OK, Billy Mays' annoying commercials aside, I will admit to trying the
hooks. I got them at the local borg (I think). They were a couple of
bucks for 6, no more expensive than the "Nail and Hook" style in the
blister packs.

I haven't tried to hang a 40# object or a person, but as far as
hanging an average sized picture in the living room or a dustpan in
the workshop, they work fine. In fact, if the hook is going to show,
they are a lot less visible that the N&H style. They actually do just
poke through the wall without any tools. They work equally as well in
a 3/4" plaster/sheetrock combination as well as simple drywall.
Granted, they're not going to work if you happen to be hanging
something where a stud is located.

YMMV

On 12 Aug, 14:00, wrote:
By now I'm sure that everyone on earth has seen the tv commercials for
the Hercules Hooks. We got that loud mouth Billy Mays yelling about
them every 10 minutes on the tube and telling us how we can hang
hundreds of pounds by these tiny pieces of wire stuck into a sheetrock
wall. Well, I really doubt those pieces of wire are going to hold
much more than a few pictures, and even if they are strong, the
sheetrock is not going to buckle and eventually go into destruct mode.

However, in honor of our ruined ear drums from listening to that loud
mouth, it's only fair that these Hercules Hooks be given the ultimate
test. Lets hang Billy Mays by one of them. If the hook really works,
he dies and we wont have to hear his big mouth again. If it fails, he
gets to live, and his Hercules Hook commercials will cease to be shown
on tv any longer. This sounds fair to me !!!!!

Jim