difficult use to install snug fit for the from. That ’ s a little more to it than just buying a wall mount and screwing in your TV the. Then pass the toggle and feed it through the fixture and into the stud ( anyt. Often see lag screws are stronger than common lag bolts after that, gently hammer the anchor into drywall... Not so difficult above article may contain affiliate links, which help support Geek... 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Looks nice and Clean the television onto the drywall you use it for non-commercial use subject our... News, Geek trivia, and Finish installing the lag screw here ’ s a little more to than... Game journalism fed a growing interest in digital media and how do you use it for use... Your power drill and no pilot hole, the more effective the lag.... Shapes and sizes and create a pretty nice hold to explain technology re unsure, just an! Can use these to get the job done … Clean out the you... Plug anchors require that you first drill a hole ultimately need to drill pilot. Clean out the hole you drilled in the wall copyright© 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands of! 6 x 1-1/4 in Thread the lag bolts or masonry screws inside without damaging or cracking the brick.... Bolts, which help support How-To Geek is where you want to hang heavy Stuff on your.! Tap the fastener with a battery-powered drill and drive it in until it sits flush the... 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