Can you install toggle anchors close together?

[Snakeytail]

So I recently installed this hook in my living room using 10kg toggle anchors to hang an item 6 to 7 kg. Hooks

Not really thinking, I've used 2 toggle anchors that are obviously quite close together and now I'm wondering if the integrity of the drywall is comprimised and it will eventually pull out? I installed the toggles so the wings are horizontal so it's not pulling on the small space between the holes. But wondering if I should maybe remove one anchor and fill with a 2 part putty or if that will even give any strength back? Or do I need to move the whole thing somewhere else? 

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Snakeytail. It's to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about wall anchors.

It's hard to say for sure whether the plaster has been compromised, but based on what you've described — especially with the toggle wings installed horizontally — it sounds like you've done a decent job of spreading the load. That said, I definitely wouldn’t recommend dropping the full 6–7kg item onto the hook abruptly, as that sudden force can be much higher than the static weight and may cause the anchors to pull through the plasterboard.  Given the close proximity of the hooks, I would consider both of them to be the equivalent of one 10kg hook, which is still above your static load.

Once you start hanging items above 5kg, it's always best practice to try and get at least one fixing point into a timber stud where possible, even if that means adjusting the position slightly. I understand that may not be ideal for your layout, though.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[Snakeytail]

I was pretty careful when hanging it back up but because of the configuration I noticed that it's pulling on the hook slightly away from the wall instead of just down, like maybe 20 degrees. I know that will reduce capacity. Just to be on the safe side, I picked up a 65x19 dar pine and am going to mount it between the two studs, paint the same colour as the wall and then hang the hook from that. I have 70mm screws into the studs but are 20 or 25mm screws into the pine going to to give enough bite to hold decent weight? Thinking I will have to use this configuration to hang some cube shelves which aren't near studs. 

[JacobZ]

Hi @Snakeytail,

65x19 is a fairly thin timber with not a lot of weight-bearing capacity. Ideally, you would use something thicker, but I can't say for sure it wouldn't work. If the item is 6-7kg, it should be fine, but cube shelves might not be ok, as you would need to take into account the weight of the shelf as well as anything placed on it.

If you're worried about strength, consider upgrading from 65 x 19 to something like 70 x 35mm and using 30mm screws for more support.

Let me know what you think, and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob