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?

3 comments

3 Comments

patriciar492mo ago

Plaster or drywall behind the lath?

parker2242mo ago

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.

nora_park721mo ago

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.