Those self-drilling anchors are the bane of my existence with these old lath-and-plaster walls. I tried them once for a coat rack—ended up with a crater and a wobbly rack. If I can’t hit a stud, I usually go for the old-school toggle bolts, but even then, you never really know what’s lurking behind 100-year-old plaster. French cleats are solid, but yeah, only if you catch a stud or two. Those “250 lbs” claims must be for brand-new drywall in a lab somewhere... not in my 1920s hallway.
Man, I hear you on those anchors. Lath-and-plaster is a whole different beast compared to modern drywall—sometimes it feels like there’s no rhyme or reason to what’s holding things up behind the wall. I’ve had toggle bolts just spin in place or disappear behind a chunk of loose plaster. Ever tried using a small pilot hole and then a wood screw, just to see if you hit something solid? Not foolproof, but sometimes it surprises me. Those lab-tested weight ratings really do feel like wishful thinking in these old houses...
Man, you nailed it—old houses are a whole different animal. I’ve had the same thing happen with toggle bolts just vanishing into the abyss behind the wall, and then you’re left staring at a bigger hole and a lot of frustration. I’ve actually had better luck sometimes with those old-school plastic anchors, believe it or not, but only if the plaster’s still tight to the lath. Otherwise, yeah, it’s a gamble every time.
I totally get what you mean about those weight ratings. In theory, they sound great, but in practice? I wouldn’t trust them for anything heavier than a picture frame unless I hit a stud or something solid. Sometimes I’ll poke around with a finish nail just to see what’s back there before committing to anything bigger. It’s kind of like treasure hunting, except the treasure is maybe not having your shelf crash down in the middle of the night.
Hang in there—figuring out what works in these old walls is half the battle. The other half is patching up all the test holes...
Those old plaster walls really keep you on your toes. I’ve had toggle bolts just disappear too, and patching up the aftermath is never as easy as it should be. Sometimes I’ll use a stud finder, but honestly, half the time it’s just guessing and hoping for the best. I’ve started using French cleats for heavier stuff—spreads the weight out and feels a bit more secure, even if it’s a little overkill for some things. It’s all about minimizing those “oops” holes, right?
French cleats are a solid move—definitely not overkill if you’re tired of patching up holes every time something shifts or falls. Here’s what I’ve found works for tricky plaster walls:
- Spreading out the weight is key, like you said. French cleats or even a rail system can save a lot of headaches.
- Sometimes, I’ll use adhesive anchors if I’m not dealing with anything super heavy. Less mess, but you have to trust the product.
- Stud finders on old plaster can be hit or miss. I’ve had better luck with rare earth magnets—they’ll find those old lath nails and give you a clue where the studs might be hiding.
- Patchwork is always a pain. I keep a little tub of setting compound handy for the inevitable “oops.”
Ever tried those self-drilling anchors? I’m curious if they’ve held up for anyone else, or if it’s just another false promise for plaster walls...
