Drywall Anchors
By: Amanda Campbell
Updated: March 2, 2011
Hanging shelves or fixtures can give you plenty of extra space in your house. But finding just the right spot can be tricky when you have to worry about damaging your drywall. If you need to hang something on a wall and there isn't a stud, there is an easy way to hang just about anything. The piece of hardware you need has the somewhat dry name of "Hollow Wall Anchor or Drywall Anchor."
You can pick up drywall anchors at your local hardware store or home center. Drywall anchors come in various strengths with the capabilities of holding anywhere from 20 to 60 pounds or even more.
In most cases, especially if the drywall anchors are “self-drilling” you will need a drill with a Phillips head bit and/or a Phillips head screwdriver. With a screwdriver you will need to press the tip of the anchor into the drywall. Turn it clockwise until it is flush with the wall. Then place the screw through the fixture and attach it to the wall.
You can hang a picture, towel rack, or even shelves without worrying about the screw coming out of the drywall and whatever is hanging there to come crashing to the floor.
Here are some more Quick Tips we found for you concerning drywall anchors. And never be afraid to ash questions from your local hardware dealer.
Installing Drywall Anchors
The basic types are:
• Plastic Anchors
• Drive and Drill point Anchors
• Toggle Bolts.
Plastic Anchors:
Plastic anchors are the easiest to install of all the anchors. All you have to do is drill a hole that is smaller than the anchor and drive the anchor in. Then you screw the included screw into the plastic anchor. Plastic anchors can hold the least amount of weight of the four types.
Drill Point Anchors:
Drill Point anchors, like the plastic anchors, require that you drill a hole in the wall. These anchors are a step up in complexity. There are different anchors for different wall thickness.
You simply drill a hole that is a bit smaller than the diameter of the anchor and insert the anchor into the hole. Make sure that the anchor is all the way flush with the wall so that the little teeth on the anchor are into the wall. After the anchor is seated, simply take a screwdriver and turn the screw in the anchor until the anchor is tight. When you do this, the part of the anchor in the wall will mushroom and hold the anchor tight. After the anchor is tight, you can take the screw out (or just back it out) and hang whatever it is you need to hang.
Drive Point Anchors:
Drive Point anchors, unlike the plastic anchors don't require that you drill a hole in the wall (however, it isn't a bad idea). Similar to the drill point anchors there are different anchors for different wall thickness. All you do is drive the anchor through the wall and then turn the screw in the anchor until the anchor is tight. (It seems like you get better results if you drill at least a pilot hole first.) When you do this, the part of the anchor in the wall will mushroom and hold the anchor tight. After the screw is tight, you can take the screw out (or just back it out) and hang whatever it is you need to hang.
Toggle Bolts:
Toggle bolts are the strongest of the four types. They require that you drill a hole large enough to fit the toggle through the wall. Then you push the toggle through and screw the toggle down tight. The only tricky thing is to put the hanger (or whatever it is) onto the screw before you put the toggle through the wall. You can't unscrew a toggle bolt after you have inserted it into the wall.
You can pick up drywall anchors at your local hardware store or home center. Drywall anchors come in various strengths with the capabilities of holding anywhere from 20 to 60 pounds or even more.
In most cases, especially if the drywall anchors are “self-drilling” you will need a drill with a Phillips head bit and/or a Phillips head screwdriver. With a screwdriver you will need to press the tip of the anchor into the drywall. Turn it clockwise until it is flush with the wall. Then place the screw through the fixture and attach it to the wall.
You can hang a picture, towel rack, or even shelves without worrying about the screw coming out of the drywall and whatever is hanging there to come crashing to the floor.
Here are some more Quick Tips we found for you concerning drywall anchors. And never be afraid to ash questions from your local hardware dealer.
Installing Drywall Anchors
The basic types are:
• Plastic Anchors
• Drive and Drill point Anchors
• Toggle Bolts.
Plastic Anchors:
Plastic anchors are the easiest to install of all the anchors. All you have to do is drill a hole that is smaller than the anchor and drive the anchor in. Then you screw the included screw into the plastic anchor. Plastic anchors can hold the least amount of weight of the four types.
Drill Point Anchors:
Drill Point anchors, like the plastic anchors, require that you drill a hole in the wall. These anchors are a step up in complexity. There are different anchors for different wall thickness.
You simply drill a hole that is a bit smaller than the diameter of the anchor and insert the anchor into the hole. Make sure that the anchor is all the way flush with the wall so that the little teeth on the anchor are into the wall. After the anchor is seated, simply take a screwdriver and turn the screw in the anchor until the anchor is tight. When you do this, the part of the anchor in the wall will mushroom and hold the anchor tight. After the anchor is tight, you can take the screw out (or just back it out) and hang whatever it is you need to hang.
Drive Point Anchors:
Drive Point anchors, unlike the plastic anchors don't require that you drill a hole in the wall (however, it isn't a bad idea). Similar to the drill point anchors there are different anchors for different wall thickness. All you do is drive the anchor through the wall and then turn the screw in the anchor until the anchor is tight. (It seems like you get better results if you drill at least a pilot hole first.) When you do this, the part of the anchor in the wall will mushroom and hold the anchor tight. After the screw is tight, you can take the screw out (or just back it out) and hang whatever it is you need to hang.
Toggle Bolts:
Toggle bolts are the strongest of the four types. They require that you drill a hole large enough to fit the toggle through the wall. Then you push the toggle through and screw the toggle down tight. The only tricky thing is to put the hanger (or whatever it is) onto the screw before you put the toggle through the wall. You can't unscrew a toggle bolt after you have inserted it into the wall.
