Best fastener in drywall for semi-heavy loads?

[KnockOnWood]

That was new. Didn't know you could detach the flange on a molly. I think they usually hold really tight. You're mentioning real molly. What brand is it?

Well, one type is probably the original MOLLY® from Piranha/Black & Decker. Likely purchased at K-Rauta

Detachable head makes it simple to remove

http://www.blackanddecker.co.uk/accessoriespage/productdetails/catno/M14104/

Another one is called Bårebo. I think it comes from Clas O. or Jula.

You can see on both that the flange is only attached with a few minimal solder/weld beads.

 

[Thomas59]

The best option by far for slightly larger loads is called PLATTIPLUGG, there are a few different sizes but GOOGLE and see. There is NOTHING that can handle the same load in plasterboards.

Yes, it is indeed a toggle variant and yes, it is the best.

I honestly can't see any reason to use Molly. Can you?

 

[elmont]

Have seen too many Molly that have been pulled too hard (which is very easy), surely 8 out of 10, to think that they're any good. If you pull them a little too hard, the "wings" fold and eat into the panel material with quite poor durability as a result.

 

[KnockOnWood]

Yes, it is a toggle variant and yes, it is the best.

I can't actually see any reason to use Molly. Can you?

Maybe a price issue. 45 kr for two?
Molly 3 kr/piece.
http://www.jula.se/catalog/bygg-och...xpanders/gipsexpanders/metallexpander-365114/

In what way is that toggle thingamajig better?

 

[elmont]

It is strong, to pull it out the load must be so large that a large part of the board comes with it. It is the board's strength that completely determines how much load it can handle. Not like others which can be pulled out through the hole where you inserted the screw/plug. Treat yourself to one or two and make a comparison, and you will also become a believer. But of course, you shouldn't use a cannon to kill a mosquito, so to hang up a photo of your grandchild, you don't need more than a pin.

 

[KnockOnWood]

...Not like others that can be pulled out through the hole where you inserted the screw/plug...

I don't think you can do that with a Molly either, once you've expanded it. I haven't tried, though. But they've held up for all my needs so far.

 

[elmont]

What happens to a molly when overloaded is that the wings "fold" with the outer tips backward, similar to a V with the tip towards/into the plate's hole. If you tighten further or increase the load, the V becomes steeper and looser. If you continue to tighten, soon the "nut" at the back will press against the "washer" on the front side, and the entire molly becomes a steep V with a very small contact surface against the board and will "eat" through the board fairly quickly if the molly moves under load. You usually notice this when you have a molly pulled to the bottom, but the "washer" on the front side still doesn't rest against the board. But as I wrote earlier, IF you don't overload the molly, it works excellently; the difference with a platti is that it CANNOT be overloaded. The board can, of course, be overloaded, but that's another issue.

 

[KnockOnWood]

And IF you fill a Boeing 737 with 800 people, it won't take off.

So why bring up what happens if you overload a fastener.
Most things we hang on walls induce a vertical force, i.e., shear stress on the screw in question.
Very little risk of pulling the fastener out perpendicular to the wall surface, right?

No, let's drop it.
I think deep down we agree.

 

[elmont]

Sorry that I dis Molly a bit but I've seen too many who haven't met the "requirements" to avoid it when there's something that works better and sure, even I quit.