I’m going to be fastening some heavy duty shelf standards to a wall with metal studs under a layer of sheetrock. I’m using ten six foot standards spread out over twelve feet on sixteen inch centers. I’m just wondering if there is a specific type of screw that would work well in the metal studs. I’ve gone to the local fastener specialty store, Tacoma Screw and they have shown me some fine threaded, self tapping screws for metal. I just wanted to make sure that there isn’t some special type of fastener that I haven’t seen. There will be boxes filled with paper on these shelves, so I want them to stay put on the wall.
Thanks-
Ralf
Replies
Ralf... it really depends on the gauge of the stud... if it's 25ga it doesn't have a ton of hold'n power... but if it's 20ga it does... and chances are it's not 20ga... for 25ga you will not need and should not use self drilling screws.. they remove material ie: drill a hole to thread themself into.... a fine thread screw with a point will make it's own hole without remove'n material and will pull up tighter... DO NOT over tighten just pull snug... I'd use every hole in the standard and HOPE it all held... the depth of the shelf should be as small as you can live with... you do not need extra leverage pull'n on your screws... for the top screw you might even consider some type fastner that you'd drill a hole through the drywall & stud and expands behind the stud flange and leaves you a threaded hole to screw into...
I don't know the gauge of the studs. I did drill a test hole or two into one of thes tuds and it seemed like it took more force than I had experienced before in drilling into metal studs. I can't get reliable information about the studs. I was told by the person who oversaw the work five years ago that the studs were 24" on center. But they are 16" on center, which is better. But the accuracy of the information was not real high. So are you talking about a toggle bolt for those top holes? Or is there something a bit more "elegant" that I could use? I don't really like toggle bolts. They seem sort of funky. But they do work well for getting a strong connection.Thanks for the info-Ralf
Just put a 1 1/4" fine thread d.w. screw in every place you can in the standards.
It'll be fine.If anybody ever said
That I give a damn,
Well they damn sure told you wrong.
I've had ramblin' fever all along.
- Merle Haggard
are you talking about a toggle bolt ... NO and i don't know what they are called but the fastner i'm refer'n to comes with the screw in a metal sleeve type cage the whole thing does into a predrilled hole where you tighten the screw which flattens the sleeve/gage against the back of the stud and then lets you remove the screw leaving a threaded hole in the wall... you can use these in just drywall but they work great hit'n metal studs makes the hole stud a "washer" in effect... I'm sure someone here will have the name for these...
pony
if it's a 20ga stud you'd prob be ok with a selfdrilling screw
That's a Molly bolt, Molly being the trademark for the original brand of these.
We use these togglers if I am expecting a really heavy load. I drill them thru the metal stud and use th 1/4" bolts thru the standards. http://www.toggler.com/toggle.htmlThey are intended to support a heavy load in sheetrock but they are amazingly strong if installed in the studs themselves.
Welcome ralf,
Just use the (probably drill point screws) tacoma screw recomended! Attaching to metal studs is easy with the drill point screws...just set the torque so ya don't spin out the threads.
Peace