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Another issue: where does the OP live? Here in earthquake-prone Southern California, attempting to anchor anything heavier than a picture frame to drywall is food for squirrels.
Last edited by Nighteyes; 03-21-2014 at 02:36 PM..
If this is being installed on a stud wall: you can try to locate at least one stud with a stud finder, or by lightly tapping on the wall and listening for the sound difference, (best to do this in the area that will be behind the cabinet as you will probably put dents in the drywall with this method).
When you think you have found a stud: drive a small nail (#8 is good) to see if you have actually located a stud. If/when you find a stud locate the center of it by driving a nail 3/4" to the right side of your original nail-test; if you hit wood (or metal) drive another test 1/4" more to the right; keep doing this until you do not hit resistance;. If your second test nail hits air then start driving test-nails 1/4" to the right of your original nail to find the edge of the stud. The center of your stud will then be 3/4" to the left of the last hole you make
Once you locate the center of a stud measure over 16 inches and drive a test-nail to see if there is another stud there; if there isn't then your wall studs may be 24" on center, so try a test nail 24" from the center of the first stud that you found.
I used a "snap toggle" that I purchased at Lowes. It's supposed to hold a couple hundred pounds for hanging cabinets that don't have wall studs to mount to. So far... no issues.
If I recall the cost was under 10.00
However, it is NEVER wise to hang a cabinet of any kind from drywall with no support behind it. These gimmicky anchors may hold one on the wall for now, but if there is ever a point in time where the drywall is weakened (from too many holes, water, etc....) the cabinet is now at risk for falling.
Those snap toggles are actually only rated to carry 1/4 of the load rating (even says so on Lowe's website). Considering the top anchors carry the weight, you're only looking at a total safe load capacity of ~ 120 lbs maximum. A well built typical 30" wall cabinet can weigh between 50-70 lbs empty. That leaves you with about 50 lbs to play with and stay inside of the safe load capacity. That goes very quickly. If one were to store their laundry detergents and household cleaning supplies that can easily be surpassed.
It's just not safe. There are screws designed for hanging cabinets that have a much higher shear rating than a typical drywall or wood screw. If you're not fastening cabinets with those and driving them into wall studs (or installing on a French cleat using those screws), leave the cabinet on the ground. The cost is no more than using anchors or some other "cheater" method to cut corners to hang the cabinet, but the result is much better.
I think the cabinet has fallen off the wall by now, 3 years later....But, never hang a cabinet on sheet rock alone. It would be better to buy a stand alone shelf set, or use a piece of furniture like a side table to hold laundry soap etc.
I think the cabinet has fallen off the wall by now, 3 years later....But, never hang a cabinet on sheet rock alone. It would be better to buy a stand alone shelf set, or use a piece of furniture like a side table to hold laundry soap etc.
Better to open the wall & add a board (or two) between the studs so you have some meat to attach to. If the cabinet is big enough, you won't even need to patch the drywall, just put the cut-portion back & cover it with the cabinet. That's what I've done multiple times with over-stove microwaves so they aren't hanging from a cabinet of unknown strength.
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