I have a wall mounted guitar hanger, basically a U shaped bracket that sticks out horizontally; versions hold up guitars in guitar shops everywhere,
It’s been mounted on drywall, with yellow plastic drywall anchors and screws for several years. Today I noticed the anchors were working their way out of the wall.
There is no other place to put the hanger, and I can’t screw into a stud. It is for a solid body electric guitar, so needs to take several pounds. How best to re-attach the hanger? Bigger anchors and screws above the old holes? Those expanding metal anchors? Fastening the hanger to a small square of plywood and then securing the square to the drywall with 4 anchors? People online are selling versions that attach with Commander adhesive strips but I am dubious. Suggestions? Thanks.
How far away are the studs? Can you rig up a cross piece between two studs? Attach your hanger to that.
(I agree, Command strips are not the way to go)
Mount it using toggle bolts?
Yeah, I wouldn’t want to be around whatever could pull toggle bolts out of the wall.
I used this type of toggle bolts to mount handrails for a stairwell - rock solid.
The best drywall anchors in existence are ones with a steel toggle that’s held to the back of the wall with a plastic zip-tie style thingy. Like THIS, which is my favourite brand, or THIS which I find more difficult to set but has equal holding power. I use these professionally, and if I need more holding power than a screw-in EZ anchor this is the only thing I consider.
Thanks! “Toggle bolt” is what I meant by “expanding metal anchor.” I’ve never used them, so appreciate the advice. It looks like I could even use them in the original holes–is that right? Will buy a 6-pack and am looking forward to losing the wings in the wall space a couple of times before I get it right.
If the current holes are clean and neat, then yes, you can get a toggle bolt sized for them. The closed wings just have to be able to fit through the hole diameter and then they can expand out on the other side of the wall.
Guitars aren’t very heavy and toggle bolts are incredibly strong, so you probably need a smaller one than you think. They should have a load rating on them and any hardware store should have a selection.
Another option is a molly bolt.
Yeah, that’s what I thought @Kropotkin was referring to by “expanding metal anchor”. I’d imagine those would work great for a guitar hangar.
If I was doing this, I’d go for your rectangular piece of at least 5/8” thick plywood. I’d make it about 2 inches wider and taller than the mounting plate of the guitar hanger. Mount the hanger centred on the plywood with #8 or #10 wood screws, then drill 4 holes in the corners of the plywood for mounting it to the wall. I’d then use the toggle bolts suggested by @Gorsnak to mount the plywood to the wall. Placing the mounting holes in the corners of the plywood 1/2 to 5/8 inches in from the edges means the slightly oversized holes needed to slip the toggle bolt anchors inside the drywall will be neatly covered by the plywood
This last seems like building 75lb cast iron mousetrap. It’ll work to prevent the mouse from stealing the trap, but why bother?
The sort of metal anchors w 2 spring loaded wings are quick, sturdy, and almost idiot proof. Get the weight rating you need, widen out the existing holes as necessary for the folded wings to slip in, even if it’s a snug fit digging at the drywall a bit.
The only trick is to remember to thread the guitar hanger onto the long bolts before threading on the wings. Then stuff the folded wings on the ends of the bolts through the wall holes until they expand on the back side of the drywall. Run down the bolts and you’re done.
If the guitar hanger ends up not quite level just back the bolts off ~1/4", wiggle the thin bolts in the larger holes until it is level, then run them down snug.
These work freaking great and are very easy.
I just moved I’ve hung ~20 painting in the new house. And a 50lb mirror. For a guitar, no problem
Studs would be best of course. Easy to find with a magnet or stud finder.
Challenge accepted!
Regarding the stud, the space available is only slightly wider than the guitar and the stud in that space too far to one side to attach the hanger and let the guitar fit.
Thanks, all. I’m off to the hardware store this morning. I hope I am not off to the guitar store this afternoon.
There are lots of good suggestions here, but I’m going to jump in and state that my experience has been that drywall anchors usually don’t last for dynamic loads. Hanging a picture or a clock? Sure. Securing a hook, toilet paper dispenser, curtain rod for a curtain that will be opened and closed regularly? Not so much. It’s just in the nature of the anchor to abrade the drywall over time, even with nice big wings. Hanging and moving a guitar is pretty dynamic.
As previously suggested, I’d be inclined to get a piece of wood or some other more durable material and span two studs, even if it isn’t an ideal solution. But it would stay up and ultimately cause less damage to the wall.
Isn’t that exactly what the OP is already using? They mentioned “yellow plastic drywall anchors and screws.”
Those at least look a bit heavier-duty than the thinner, el cheapo ones. They’re still nowhere near as strong as a molly or toggle bolt, though.
If it’s a Les Paul, you might want to opt for the heavier bolts.
Thats a better solution to something that gets picked up and placed back, I agree. Lateral movement could cause the drywall hole to open up and the bolt to move around. They do hold pretty tight though.
Something that spans a couple studs and you could hang a few guitars or whatever from that, and even a purposed padded hanger to hang perpendicular to the wall as in music shops.
I don’t like the old fashioned spring loaded toggle bolts because of the huge hole in the wall required to insert them. Depending on the size and shape of the thing you’re mounting, the hole might remain exposed. I prefer the ziptie-based Toggler style bolts linked upthread by gorsnak.