When installing load-bearing hooks or fasteners in walls, you should check for studs. Most walls have vertical structural members every 16 or 24 inches. Known as studs, they form the skeleton of many residential homes and commercial buildings.
You can drive load-bearing hooks or fasteners directly into studs. If a particular area of drywall doesn’t have a stud behind it, however, you’ll need to use an alternative solution, such as a toggle wing anchor. Here are five facts about toggle wing anchors.
#1) Uses Spring-Loaded Wings
Toggle wing anchors receive their namesake from their spring-loaded wings. They feature a pair of spring-loaded wings with a bolt running through the center. You can install a toggle wing anchor by drilling a hole in the wall, followed by folding the wings and then pushing it through the hole. The spring will automatically force the wings to expand on the backside of the wall, creating a clamping force that secures the toggle wing anchor in place.
#2) Removable
Contrary to common belief, toggle wing anchors are removable. You can remove the bolt by turning it counterclockwise until it comes out of the wall. With that said, the spring-loaded wings will remain in the wall. As you turn the bolt counterclockwise, the spring-loaded wings will fall out and drop behind the wall. Nonetheless, you can reuse the bolt with a different pair of wings.
#3) Higher Load Capacity Than Hollow Wall Anchors
Toggle wing anchors typically have a higher load capacity than traditional hollow wall anchors. Most hollow wall anchors use expanding sleeves. You drill a hole in the wall, tap the sleeve into the hole with a hammer, and then expand the sleeve using a screwdriver and screw. While simple and easy to use, hollow wall anchors can’t handle as much weight as toggle wing anchors.
#4) Distribute Loads Over a Large Area
One of the reasons toggle wing anchors have such a high load capacity is because they distribute loads over a large area. When you drive a screw directly into a wall, the load will be concentrated in a very small area. If the load is too heavy, it may pull the screw out of the wall. Toggle wing anchors offer a solution. They expand while clamping against the backside of the wall. This allows for a larger contact area, thereby improving their holding power.
#5) Versatile
Toggle wing anchors are highly versatile. You can use them for nearly any wall-mounted object that supports a hanging bolt. Common uses for toggle wing anchors include shelves, mirrors, curtains, towel bars, cabinets, electronics, signs and lighting fixtures. Just remember to choose a toggle wing anchor that’s long enough for the object with which you intend to use it.