Fasteners for Hanging Objects on Plaster Walls
Lightweight Objects or Pictures
Very lightweight objects can be supported with a
piece of tape. The wall must be smooth, clean and
dry. The glue is affected by humidity and may let loose so
do not hang anything that will break with this kind of
fastener.
Objects with a wide variety of weight can be
supported by a metal hook on a long, tapered nail driven
at an angle into the plaster. These come in
packages of three or four and in different sizes depending
on the weight supported.
Medium Weight Objects
Some kind of insert, plastic, fiber, wood, or lead
can be used with a sheet metal screw. Drill a hole
just large enough to be able to tap the insert into the
hole. Tap the insert into the hole until it is flush with
the surface. Turn a sheet metal or wood screw into the
insert. Usually these inserts come packaged with the
right size screw for the particular insert. It will also
tell you what size hole to drill.
Heavy Objects
Heavier objects can be supported with a molly bolt
or toggle bolt.
Drill a hole through the wall to fit the size of
molly bolt --be sure not to get the hole too big or
you may have difficulty turning the bolt without having
the connector turn. If the only drill is too small, use a
small screwdriver, knife, or other object to ream out the
hole until the fastener will slide in snugly. Push it in
and turn the bolt clockwise until it feels tight. Now
the fastener has expanded and should stay tight. Remove
the bolt and attach the object screwing the bolt in
tight. Do not over tighten or you may pull the fastener
loose. Remember plaster is soft.
A toggle bolt can be used similar to a molly bolt
but with less care taken when installing. Select a bolt
long enough to include the object plus the wall plus the
length of the toggle then folded up.
Drill a hole through the wall. If you do not have a
drill: Drive a nail through the wall. Wiggle it until it
comes loose and you can pull it out. Put a small
screwdriver, knife, or piece of metal into the hole and
carefully enlarge until the toggle will slide through.
Assemble the object on the bolt and push the toggle into
the hole until you can feel it spring open. (Now you
cannot remove the bolt without losing the toggle in the
wall). Tighten by turning clockwise.
A toggle bolt should be used where the object will
be drawn up tight to the wall because the hole must
large enough to receive the toggle. The object should be
large enough to cover the large hole that is necessary.