Trying to hang a 25 pound antique phone but toggle bolts won't catch, can anyone help?

Question

The standard sizes are too long (3 inches) and hit the concrete block exterior wall or are too short (2 inches) and the toggles won't open because they are too short to reach the back of the drywall. Any other ideas for hanging the phone?

Answer 1

Is the drywall mounted on 2x2 or even 1x2 furring strips? Seems like they should have worked if on 2x4s. Then again, a 2x4 is actually less than 4 inches so a 4 inch s***w through thin drywall could be a tiny bit too long. But, you said 3 inch toggle bolts so either you really had 4 inch or it is not on a 4 inch stud/furring strip.

The drywall really should be a minimum of 1/2 inch, but they might have gotten chincy and used 3/8. I do not like drywall, period. I hate 3/8 inch even more. Since it is everywhere, I have to work with it, but you can't make me like it :-)

What I would do is make a bracket and attach the bracket to the stud. That would be much safer that attaching it to the drywall. You might ALSO want a couple of small anchors to keep it straight. Among other things, if the drywall gets too wet, it will let go. I'm assuming from your description that it is below grade, like in a basement.

Another person suggested a bracket. The difference in my suggestion is anchoring it to the stud.

Also, on many toggles, you can remove the s***w and cut a 1/2 inch off of it so it will not hit the exterior wall. Many wire cutters have a s***w cutter built into them so it will not damage the threads.

Answer 2

I hate toggle bolts. Two wallboard anchors in 1/2" drywall can hold that much weight easily, and you don't have to fuss with them sticking out too far behind the wall.

But if you're really concerned I'd make a backing plate that mounts to the furring strips then mount the phone to that.

Answer 3

Make a thin bracket out of a strip of sheetmetal.  Bend it to make hooks that will catch holes in the phone.  Attach bracket to the wall at the appropriate location.  Hang phone on bracket hooks.

Answer 4

Go to Home Depot. Over where they sell the wall mollys, they have a toggle zip device. I dont remember what they call it but it has two long white plastic pieces tied together and attached on the other end to a toggle like device. You drill a 1/2 inch hole and insert the metal toggle. After you insert the metal piece, you make the ends of the white plastic pieces even and pull the toggle against the inside of the wall. There is a zip device on the white plastic pieces that you zip against the wall. You then bend the plastic back and forth and break off. It works just like a toggle bolt, but dosnt fall into the wall when you take the bolt out. They hold around 50 Lbs per toggle bolt. They are easy to use and work great!