Forum
« Ellis Bar, Tonight at 6pm! Toxicity Problems on Properties »
August 6, 2009
Mounting on Plaster Wall?
I want to mount a guitar hook (it has a triangular bracket with 3 machine screws) on a plaster wall with lath on top of brick. What kind of anchor should I use?
(It comes with plastic anchors for drywall but I know from experience that those don't work well on this type of wall.)
Comments
There are a couple of possibilities - more & less invasive. It depends on how heavy a load you want it to bear.
Posted by: Arkady at August 5, 2009 5:01 PM
The hanger is intended for a classical guitar, about 6-7 pounds. I wrote the manufacturer and they recommended drilling a small starter hole and then screwing the screws directly into the plaster/lath without an anchor. Any reason I shouldn't try that?
thanks
Posted by: mmadden at August 5, 2009 5:27 PM
If it's wood lath [like in most brownstones], the manufacturers recommendation should work fine unless your drilled pilot hole falls into a gap between the slats. If the holes go through the wood lath you'll be able to feel the screw grab the wood when you tighten it. If the lath is wire you might meed something stronger, like a small expansion bolt [aka "Molly"].
Posted by: Bob Marvin at August 5, 2009 9:18 PM
Yeah... you might has well use plastic mollies, right? Simple addition. If you're gonna bother drilling holes and such.
Posted by: tybur6 at August 6, 2009 11:50 AM
make sure that you hit a lathe. The plaster will not hold it.
Posted by: lincolnlimestone at August 6, 2009 12:30 PM
Let us know how it goes! I have one of those mounts but am waiting til I move before putting it up.
Have no idea what kind of walls I'll be dealing with (haven't found a place to move to yet), but it will need to hold an electric guitar, so it will be a little heavier.
Posted by: northsloperenter at August 6, 2009 1:18 PM
I'd suggest only using Mollies if the screws don't grab into the wooden lath. Mollies need considerably larger holes. I've always used metal mollies; I didn't know there were plastic ones.
BTW, for heavy things on a hollow wall, toggle bolts are stronger than Mollies, but require an even larger hole and you can't remove the mounting screw without loosing tghe hardware inside the wall. I still think that wood (or, even better, sheet metal) screws will be fine for the OP's acoustic guitar mount.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at August 6, 2009 1:35 PM
Thanks for all this! I'll let you know how it goes as soon as my 20 month old allows me enough time to break out the drill etc.
Posted by: mmadden at August 6, 2009 2:17 PM
I am a profession art installer, the key element is the distance between the plaster/lath and the brick. If you have at least an 1 1/2" to 3/4" space between the two, I suggest using a molly bolt. They range in various lengths, are easy to install and do not need a huge hole to insert them. They function like a toggle bolt once screw in, but the hole required is only the size of the shaft of the molly bolt. Take a look at this link, an illustration is provided to show you how to install them and other hangers as well: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.oldhouseweb.com/stories/bitmaps/10117/e816v8.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.oldhouseweb.com/how-to-advice/hanging-objects-from-plaster-walls.shtml&h=410&w=300&sz=15&tbnid=6o8I1VgPuU0CGM:&tbnh=125&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmolly%2Bbolt&usg=__s6Stxb-6lszRq999v10yPM7KthU=&ei=N317SorIB56ltgfG89T2AQ&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image
If the brick is closer than a 1/2", then I say drill a hole for either led anchors and screws or blue screws (made for brick and or cement.
Posted by: brownman at August 6, 2009 9:16 PM
Brownman seems to have the ticket. I have been thinking about hanging a very heavy mirror on a plaster wall for some time (over 50 pounds) and have come to this singular conclusion-- if you're really worried about the item falling, you've got to hit brick. What we're dealing with are three layers of material. First, a good old fashioned red brick wall. (When you get down to it, that's all these Brownstones are-- brick boxes). On top of that brick is fastened wooden straps and lathe (not very sturdy) and on top of that, the plaster. Unlike drywall that is mounted on fairly large wooden studs, the plaster/lathe sandwich is fairly slim and very tight to the brick wall. I would only hang the lightest and not very valuable items onto fasteners that only bite into the plaster or lathe. I'm thinking that if it's permanence and piece of mind that you want, you've got to think like the third little pig and go all the way to the brick (using the necessary expansion bolts as Brownman suggests). When you vacate the place, just fill in the holes in the plaster with joint compound and paint. Good luck.
Posted by: mikez at August 7, 2009 12:22 AM
If you're going to drill into the brick I think lead anchors are best--very LONG ones. The party walls in my house have plaster applied directly to the brick (no lath). I hung some bookshelves years ago, using lead anchors that were too short and they fell when I filled them with books. Longer anchors that penetrated the brick did the trick and the shelves have held up for a generation.
However, this is probably overkill for the OP's guitar hanger.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at August 7, 2009 9:43 AM
If you are worried about unkeying the plaster either from age or the close proximity of the screws in the probably smallish mounting flange, consider buying or making a solid wood medalion or rossette a bit larger than the item to be mounted. mount the medalion using the mollys. Counter sink the screws if you like and plug the holes. Use longer (I would use a 2-1/2" screw if you have a 3/4" thick rossette) screws than usually come with the molly kits to be sure you are not just pulling on the plaster (it can be thick). Once mouunted, mount the guitar holder to the medalion using suitable screws.
I use a variety of similiar methods, including wood cleats, whenever I am mounting something large, heavy, or valuable and i wish to disperse the load over a larger area than the object itself. I have never had anything come down.
Call me if you have any questions or need alternatives. If I have a few minutes, I won't mind sharing what I know.
Steve
www.thetinkerswagon.com
Posted by: thetinkerswagon at August 9, 2009 11:48 AM
Sorry, I overlooked the part about the brick behind the lath when I posted earlier. Drill the holes deep enough to accomadate any mollys and screws. Truthfully, the mollys - if they extend into the brick, should do the trick. You may have to toss the mollys and screws they provided though and get something better.
If the plaster and brick start to crumble when you drill and won't support the mollys, use some epoxy and set the mollys in the epoxy. let it harden and then go into the mollys with the screws.
again, feel free to call,
Steve
www.thetinkerswagon.com
Posted by: thetinkerswagon at August 9, 2009 11:58 AM
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.