Honestly, I still use drywall anchors sometimes—just depends on what’s going up and how much I care about the wall. French cleats are cool, but they can look a bit overkill for lighter stuff or if you’re going for a cleaner look. I’ve had decent luck with toggle bolts, even in crumbly old plaster. It’s always a gamble, though... old walls keep you humble.
French cleats do feel like bringing a bazooka to a thumbtack fight sometimes. I get the appeal, though—super sturdy and reusable. I’ve tried to avoid anchors where I can, just because patching holes later is a pain and not exactly eco-friendly. But yeah, old plaster is its own beast... toggle bolts are a lifesaver, but I still cross my fingers every time I tighten one down. Ever tried those self-drilling anchors? Mixed results for me, but less mess at least.
Load distribution always gets me too, especially with old plaster. I remember hanging a big mirror in my last place—thought I was being clever with those self-drilling anchors, but the first one just spun in the wall and left a crater. Ended up switching to toggle bolts, which felt like overkill for a 10-pound mirror, but at least it stayed put. French cleats are cool, but yeah, sometimes it feels like you’re prepping for an earthquake when all you want is to hang a shelf.
I get what you mean about patching holes. I’ve started using painter’s tape to mark out where I *think* the studs are, but half the time I’m still off by an inch. Stud finders never seem to work on plaster, either. At this point, I just accept that there’s gonna be some trial and error... and a little spackle in my future.
I swear, old plaster walls have a sixth sense for sabotaging any attempt at load-bearing logic. I’ve had toggle bolts just disappear into the abyss behind the lath, never to be seen again. And don’t get me started on stud finders—they beep everywhere except where you actually need them. Ever tried the “tap and listen” method? I’m convinced my walls are just mocking me at this point. Has anyone actually found a foolproof way to hang stuff on these ancient surfaces, or is it always a bit of a gamble?
Title: Why does load distribution always trip me up?
Yeah, plaster and lath walls are a nightmare for hanging anything heavy. I’ve had toggle bolts just spin forever or vanish behind the wall, too. Best luck I’ve had is with those old-school picture rail moldings—if your place still has them. Otherwise, I use a rare earth magnet to find the nails in the studs, since stud finders are useless on plaster. Still feels like a gamble every time, though.
