\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. I think far to many people are assuming everybody uses plasterboard/drywall everywhere that wall looks far more like there's going to be brick or block behind it; in which case the answer would be far different [double-depth hole & longer screw to reach a rawl plug in the harder substrate]. The anchor is corrosion resistant, and a pre-drilled hole is required. However, if a bolt is too large it can look unsightly. hammer it and break the the part that's sticking out. Use a drill bit with that diameter. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Some molly bolts have teeth on the head that dig into the drywall, so make sure that you hammer it in all the way so that these teeth can do their job. You only have one chance to use a toggle bolt. Some molly bolts have a pointed tip so theyre easier to push into your wall. Be careful not to apply so much pressure that you damage your work surface. Toggle bolts can be quite awkward to install, particularly if you need a lot of them all at once. The anchor will expand as the screw goes in and will grip the sides of the hole in the wood. @J Yeah I'm not totally clear on what 'plaster board' is exactly. Thats when you hear it. This one has four legs which fold out inside the wall when the screw is tightened. Unlike regular screws where you place pressure on the head as you drive it in, toggle bolts require you to initiallypullon the bolt while tightening the screw. Hanging shelves is easier when you work with a friend. Here are some better designs of plasterboard anchor (drywall / sheet rock / gibralter board). wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. When you are installing anything on drywall, you need to find studs to screw into. Some drills have a bubble level on the end to help keep everything straight, or you can just balance one on top like this. This is a very common problem people encounter with toggle bolts. Once they are dry, the hole is a bit closer to a solid piece of wood and a screw can grip it more firmly. As it tightens, the bolt will pull the item towards the wall and form a strong anchor. Looking at your hole though, I suspect you may just want a larger diameter. If you're mounting a shelf or tv bracket, make sure the threads of the screw can fit through the hole in the bracket AND that the screw head is big enough so it doesn't slip through. Toggle bolts are wall anchors made for hollow walls, such as drywall and plaster. Interior walls made of drywall are hollow beyond the first 1/2 or 5/8 inch. Generally, the hole in the bracket should be 1 or 2 mm larger than the diameter of the screw. Avoid where possible. 3. your cross-bore is NOT 2.125" that is the doorknob hole. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Good enough to get the panel back in place but I would not use this technique for anything weight bearing. Shut the pair of wings. My goal is to teach people how to fix up their homes and furnish them with custom woodworking projects that are perfect for their space. Youll have to channel your inner Houdini to get the spinning bolt out- youll have to pry it out, twisting it simultaneously. Screw in the butterfly toggles on the other side of the item. Make sure to insert the screws so they're straight. It combines a Seagate IronWolf Pro 7200 rpm SATA 3.5" hard drive that delivers data transfer speeds of up to 240 MB/s with two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a USB 3.0 Type-A port, a DisplayPort 1.4 output for 4K video, and SD and CompactFlash card slots. I tried fitting the bolt from both directions. 7 April 2021. If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission. First, loosen it most of the way, then use a flashlight to look through the hole to see the wings. With the process out of the way, lets take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions about this type of fastener. Toggle bolts get their name from the folding toggle that acts as the anchor. Why? (Your hardware store will have various kinds, but the simple plastic ones usually work fine for light loads.) Pinch the wings together with your fingers and then push them through the hole. Though installing a toggle bolt is simple, installing it wellso that it holds firmly for a long timerequires a little practice and some know-how. Once they're through the hole, the wings spring open on the other side. Screw in the butterfly toggles on the other side of the item. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. So what do you do? Discard or reuse the bolt for other applications. Johnathan C. Brewer II is a licensed general contractor specializing in kitchen, bath remodels, and general constructionwith two decades of professional experience. You can learn more about how to use a stud finder here. The two types of toggle bolts are the wing style and the strap style, which features a solid support bar that makes it easier to install. This is how you would mount the brackets for these DIY closet shelves without a stud in the wall. Hold the brackets up to the wall, aligning the screw holes with the toggles. If bolts didnt loosen you wouldnt even be in this long drawn out predicament! If you do have a stud, you could simply use a long heavy-duty screw to attach your object to the wall. As strange as this might sound, provided there's a stud back there, you can use toothpicks to fill in the hole. Metal toggle bolts can support heavy loads in drywall, plaster and hollow-core concrete block. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. If the particular hole in question try inserting an anchor first. Meanwhile, a 1/2-inch bolt can secure up to 65 or 70 pounds in 3/8-inch thick wallboard or up to 100 or 105 pounds in 3/4-inch thick wallboard. You want the screw to slightly protrude out the back of the component. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Not a bolt, but a screw. @vikingsteve Which #3? I got some toggle bolts at the hardware store, and they very clearly said that I needed a 1/2" hole. Use wall anchors that can support the full weight of your shelf and the items youre putting on it, or else you could damage your walls. Stop turning the bolts once you feel resistance. In fact, even brand new drill bits may sometimes need to be sharpened if there are any manufacturing defects. They are also known as wall plugs or rawl plugs. When buying toggle bolts, pay attention to the bolt diameter, bolt length, and the required drill hole size.