"Stan" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:46:52 -0400, "Colbyt"
wrote:

You may not have the right anchors. With the right ones it is a piece of
cake. Even a geek can do it.

What would be the right anchors to use on Plastered Lathe walls (if a
vertical stud is not in the vicinity of where you want to hang
something)?

The reason I ask is that I also came across this a while back when
asked to hang a 4lb wind-up pendulum clock on a Plastered Lathe wall.
I was able to deep scan the wall for studs with my Zircon but found
none in the location where she wanted the clock hung. I wasn't about
to drive a nail in the wall for fear of damaging the surrounding
plaster and wasn't ready to trust a screw for 3 reasons, 1) would the
lathe slat support a 4lb hanging object and 2) I wasn't sure I would
be able to get the screw to hit the "meat" part of a slat and not hit
the space between slats or get too close to the edge of a slat and 3)
the possibility of the old dried, hard slats splitting when invaded by
a screw.

Regards,
Stan

I hang draperies, mirrors and assorted stuff all the time. If you use a 2"
#6 or 8 hex head screw and the proper hanger it is not going to fall down.
Most times you will hit the lathe behind the plaster. That is all you need.
The heaviest load is there to stay unless there is a moisture problem inside
the wall in which case nothing is going to last long.

If you hit the edge and it splinters, you will feel the screw not snug down
tight. Set your clutch using a scrap of wood if you fear you can't feel it.

Failing to hit the lathe, then a 3" (1/8 x 3) toggle bolt is the next best
option. A long range molly would be the distant third choice. Distant third
because of the uneven surface inside the walls for the grip point. All the
rest of the quick and easy stuff they sell at the borg is crap.

Here is one more tip. Use a 1/2" #8 TEK screw to cut though the hard coat
of the plaster before you drive the big screw home. This greatly minimizes
the potential for a crack or fracture of the plaster. One TEK is good for
1-2 holes before trashing, is cheaper and less messy than drill bits.

People greatly under estimate the holding power of secure plaster. Over the
years I have taken down many draperies that hung for years and the screws
holding them up were screwed into nothing but the plaster wall. Never
making contact with any wood at all.

Colbyt