“I get the urge to throw a handful of anchors at every problem, but honestly, sometimes less is more.”
You’re not wrong—over-anchoring is just more patchwork down the road. I’ve learned the hard way that chasing perfect symmetry isn’t worth the extra holes. Studs win every time, even if it means shifting things off-center. Plaster’s got a mind of its own... sometimes you just have to pick your battles and trust a single beefy anchor.
“chasing perfect symmetry isn’t worth the extra holes. Studs win every time, even if it means shifting things off-center.”
Man, I used to drive myself nuts trying to line everything up just right, but you’re spot on—studs are the real MVPs. I’ve patched more holes than I care to admit from “just one more anchor” thinking. Sometimes you just gotta let go of that perfect lineup and trust the wall will hold. Plaster especially... it’s like rolling the dice every time you drill.
I still cringe a little when something’s not dead center, but after a few shelves sagging or anchors pulling out, I’ll take ugly-but-solid over pretty-and-precarious any day. Funny how you start out thinking more anchors = more secure, but really it’s just more work for future-you.
I hear you on plaster—one wrong move and suddenly you’re patching a crater. I’ve always told folks, if you can hit a stud, do it, even if it means your shelf’s a little off. Curious though, has anyone actually had good luck with those toggle bolts in old lath and plaster? I’ve had mixed results... sometimes they hold, sometimes they just chew up the wall.
I’ve had the same struggle with toggle bolts in lath and plaster. Sometimes they bite, but other times the lath just crumbles and you’re left with a bigger mess. I’ve found that pre-drilling a small pilot hole helps a bit, but honestly, if I can’t hit a stud, I usually rethink the whole plan. Hanging anything heavy on old plaster always feels like a gamble.
Yeah, I’ve run into that too—old plaster can be unpredictable. I’ve had better luck using those plastic anchors designed for masonry, but even then, it’s not foolproof. If I’m dealing with something really heavy, like a big mirror or shelving, I’ll sometimes just bite the bullet and open up the wall to add blocking. It’s more work upfront, but at least you know it’s secure. Otherwise, I try to keep things light or find a stud... sometimes you just have to adjust your plans when the wall won’t cooperate.