My attempt to build a floating shelf in my Phoenix apartment last month ended with a hole in the drywall and my cat staring at me. | DIY Gone Wrong - Rigidtalk
My attempt to build a floating shelf in my Phoenix apartment last month ended with a hole in the drywall and my cat staring at me.
I was so sure the anchors were rated for 50 pounds, but the whole thing came down at 3 AM with a crash that sounded like a car wreck, and now I'm looking at a $200 repair bill, so has anyone actually had luck with those toggle bolts in old plaster walls?
Toggle bolts are the only thing that works in my 1950s plaster nightmare. I tried those plastic anchors first, total waste of money. The key is you need a drill bit that can actually get through the lath, otherwise you just make a bigger mess. I have a shelf holding my record player that's been up for two years now, no problem. Just make sure you get the bolt size right for the weight.
Remember my friend who tried to hang a heavy mirror in her old plaster place? She used those cheap plastic anchors and the whole thing came crashing down, took a huge chunk of wall with it. She should have listened to someone like @parker224 right from the start. Had to patch a massive hole before she finally got the right toggle bolts.