How to mount a heavy TV on drywall with steel studs?

[jras]

Hello,

My son has just moved into a newly built apartment. When we hung up a couple of paintings, we noticed that there are steel studs/metal studs behind the drywall. Probably good, that's how they build houses nowadays...

He has an old (flat) TV, 65 inches, a monster that weighs around 65-70kg, and wants to mount it on the wall. A sturdy wall mount about 90cm wide and 20cm high has been acquired.

But the question is, how do you mount such a monster on a drywall with steel studs behind? (apparently there's 60cm spacing between the steel studs)
I myself live in an old house with brick walls and have no experience in mounting heavy stuff on drywall, but I think kitchen cabinets or wall-mounted bookshelves also weigh quite a bit, so there must be good solutions

I've searched a bit here on byggahus and on the web, but only find sensible information where wooden studs are involved.
Can't you screw into the steel studs so that it secures properly? (but maybe the metal in these is quite thin?)

Grateful for suggestions, advice, or experiences!

 

[Nyfniken]

I had screwed up a wooden board with a lot of Molly and then screwed the bracket into it.

 

[jras]

I would have screwed up a wooden board with a lot of Molly and then screwed the bracket into it.

Ah thanks for the tip! So, skip the steel studs completely?

 

[jras]

Anyone tried mounting the TV on steel studs (behind drywall)?

 

[BosseHansson]

How does mounting on a wall bracket you're going to make work? Of course, you can aim for the metal stud, but I would probably also use Molly in these. There are probably few wall brackets that are rated for the weight you say it weighs. Or are you also planning to construct a bracket?

 

[jras]

The wall mount is something my son already has, a sturdy one that can bear at least 75 kg. The package included French wood screws, and you should attach it to the wooden studs according to the instructions. Unfortunately, it doesn't say anything about steel studs. But an interesting idea to use a molly in the steel stud! You would have to drill a fairly large hole in the steel stud + drywall, right? Yes, that sounds very reasonable, do you know anyone who has tried this?

Otherwise, I was thinking that maybe you could use some kind of self-drilling screws like those used to fasten drywall (but longer)? The problem with these screws is that they seem flimsy, only about 3.5 mm thick, and you probably only have 4 screws to fasten with (2 screws per stud (top, bottom, on the wall mount) and two studs (left, right)). Besides that, about 4 molly in the drywall.

 

[tergo]

no Molly in metal studs and not a self-drilling screw, if you are going to screw into the metal stud use a sharp, fairly coarse-threaded wood screw
if it's a modern apartment, the metal studs are spaced at c/c 450 mm

 

[jras]

OK thanks! But please elaborate.
Why not molly in steel studs? (it feels spontaneously like a good idea, where one should get a solid hold with the unfolded wings on the back, inside the metal stud, right?)
If coarse-threaded wood screw, I guess one should drill smaller holes first then?

 

[Tomture61]

Few screws in metal studs is a worse idea than many sheet metal screws.
A plywood board that might be wallpapered/painted like the wall with many sheet metal screws

 

[jras]

Few screws in sheet metal studs is a worse idea than many sheet metal screws.
A plywood board that may be wallpapered/painted like the wall with many sheet metal screws

"A few screws" ?

 

[A-Man_08]

If it is a newly produced apartment, take a look at the blueprint, where the wall is often reinforced for TV. When I look in the home folder, it shows where it starts from the window and at what height above the floor and down from the ceiling the reinforcement is located.

 

[jras]

If it's a newly built apartment, take a look at the drawing, where the wall is often reinforced for the TV. Looking in the living pack, it shows where it starts from the window and at what height above the floor and down from the ceiling the reinforcement is located.

Yes, it's a newly built house. Good tip, I'll check it out this afternoon when I go there, I think there was a binder from the builder (Skanska I think it was). My son rented a stud finder today so we'll try to locate the studs too

 

[tergo]

OK thanks! But please elaborate.
Why not use molly in steel studs? (seems spontaneously like a good idea, where you should get a solid hold with the unfolded wings on the backside, inside, the metal stud, or?)
If using coarse-threaded wood screws, I guess you should drill smaller holes first?

A steel stud is 38 mm wide where you screw the drywall, and U-shaped. It becomes difficult to hit correctly with a molly that expands on the backside. Metal studs are about 0.5 mm thick; if you use, for instance, a 5mm thick screw, you can pre-drill with a 2.5 drill bit, but I don't think it's necessary.
image
https://www.byggmax.se/stålregel-c-p20841

4 screws in a metal stud seem to be on the borderline for 75 kg.

 

[Tomture61]

"Few screws" ?

If you choose 4 screws for example, I think the load on each screw would be too large in a thin sheet metal stud, better with say 8-10 screws for a strong fiberboard.
This should then be compared with tearing down the wall and building it up correctly with plywood/drywall.

 

[jras]

If you choose, for example, 4 screws, I think the load for each screw will be too high in a thin metal stud, better with say 8-10 screws for a strong fiberboard.
This should then be compared with tearing down the wall and rebuilding it correctly with plywood/drywall.

OK thanks for the clarification!