Man, I hear you. Old plaster is a total wildcard. I’ve had those “miracle” anchors just chew up the wall and leave me with a bigger mess than I started with. Honestly, half the time I end up chasing studs with a tiny drill bit just to see if there’s anything solid behind the lath—sometimes there is, sometimes it’s just air. Plywood backer is a pain, but yeah, it’s the only thing that’s never failed me for heavy stuff. Anchors in plaster always feel like rolling dice... sometimes you win, sometimes you’re patching holes.
Yeah, those “miracle” anchors are more like a gamble than a solution, especially with old plaster. I’ve tried toggles, mollys, even those plastic things that promise the world—most just end up spinning or pulling out chunks. I get the plywood backer thing, but honestly, I’m always looking for the cheapest fix that won’t wreck the wall. Sometimes I’ll just use a longer screw and hope for the best... not the most scientific approach, but hey, it’s worked more often than I’d like to admit.
I get the temptation to just use a longer screw and hope for the best—done it myself more times than I care to admit. But honestly, I’ve found that sometimes those “cheap fixes” end up costing more in repairs down the line. Even with old plaster, if you can find a stud (sometimes just luck), it’s worth the extra effort.
“Sometimes I’ll just use a longer screw and hope for the best... not the most scientific approach, but hey, it’s worked more often than I’d like to admit.”
I used to think the same, but after patching up a few craters, I started using adhesive anchors (the kind with epoxy). Not always cheaper upfront, but they’ve saved my walls from looking like Swiss cheese. Just something to consider if you’re tired of patching holes every few months.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from—load distribution trips me up too, especially with old plaster. I’ve tried longer screws, toggle bolts, even a couple of those “miracle” wall anchors. Sometimes it works... sometimes you end up with a bigger mess. The epoxy anchors are a solid call though. I started using them after a shelf crash incident (don’t ask), and they’ve held up way better than I expected. It’s definitely more work upfront, but my walls have thanked me for it. Don’t beat yourself up—figuring out what works in your house is half the battle.
I swear, my first attempt at hanging a pot rack in our kitchen was like a slapstick comedy. Used those “heavy duty” anchors—ended up with a chunk of plaster on the floor and a rack that looked like it was trying to escape. Ended up going with a combo: found a stud (miracle), used one epoxy anchor, and then just crossed my fingers. It’s still up, but I’m not putting cast iron on it anytime soon... Sometimes you just gotta accept the wall’s personality, y’know?