This video outlines the two ways of fitting hollow wall anchors - 1) manually using the bolt itself, and 2) with a setting tool.
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I wasn't planning to do this video today, but I had a question in the comments feed "Hi mate can you show us how to do it without the anker tool? Surely that's how they made it?" He was right of course - there is a way of operating hollow wall anchors without using a separate setting tool, but I prefer to use the setting tool so hadn't featured the first way in any of my previous videos.
So in today's video I show you how to fit a hollow wall anchor using just the bolt in the anchor itself. For completeness I also show you how the setting tool works.
For a comprehensive run down of all the best plasterboard fixings on the market in 2017 check out this video goo.gl/Fe5ipN
In Today's Toolkit*:
- Electric Drill (for drilling the holes into the plasteboard)
- Electric Screwdriver (not essential but makes it a bit easier!)
- Manual Screwdriver (I use a Stanley Multi-bit Ratchet Screwdriver) geni.us/3Vj6o (Amazon)
- Anchor Setting Tool (£15.99/ $20.98 Screwfix) goo.gl/2MhCMv
- Drill bit - 10mm
- Hollow Wall Anchors (M5 x 52mm for 12mm plasterboard). 10mm drill bit required goo.gl/Z9I0bO
* The Amazon links above are affiliate links. It doesn't cost you anything to click on them but I do earn a small commission if you do.
And here's the legal bit I have to state: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Charlie DIYte
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You’re helping so many thick people who cant even screw into plasterboard. Society’s most incompetent. Like me. Thanks 🙏
I mean what I learned from this video is to buy and use the damn tool! Just look at how short that part of the video was haha
Not really your fault walls are built with glued together baking soda. It takes a thick person to design that.
- W O W ! ! ! That demo solved my issues with this toggle. THANX for sharing.
This is amazing! I didn’t even know anchor screws were a thing!! I’m about to run off and repair all my irritating hollow wall fittings ! Thank you
Thank you for this! Helpful & to the point, easy to understand because of your explanation & visuals. My setting tool actually didn't end up opening the bolt, so I'm really glad you explained how to use it without.
Great video! As a curtain fitter myself too, I use these all the time to get a secure fixing for the weight of the curtains. From my experience the top tips I can give are. 1.Make sure to drill the hole level. 2. DO-NOT over pump when using the tool. 3. Check the bolt screw head and use the correct drill bit or screwdriver, as the bolt heads are fairly soft and can get ruined easily. 4. Always when using the tool make sure to screw the bolt in and then unscrew as this make sure that the umbrella is fully open and tight to the plaster board. 5. When fixing item to either wall or ceiling make sure not to over tighten as this will pull the umbrella too much and pop the plaster! leaving you will a big hole!
On your point 2, how do you know when to stop pumping? Thanks.
Thats what she said!
Thank you. This is the second time a video from you has come up, when I've been researching DIY stuff. You're great!
Courtney King Hi Courtney, you're very kind and thanks for taking the time to comment!
Absolutely solid video, relevant to anyone worldwide who has plasterboard which will be the whole world with new build construction cost cutting going forward! Nice and simple with easily digestible instructions. Thumbs up, thanks.
Thanks again, Ryan - appreciate the comment!
Great video and advice. Now to try it out 😊
Ryan going forward? You mean in the future. Going forward is a silly remark usually used by incompetent managers trying to sound clever. It's actually future tense used as present tense and very poor grammar.
Thanks so much for this life-saving video! Must have had beginners’ luck with the first few anchors I fitted - but then had a total ‘mare yday. Popped out this morning to buy a setting tool but just tried one with the ‘old fashioned’ technique and that addition of the turning stop is a total game-changer! Thanks again!
Yey! Glad to hear it Tom. Yes that turning stop is crucial. Thanks so much for getting in touch 👊🏻
@@CharlieDIYte Can I also ask - I have been using the thinner versions of these these hollow wall anchors to hang heavy-ish pictures onto plasterboard walls. Are they over-engineered for that kind of usage and/or is there anything better you’d recommend in this scenario? Thanks again for all your great videos, either way!
No, I think you're absolutely right to use those of the pictures are reasonably heavy. The trouble with standard wall plugs is you need compression for them to do their job, and for that you need to tighten the screw against a hook. So for the other option, check out this video kzhead.info/sun/pNuPntOZkGebiZs/bejne.html
@@CharlieDIYte excellent, thanks so much!
I've never known how they worked until now !!! cheers
I have the setting tool and the anchors, always nice to refresh my memory. thanks.
I have seen several videos, which did not solve my problem, but this is an excellent video: it explains everything in a simple and detailed way, and in a short time. Thank you.
Thanks Elena. Really glad you found it useful 👍🏻
You just saved me $750... that was the quote to install 5 pictures!!! Amazing
Really glad to hear that buddy. If you have a moment, I've done an update video kzhead.info/sun/fciuabaBm2mjbGg/bejne.html that runs through pretty much all the available fixings 👍
Great video, I wish I'd seen it before trying to fix one without the setting tool, kept spinning like you said & made a mess of the wall, used a yellow gripit instead.
Wow, thanks for this video been searching around for some advice and this really helped me out! Thank you!
This is the best video on anchors I've seen.
Great tutorial. Very clear. Well presented. I'll be coming back for more tips.
Great video - thanks Charlie! As others have said, it would be great to see a video on how to remove anchors.
Thank you! Great explanation and the video made it easy to see what you were doing.
Thank you so much for such a clear video. I never drilled into walls before having rented all my life, but now I’m in my own place and had to work this out. I have the setting tool but wasn’t too sure how to use it so this was ideal for me.
You're welcome.. Here's the update video if you want to know everything there is to know about fixing into Plasterboard kzhead.info/sun/fciuabaBm2mjbGg/bejne.html
Thanks Charlie; extremely useful tips I've put to good use on a wall coat rack.
So helpful. Thanks 😊. I love the bracket trick. No need for setting tool.
Brilliant. I fitted my son's TV to the wall using these anchors without the setting tool. Works a treat and a solid fitting
Great to hear that, Chris - thanks for letting me know!
hopefully it isn't drywall
@@cdoublejj they said their sons tv. It probably not a 70 inch. I personally don't trust drywall with anything, but you have to.
This vid saved me ripping my inside door veneers to shreds! I didn't realise you needed the turn- stop bracket beforehand - CHEERS chap!
I have so many items to hang on our walls at home and have been afraid to hang them. I've made many unnecessary holes in the past...and learned how to fix them because of it. Thank you Charlie!
You're welcome - thanks for the comment Sandy!
This is fantastic, thank you so much for doing the fitting without the anchor tool. I have to refit a curtain pole for a client, that was literally hanging off at one end. I'm a mere painter & decorator, and always faced with plaster board dilemmas. Great stuff Charlie!
Emily Brock You're very welcome - thanks for the comment. Ps, there's nothing "mere" about painting and decorating 🙂!
Top video man, helped me out loads for a tricky job next week, cheers
That tip about putting the bracket in front of the screw was invaluable thank you! I was sitting with a spinning anchor - the teeth / claws had just gouged a circular hole in the plasterboard - scouring the web for a solution. It's not a bracket that I was ultimately fixing (it was a guitar hanger which is much thicker and with that the screw wasn't reaching far enough in to bite) but adding one I had going spare worked to get the anchor expanded. I'd just about given up on it so thank you very much for the tip!
You're very welcome Steve. Here's my comprehensive plasterboard fixings update if you have a moment kzhead.info/sun/fciuabaBm2mjbGg/bejne.html
I recently hung a very heavy mirror above a fireplace in plasterboard. I didn't want to cut the finished wall to install a plywood pad - too time consuming, ugly and, IMHO, overkill. Anyway, before commencing, I had a look at your other tut on drywall fixings -if you hang curtains for a living, you are definitely and expert in getting the best fixing into drywall - and decided to give the anchors a bash, going on the premise that I could always fall back on the plywood pad if I was not confident that the anchor would suffice. I've used them before, quite a long time ago. I seem to remember that, whilst they are plenty strong, the process could be a bit hit and miss. Until watching your video (and Andy's over at the Gosforth Handyman), I did not know about the setting tool. Well, what a fantastic piece of kit! Drilled the appropriate holes in the plasterboard, and seconds later both anchors were firmly fixed, ready to accept the heavy mirror. Yes, fifteen quid might seem a bit steep for a tool that you don't think you'll use that often, but I have the feeling that it will be a bit like my trusty multi-tool: Never leave home without it! Thanks for sharing
So helpful. Thank you ! Looking forward to learning more from you
Ah jeez. I wish I had come across this video much sooner; it would have saved me years of pain with failed hollow wall anchors. I had always just used them with the screw and initially they generally seemed to work. Recently every single one I was using (from B&Q) was failing. I thought that the anchors were faulty. I've invested in a setting tool and hey presto, they now work perfect every time. Thanks for the great video.
You're welcome. Yes it's such a badly explained thing this. I was exactly the same - crudely using my long nose pliers to distance the fixing from the bolt whilst I tightened it. A turning stop is crucial if you're tightening it without the setting tool - I guess that's why they normally include a washer but it's easy to dispense with that not realising why it's there! 👍
@@CharlieDIYte So I got myself a setting tool and honestly it works beautifully. I haven't had a single one of these fail now. I grew up in a house with solid walls so never came across these hollow wall fixings. Thanks to your video I'm much more confident with all those pending tasks I've been putting off for fear of wrecking the cavity walls in my new build!
@@CharlieDIYte that was my idea to buy pliers instead. If I recall that grip into the baking soda ; err I mean wall is liable to just turn an shred the wall. Probably doing it by hand helps lessen the chance than a drill.
Thank you clear video and good information. Was thinking of getting the tool but think the bracket works as good.
Thanks! Annoyed that other videos don't mention the need for a backstop when not using the tool - had I'd seen your video first, that statement alone would have saved me a couple of trips to the store and a lot of frustration. Thanks again!
Same here. I even watched his videos but just didnt came across of this and gues what i failed 🤣🤣🤣 just like he said the anchor was spinning .
Thank you, So very straightforward on instructions. You made a lot of sense on how to do it. I am very happy thank you
Aw, glad to hear it and thanks for letting me know 👍
I do like these fixings. Quick tip whenever I use these I set the fixing first then for belt and braces remove the set screw and apply a bit of thread lock. Stops the screw rattling loose for whatever reason. Nice video.
Zed Man Love it! Typical belt and braces from Zed Man! Great work!
Zed Man 6
You are AWSOM. That little trick with the wall mount was the best idea ever. Please keep on posting. Thank you JL
Great instruction. Thank you for the time and effort you took to make this video and share it with us. Greetings from Croatia.
Thank you very much for the comment. Also humbled you've been watching my vids from Croatia 👍
Awesome advice on the turning stop. The ones I buy have a washer as well, so not so much of an issue, but I use the setting tool anyway 👍🏼
I had 3 of these spin like theres no tomorrow, once i slappet a washer on the problem.was fixet, lordamercyy
@@Afritunez such a joy when that happens isn’t it. Trashes the wall 😒
Legend - the stop point was exactly what I was missing!!
I know. I mashed a few walls up before I realised!
@@CharlieDIYte main problem was the piece starting to come away from the hole! Very grateful!
@@golfdadsydney Made me chuckle that - yes I know what you mean! 👍
hi!!! great videos! What kind of fixings would you use to install a bath screen on a tiled plasterboard wall?
Another fantastic video Charlie👏🏻
Just what I was looking for! Great demo!!!!!
You're welcome!
Charlie you are brilliant 🤩 thank you for sharing your skills. Much respect and appreciation!
Thank you so much for that. Really chuffed you found it useful. 👍
Very useful tuition Charlie... saved me from making some costly mistakes!
You're very welcome. Thanks for the comment 👍🏻
Got a job tomorrow using these and this helped me right out mate. Much appreciated and that was a clear and to-the-point video.
You're welcome Tony. For a comprehensive run through of the best fixings on the market, check out this video too kzhead.info/sun/fciuabaBm2mjbGg/bejne.html
Thank you for this! Quick question re. the turning stop - I'm wanting to affix a baby gate to the rubbish plasterboard wall but the screws just keep falling out, I'm thinking an anchor fixing might work but I'm going to screw a plinth of wood into the wall and then attach the baby gate fixings to that - would this work?
Ive always used these anchors for fixing semi heavy stuff to plasterboard, ive nevee had a problem with it spinning or not opening, i didnt even know there was a setting tool! With that sais though, ive only ever used the smaller size, i suppose maybe the larger sizes would benefit from the added security of being preset before tightening. Also, while its obvious to me now, i never even thought twice about the length of the collar matching up with the thickness of the plasterboard, guess i just got lucky. Nice video, i learned something.
Thank you so much! Easy instructions. Just what I needed. Trying to fix a "simple" DIY job.. a stuff up using the shop bought rod bracket kit - no instructions and grey brick wall plugs supplied for plasterboard walls which I was not aware of until I installed them... I was so careful to do this right, checked with sales staff before, yet even they did not advise me correctly. So so annoying... I hope I can reuse the same holes if they are not too big now 🤞🤞 hopefully problem solved! Thanks again. KZhead is awesome!!!
Sales staff are generally clueless I'm afraid, Marianne, and real plugs supplied with lots are the cheapest generic plugs they can get away with supplying. I don't know why they bother to be honest. If you've bought these metal wall anchors you should be absolutely fine with the holes you've drilled as the anchor holes will need to be a bit larger anyway. Any problems, and a bit of Easi-Fill will give you an invisible repair.
Screw fix nearly 12 pounds I bought from there it worked excellent excellent video
those plasterboard fixings (we call them brolly's due to them looking like an umbrella when they are expanded) that have the depth for double plasterboard are also excellent for getting a fixing into lath and plaster walls, I find that the lath is far to thin to use a screw for fixing and the substrate overall will not take a rawl plug, however by getting a brolly to expand behind the lathe it gives a really good fixing, also most brolly's i've used will have the drill diameter stamped on them, good video though, i've often had brolly's spin when trying to install in soft plaster and I will definitely be trying that technique, thanks.
Thanks! I found this useful for showing my son how to use hollow wall anchors without having to setup a demo of my own!
You're welcome. Thanks for the comment 👍🏻
Good tip using the bracket/etc to hold the anchor, I've not used them much by have always ended up using some pliers to hold it which makes a bit of a mess sometimes of the surrounding plaster board.
Jer Goes I've got to say that's what I used to do. So much easier with the turn stop 🙂
Wonderful, gives me confidence to put up a cabinet! or whatever, knowing exactly how it works/fixes!
You're welcome. Thanks for the comment!
Thank you for this demonstration! Trying to make the wife happy, and you've given me a leg up!
Thanks George. Check out my update video a fare weeks ago if you have time kzhead.info/sun/fciuabaBm2mjbGg/bejne.html 👍
Thanks very helpful. I'd used them years ago but had forgotten how to set them just using a screw driver. The extra bracket seems to be key to it tightening properly.
Yes, it's crucial to have that bracket in place to act as a turning stop.
Brilliant coaching. Thanks very much. It's easy when you know how!!
Thanks Jacqueline. Really appreciate you taking the time to comment!
Charlie DIYte No problem at all. Thank goodness for people like yourself showing us. Even the people in Screwfix who sold me the fixing tool did not know how it worked!!
Excellent video. We don't have an anchor tool so my husband will use your screwdriver method. Big thank you!
Thanks 🙏 Yes that'll work fine. You just need to make sure you have the bracket or some other material between the screw and wall anchor before you tighten it, to stop it spinning.
Yes, thank you, we did that, but he nearly gave up as it wouldn't seem to screw down properly. We checked we had the right size anchors for the thickness of the stud wall (we could see the thickness after drilling). He had a sleep, went back to it and hey presto, all ok!
Thank you... I was stuck on those wall anchors and finished my project right after your video.
Glad to hear it. Good work 👌
Cheers. Never put one in the wall and looked at this before messing it up!
I would have loved to see you installing a few different sizes. M4, M5, M6 etc.
You are amazing! As a woman, there is nothing I can’t do after watching your videos. Today you saved me one more time. Thank you
You are very welcome and I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. So chuffed you're finding my videos useful!
Great explanation. Unfortunately i needed this 2 days ago. But it will be useful for some other time . 😀
Great video Charlie👏🏻 Thank you
thank you for the very informative video. very helpful! :)
You're welcome! Thanks for the comment.
I use a pipe wrench to hold the anchor while i'm screwing in the bolt, you will start to feel resistance which is the internal metal spline starting to bend after a couple of extra turns you can then force the anchor into the hole and screw it in tight.
Ahah!...you definitely solved my problem with thin soft walls. Great day, mate, from Kuala Lumpur!
Yey - that's fantastic news, so glad you found it useful - and humbled to hear you've been watching all the way from Kuala Lumpur! You might take a look at this one too kzhead.info/sun/lMl_qbWLaYB9iYU/bejne.html!
This demonstration is great. My question is that these anchors appear to be an absolute solution in that unlike a plug I am guessing if you want to remove them you have to cut them out? A little reluctant to use them for fitting a heavy mirror in tge middle of a wall if I might further down the line need to cut a 50mm hole in the wall.
Thank you.....definitely worth a subscribe....cheers
Thanks it was exactly what I needed.... you are amazing...
Not as amazing as you lot - it's your comments that keep me doing this 👍👍
Thanks Charlie, any thoughts on tiled plasterboard and heavyweight items like shower screens ?
Thanks Charlie, super clear and helpful like all your videos
Thanks Shanil. Really appreciate that 👍🏻
Great tutorial,really useful!
You're a legend :D I love your videos, they're really good and to the point!
I learned something new today thank you for posting this video 🤙
You're welcome. Thanks for the comment.
Great video can I use these anchor bolts to fix a piece of wood French cleet to hang a small tool cabanet as can't find any studs in this short space for the cleet to be attached to thanks in advance
This is bloody good KZhead, thanks.
Thanks James 👊 Really appreciate that. Drop me a line if you've got any other queries.
Help me a lot, although, if I saw this earlier, I wouldn't go and buy a setting tool... But it was easier with the tool though. It would be helpful to annotate the video with information when to stop pulling the screw? Is it possible to end up with big whole?
Thank you sir! That was very helpful to me indeed today.
You're very welcome. Thanks for the comment. 👍
Thanks very much for this - excellent video
Hi there, I’m looking to be placing some Ikea ALGOT shelving units up on my wall. I have an internal stud wall, with I believe something like Celotex insulation board in the cavity. Would having the insulation board have any impact on utilising the bolts you have demonstrated? I’m assuming not, the insulation looks fragile and I assume when the bolts are opening they would just tear the foam and foil insulation?
thank you, very helpful
Thank you for the video!
Good video! My problem is Safety Grab bars that were improperly installed by a previous maintenance man at the hotel where I work. Whomever did this put these molly bolts in and never bothered to see to it that they expanded at all. They just slapped these Safety Grab bars onto the fiberglass showers and so a while later these grab bars are just pulling out all over the place! I need to get some New molly bolts and see if I can get this job done right. And thanks again for this informative video, I've watched so many Useless ones to find this Good one.
Incredibly helpful. thank you.
You're welcome Darren. Thanks for the message 👍
excellent video and shows a noob like me how to do this without a seperate tool. The tool seems great but I only need to do a few fixings
Now I know where I've gone wrong. Nice one buddy
I just ordered m6 and m8. What drill bit size do you recommend for each?
Worked a treat, thanks buddy 👍
Glad to hear it. Thanks for letting me know mate 👊🏻
Very helpful. Glad I looked it up
Glad you found it useful. Thanks for the comment 👍🏻
Hi which one would you recommend to hang tv bracket on a plasterboard please
Very helpful video many thank
Thanks bro! /From Sweden
Massive help. Thanks so much. Nice one!
You're welcome. Thanks for the comment👍
Thank you. I will just do it first time in my life
You can do it!
Hi, Can you please tell us how can we remove installed mechanical anchors of bigger Dia and length from rcc concrete.!?
Hey I’ve just moved house and I’ve got a bike to hang on they Wall in my dining room, trouble is there plasterboard walls, and idea what fixing to use ?
Cheers, been watching a few of your videos
Great clear video,thanks
Great video, helped heaps, thanks!
Very informative. thanks
Great video, i wonder if i can use this for fitting a 75 inch tv 32kg, on my plasterboard..