Which plasterboard fixing

Andrew May scribbled...

I've never had a problem with either of these

Fischer Plasterboard Plug LDF 4mm - code 81956 Fischer Plasterboard Plugs HDF 4mm - code 58219

Both available from Screwfix

Half the price of the Spit Driva TP12 Panhead Metal which can make a mess of the plasterboard.

I've tried both of those but they hold fast by virtue of the screw being tightened against the wall. Can't do that for these shelves.

Oddly the very pasting of the link may have solved the problem. The linked page also shows these:

Has anyone any experience of them?

I've used these a lot - ideally you need a tool to fix them firmly, but we've got all our clothes hanging on them in our walk in wardrobe.

John

Yes excellent things, it may seem rash but get the setting tool as well it makes their use so much easier!

Avpx

I've used them regularly - they will solve your problem but it's worth buying or making a pulling tool to "set" them - if you do it by tightening the screw then the body turns and fails to lock into the wall. Aldi had a setting tool in a box of wall anchors recently - less than £10

Hollow wall anchors, inserted with the setting tool:

Basically once the sleeve is expanded, its locked in place and the bolt can be set at any position.

Not the end of the world, because the fixings usually provided are cheese bin-fodder anyway...

Mmm. I used to have one of those self-same shelves in the office, on a plasterboard wall. It was _laden_ with reasonably heavy guff for three- four years, and never moved a millimetre. BUT... it didn't fit in the way you describe... There was a steel plate which screwed solidly to the wall, with steel "prongs" protruding, which the "wood" slid over from the front, and was secured into the bottom.

The assembly PDF on Ikea's website shows that as still being the case.

The ones I've had from Unifix have a setting tool with them, but I've made my own because it works better. You have to be careful not to overtighten these fixings. In plasterboard I would not hang a great amount of weight on them. The hole has to be exactly the right size.

Bill

Whereas I much prefer the TP12 metal fixings. I've never found any issue wi th them but then I do always drill a pilot hole as a matter of course so pe rhaps that's the key.

In the OP's instance however I'd echo the recommendation to use hollow wall anchors - they're about as a strong a board fixing as you'll get. Whilst I wouldn't necessarily the application I've seen them holding up heavy kitch en cupboards and radiators before.

Mathew

I think that is the case for the larger shelves. These are no more than

Beat me to it, saw in Aldi Hexham maybe a fortnight ago and Carlisle today, already have one so didn't note the prices but it's in the order of £10 to £20. Setting tool may not be the best particulary with the smallest anchors as the heads on the screws are only just bigger than the slot in the tool. Does the job though and you get a range of anchor sizes.

Seconded for the wall anchors but, IME, it is best to equip yourself with a variety of fixings to meet different circumstances. In particular, if the gap behind the plasterboard is small the wall anchors cannot be inserted far enough to work. This can be because the board is too close to the blockwork behind it, or you happen to have hit a stud or blob of plaster behind the board. Judicious tapping or drilling a small pilot hole to check may help. Sod's law says it doesn't.

Chris K

ALDI have a pack of fixings including the tool for £9:99 at the moment.

The ALDI setting tool is better than the one I got from Screwfix - which broke.

I've used wall anchors on dot n dab walls. Trick is to drill the hole deep enough.

echo ... echo ... echo ;-)

Ah, but you said "had [...] recently" TMH said "have [...] at the moment".

Anyway the setting tool is available all year round for £7.75 from toolsatan with fixings around the £1-3 mark depending on size required.