Is it necessary to nail into a stud when hanging something thats less that 15 lbs?

Question

Is it necessary to nail into a stud when hanging something thats less that 15 lbs?

Answer 1

Anything other than a small picture should always be secured by a fixing in a stud.

There are things like gravity toggles etc. that spread the load behind but I have always found these to be rather variable.

Less than 15 lbs implies it could be 14lbs.. and that is heavy, especially if it is physically deep and so the centre of gravity is some way from the wall. That means the leverage effect will be much larger.  For example, a cube 20cm deep weighing 6Kg (sorry abou the metric!) will exert a leverage on the wall of 6Nm.  If it is just 2cm deep, the leverage will be 0.6Nm.  One of those will rip through the plasterboard, the other will be OK... probably!

Answer 2

I have to give you the brilliant answer: "it depends".

If you're hanging a small picture, you can get by with a nail. For a larger framed picture it's probably sensible to use a picture hook that attaches to the wall with two nails.

If you're hanging something with any depth like a speaker or a shelf, the item is going to pull both downward and outward on the nail, which makes it more likely that it will eventually pull out. In that case it's best to use some kind of anchor like a Molly s***w or a toggle bolt.

If your house predates 1945 or so, you may not have drywall but plaster and lath walls; in that case my advice would be different. Let me know.

Answer 3

Let me just say that i've been in the dog house a few time's for breaking picture's that i hang on the wall without nailing it into the stud, what can a small picture frame weigh 1lb are so. I would say that you should always nail in a stud if any way possibly . If you should find yourself needing to hang something without it beening in the stud ,then go to the hareware store and pick up some sheet rock anchors. The way they work is by drilling a small hole into the wall then knock the anchor into place and s***w your s***w into that anchor,it helps from pulling out of the wall.  Stay out of the dog house, by doing it the right way.