TIL older drywall anchors are a whole different animal

I had to pick between those old school metal toggle bolts and the newer zip-it plastic anchors for hanging a heavy mirror in my 1920s house last weekend. I went with the toggle bolts cause the plaster walls are so thick and crumbly here. Man, what a hassle getting those springs to catch behind the wall, took me three tries on one hole. Has anyone else dealt with old plaster walls and found a go-to anchor that actually works?

2 comments

2 Comments

hugo_ellis4d ago

Just to be clear, those metal ones you used are actually called toggle bolts, not toggle anchors. The wings are a total pain but yeah they hold way better than plastic in old plaster.

holly_gonzalez616d ago

Use those toggle bolts every time honestly. I tried the plastic zip-its in my old house and they just spun and crumbled the plaster, leaving me with a bigger hole than I started with. Toggle bolts are a pain to get right but once they're in, that mirror isn't going anywhere. Ngl it helps to have a second person hold the bolt steady while you get the wings to snap open behind the wall. Makes the whole thing way less frustrating.