Hanging kitchen cabinets on drywall+particleboard wall – which fasteners?

[Sargen]

Hello!

I'm about to build an Ikea kitchen but suddenly got unsure about what to use for fastening the rail you hang the cabinets on.

Conditions: 12 mm particleboard from the 70s + new drywall.

Some say that 5-6 mm wood screws will do the job while others suggest using molly.

What do you think?

 

[kulle]

Wood screws in the chipboard and try to hit the studs as many as you can.
No molly

 

[MathiasS]

It's only old-timers who use molly in wood boards.

6-8mm wood screws will do the job, take the thickest that will fit.

 

[twoody]

Try to find studs as much as possible, otherwise use wood screws, and preferably drill with a bit smaller than the screw as coarse screws tend to crack the chipboard when going through.

 

[KnockOnWood]

I am old-fashioned and haven't built a kitchen since 2010. Back then, this rail system wasn't around; instead, I put together bases from 22 mm chipboard and placed the cabinets on them, and I would probably do the same today. It becomes sturdy, and the cabinets are even, and the "kitchen peninsula" also stands well. Then you screw the cabinets to the wall, with or without a rail, so they stay in place.

 

[falkn]

I am old-fashioned, and haven't built a kitchen since 2010. Back then, this rail system didn't exist, so I used to assemble plinths from 22 mm particleboard and place the cabinets on them, and I would probably do the same today. It makes them sturdy and the cabinets are even, and the "kitchen peninsula" stands well too. Then you screw the cabinets into the wall, with or without a rail, so they stay in place.

Do you have a plinth under the wall cabinets as well?

 

[KnockOnWood]

Do you have a plinth under the wall cabinets as well?

I have no wall cabinets.
However, I do have upper cabinets over the kitchen peninsula, but they hang from the ceiling beams.

 

[tergo]

No problem using molly for double plasterboard when you have chipboard behind the plaster, it will likely be stronger than a wood screw in a 12mm chipboard.

 

[Sargen]

Thank you for all the answers! I have a box of 6x80 träskruv lying around that might come in handy then.

 

[richardtenggren]

Are they fully threaded? It is important for the threads to grip into the chipboard as well, since they sound like somewhat long screws.

 

[falkn]

nothing wrong with using molly for double plaster when you have chipboard behind the plaster, it will likely be stronger than a wood screw in 12mm chipboard

Momentarily, but not over time.

 

[Isakare]

Measure the studs, drill new holes in the rail if necessary. 10 minutes of work and you are 100% sure.
But otherwise, as mentioned, with thick screws it will 99% hold in gypsum/chipboard.

 

[Isakare]

Yes, one more thing. Use screws with smooth threads, not cutting threads in chipboard.
And as always in wood, pre-drill with a smaller drill bit for even better results.
Commonly, when driving a thicker screw into chipboard, a bit is pushed out on the back, so the screw might only grip in 6 mm chipboard instead of 12; this problem doesn't occur if you pre-drill.
A suitable drill size is 0.5-1 mm smaller than the screw's core.

 

[Sargen]

Yes, one more thing. Use screws with a smooth thread, not cutting in chipboard.
And as always in wood, pre-drill with a smaller drill, it will be even better.
It's common that when you drive a thicker screw into chipboard, a piece is pushed out on the back, so the screw might only hold in 6 mm of chipboard instead of 12. This problem doesn't occur if you pre-drill.
A suitable drill size is 0.5-1 mm smaller than the screw's core.

Fantastic! Thank you very much for all the tips.

 

[A-Man_08]

There are specific chipboard screws.