B wrote:
I have to mount a heavy wooden plaque on a sheetrock wall with metal
studs
underneath. The holes in the plaque are predrilled, so the wall
anchors have
to go where they have to go. What if I drill into a metal stud? If it
were a
wooden stud, a wood screw would go in place of an anchor, and it
would be no
problem. So what do I do if I hit metal? With the right kind of
fastener,
maybe I should Try to hit the metal for extra strength? Thx.
-B

A fine thread sheet rock screw will hold into the stud fairly well, but
it must be the fine threads as opposed to the typical coarse threaded
screws. Specifying the weight would make this a bit easier to suggest
an option, but going with the largest toggle bolt you can work with
would give you the best option and the most steadfast. Alternately
there are special sheet rock ancors that are about 1/2" in diameter,
very coarse thread, plastic body with screw, no pre-drilling needed.
They are rated to hold 50 pounds. I put in closet organizers in my
wife and my own identical closets. One I used toggle bolts (a bit of a
pain) and the other the sheet rock anchors. Both are holding several
hundred pound of weight (of course this is over many anchors), and are
still holding fast. Personally I would go with the anchors.