wall fasteners

Special Situations

If you need to attach something to a wall, the ideal way is to drive a screw into a stud. But often that's not possible. The screws and bolts shown above are designed to hold items firmly in drywall or plaster walls. To use expanding anchors and plastic anchors, drill holes and tap the unit into the wall; the anchor will spread and grip as you tighten the screw. Use self-drilling anchors only in drywall. You don't need to drill a hole; just screw them in and insert a screw. To use a toggle bolt, drill a hole large enough for the folded-back toggles to fit through. Push the toggles through the hole, and turn the bolt until the toggles snug up to the back side of the wall.

end grain

When a fastener is driven into the end grain of a board, it will not hold as well as it does across the grain because it runs parallel to the grain rather than at an angle to it. Use a longer screw than you usually would. Where holding power is critical, drill a hole and install a dowel, as shown, into which you can drive the screw.

hard-to-drive

If the going gets tough, the screw may stop turning. Exert pressure on the screwdriver with the palm of one hand and turn it with the other. If you still can't drive it, remove the screw and drill a slightly larger pilot hole. Another solution is to lubricate the threads with candle wax and try again.

For fastening thin sheet metal or soft metal, such as brass, you can use one of several types of self-tapping sheet-metal screws (see Working With Metal Studs, Related Projects). Simply drive the screw in; it makes its own path with a metal-cutting point.

For heavier metals, drill a pilot hole using the techniques for drilling through metal (see Drilling, Related Projects). Then install a sheet-metal screw.

For metal 1/8 inch or thicker and where you want an extra-strong joint, buy a drill-and-tap kit. With this, you can make a machine-threaded hole that will accept a machine bolt.