I have an odd situation. I need to mount a Plasma TV frame to a wall that is framed with steel studs. The studs are a heavier guage as they are in a firewall. (an old textile mill converted to lofts) I am unsure what type fasteners to use. The bracket will be holding 80-100lbs. I was thinking toggle bolts. I can definitely get 4 of them in, but would love any input anyone has to offer.
Thanks,
c2500
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Replies
I used to sell and supervise the install of custom A/V systems. Hanging TVs scared us, cuz there is always a moron who wants to hang from the thing. We would try and get adititional framing added in the wall whenever we could to add more points of attachment.
If by toggle bolts, you mean the spring loaded things that pop open 180 degrees after being inserted into the wall opening, I agree. You may want to replace the real soft steel machine screws that come with the toggles with some better screws as well. Those screws will easily strip or break.
Another option is to attache a steel plate across multiple studs and anchor the tv bracket to the steel panel. Now not just one stud is carrying the load. Peerless, or other bracket mfgs will offer such a panel designed for their brackets. This was mandatory for conventional CRT tube tvs.
We always had somebody hang from the completed install after the tv was in, just to prove it could take the load. Sometimes two people if it was a bar or other idiot prone location.
Good luck.
c2500,
I'm not familiar with plasma's, but is there a bracket to mount and then the tv is fixed to that bracket?
I recently had a job to mount 4 BIG Tv's in a health club. Blocking had been put in the steel stud framed wall at the wrong ht. for the Tv's. They had the over arm type/swivel/tiltable style Brackets to hang the 150 lb tvs from. The arm fastened to a heavy steel bracket that spanned across 2 of the 24'' oc studs. We fabbed up two additional 5''x12'' steel plates that had 3 bolt holes each bored through them. I drilled the steel studs through the wall at these locations and used the additional steel plates as a sort of large washer on the other side (mechanical room) of the wall. If you don't have the pleasure of through bolting here's another method.
Hanging those board room AV/Dry Erase/ Presentation cabinets to a steel stud wall. I mounted the 8'' deep x 4'x5' cabinet by drilling through one flange of the steel stud and inserting a Hilti Toggler to fasten to with 1/4x20 screws. The Toggler is a toggle bolt anchor (with the expandable wings) that is affixed to a plastic slide aparatus that holds the wings in position in the wall. You don't need to mount the toggle bolt to the cabinet, then shove all of them through the hole in the wall. This allows you to remove the bolt, the cab. and not have the wings fall down the wall. I have no doubts that a couple of those mounted in the steel stud will give good shear and pull out strength when fastened through the drywall and steel stud. You can check it out here:
http://www.us.hilti.com/holus/modules/prcat/prca_navigation.jsp?OID=-15674
Both these applications were with 20 ga studs. If you're going into 16 ga. tapping the stud might provide adequate mounting.
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Edited 10/27/2005 4:59 pm ET by calvin
Personally, I like to cut the DW from behind the bracket and replace it with ply of the same thickness. I like how firmly (if only as a perception) I can install the ply, and that makes the tv mount seem much more solid (note that is jsut impression). The ply is painted to match the wall, of course, but being hind a large flat display unit is not often seen at all.
Now, part of that is in that there's usually cut up DW getting boxes in for connections to the monitor, power, etc.
If the wall isn't terribly large, the drywall can be cut out and plywood substituted, then a thinner layer of DW can be added. Otherwise, the drywall can be cut over the center of three consecutive metal studs, 2x4's (longer than the opening is high) can be fitted into the studs and screwed in place, then the DW can be replaced or reinstalled. Tape up the joints and mount the plasma, centered on the space between two of the reinforced studs, using 3" - 3-1/2" lag screws with flat washers. Which mount are you using and what brand/model is the plasma?
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
The bracket is a universal one that cost the guy $225.00. The tv is a Hitachi 42" model. My big problem is he is renting the place and I happen to be the only builder he knows (the curse of the job). I cannot cut the drywall out. That is why I was thinking of the toggle bolts. I know I can span at least 2 studs wide...maybe 3.
Edited 10/28/2005 1:28 pm ET by c2500
The TV may span 2-3 studs, but the plate at the rear of the mount might not. Try to center it at the mid point of 2 studs and use toggles or the expanding type of anchor.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
C2500,
At the medical facility I work at, we have spent the last year replacing x-ray view boxes with flat panel monitors of varying sizes from 17" to 42" arrays all thru out two hospitals. We are using Ergotron mounting hardware and brackets. http://www.ergotron.com All of the hardware comes with an OSHPD approved mounting for different applications, i.e. wood stud, metal stud, grouted masonry, etc. (OSHPD is the state agency in CA that regulates construction in healthcare facilities)
We have to remove drywall and insert 12 gauge steel backing plates to meet codes here in the hospital, but you might be interested to know that the non approved installation method that comes in every package is just a number of 1/4-20 Hilti Togglers installed in drywall or through metal studs. We use this method in our buldings that are not regulated by OSHPD and have not had any problems yet.
I don't know what kind of bracket you are using, but both Ergotron and Lucas are excellent products that have many holes through the bracket so you would be able to use more than 4 anchors.
Try some of these Hilti Togglers, I used them to install some standards in a store and I can hang on just one of them.
http://www.us.hilti.com/holus/modules/prcat/prca_fuse.jsp?RANGE_OID=9077
In the picture its hard to see the plastic applicator part but they work great.
If you can drill through a metal stud or two these will not fail you.
Doug