So i removed my old hollywood-style bathroom light fixture in preparation
to put in a new one. However, decided not to go with the new one and
tried to reinstall the hollywood light fixture with no success. There is
no junction box in the middle where you expect the fixture to be mounted
and the wires are just fed through a hole in the wall. Thus, to attach
the fixture to the wall, there were two holes drilled near the ends of the
fixture and two 3" machine screws to screw in. The problem is that there
appears to be nothing inside the wall to attach the machine screws into.
No nut, no nothing, just air. I stuck a scewdriver in the holes that is 4
inches longer than the screws and still hit nothing but air. I am 100%
positive that the screws were attached to something as it took me quite a
while to unscrew them to the fixture off but now i'm stumped. Anyone have
any ideas what on earth these are supposed to attach to so the fixture is
secure? Thanks.

--

On Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at 9:44:04 AM UTC-4, mikehava wrote:
So i removed my old hollywood-style bathroom light fixture in preparation
to put in a new one. However, decided not to go with the new one and
tried to reinstall the hollywood light fixture with no success. There is
no junction box in the middle where you expect the fixture to be mounted
and the wires are just fed through a hole in the wall. Thus, to attach
the fixture to the wall, there were two holes drilled near the ends of the
fixture and two 3" machine screws to screw in. The problem is that there
appears to be nothing inside the wall to attach the machine screws into.
No nut, no nothing, just air. I stuck a scewdriver in the holes that is 4
inches longer than the screws and still hit nothing but air. I am 100%
positive that the screws were attached to something as it took me quite a
while to unscrew them to the fixture off but now i'm stumped. Anyone have
any ideas what on earth these are supposed to attach to so the fixture is
secure? Thanks.

--

Either toggle bolts for a heavier fixture or plastic drywall anchors
for lighter ones. Sounds like the hole may be so large that toggle
bolts are the option now. As you noted, there should be a box too.

On 7/28/2015 8:57 AM, trader_4 wrote:
On Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at 9:44:04 AM UTC-4, mikehava wrote:
So i removed my old hollywood-style bathroom light fixture in preparation
to put in a new one. However, decided not to go with the new one and
tried to reinstall the hollywood light fixture with no success. There is
no junction box in the middle where you expect the fixture to be mounted
and the wires are just fed through a hole in the wall. Thus, to attach
the fixture to the wall, there were two holes drilled near the ends of the
fixture and two 3" machine screws to screw in. The problem is that there
appears to be nothing inside the wall to attach the machine screws into.
No nut, no nothing, just air. I stuck a scewdriver in the holes that is 4
inches longer than the screws and still hit nothing but air. I am 100%
positive that the screws were attached to something as it took me quite a
while to unscrew them to the fixture off but now i'm stumped. Anyone have
any ideas what on earth these are supposed to attach to so the fixture is
secure? Thanks.

--

Either toggle bolts for a heavier fixture or plastic drywall anchors
for lighter ones. Sounds like the hole may be so large that toggle
bolts are the option now. As you noted, there should be a box too.


Darn! I actually was going to say the same thing. Finally, something I
knew the answer to... SHOUTS "TOGGLE BOLTS!!" HAHA

--
Maggie

On Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at 8:44:04 AM UTC-5, mikehava wrote:
So i removed my old hollywood-style bathroom light fixture in preparation
to put in a new one. However, decided not to go with the new one and
tried to reinstall the hollywood light fixture with no success. There is
no junction box in the middle where you expect the fixture to be mounted
and the wires are just fed through a hole in the wall. Thus, to attach
the fixture to the wall, there were two holes drilled near the ends of the
fixture and two 3" machine screws to screw in. The problem is that there
appears to be nothing inside the wall to attach the machine screws into.
No nut, no nothing, just air. I stuck a scewdriver in the holes that is 4
inches longer than the screws and still hit nothing but air. I am 100%
positive that the screws were attached to something as it took me quite a
while to unscrew them to the fixture off but now i'm stumped. Anyone have
any ideas what on earth these are supposed to attach to so the fixture is
secure? Thanks.

--

My favorite drywall anchor for "heavy loads" is SNAPTOGGLE® because you don't lose the metal inside the wall when you remove the screw. The anchors are available at Lowe's Depot. I bought them in 50 count boxes at the supply house because I was hanging big screen TV monitors in retail stores to display video advertising. A video on the manufacturer's site shows how the anchors are installed. A light fixture isn't usually heavy enough to need that heavy duty of an anchor and the same manufacturer sells some lighter duty anchors for lighter loads. ^_^

http://www.toggler.com/products/snaptoggle/overview.php

http://www.toggler.com/index.php

Even British handymen like them. 8-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAIUublenMw

Here's an anchor I've used a lot of for medium loads I attached to drywall. The anchors stay in place if you remove the screw and install quickly. These anchors or some version are available at Lowe's Depot. ^_^

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsMzar3ask0

[8~{} Uncle Drywall Monster

On Tue, 28 Jul 2015 08:10:14 -0700 (PDT), Uncle Monster
wrote:

http://www.toggler.com/products/snaptoggle/overview.php

Thanks. I'd never seen these before. Sure makes sense and getting the
correct load size.

replying to trader_4 , mikehava wrote:
trader4 wrote:

Either toggle bolts for a heavier fixture or plastic drywall anchors
for lighter ones. Sounds like the hole may be so large that toggle
bolts are the option now. As you noted, there should be a box too.



Thanks for the info. So the bolts just fell off when i unscrewed them and
are now sitting on the floor behind the drywall?

--

On 07/28/2015 1:44 PM, mikehava wrote:
replying to trader_4 , mikehava wrote:
trader4 wrote:

Either toggle bolts for a heavier fixture or plastic drywall anchors
for lighter ones. Sounds like the hole may be so large that toggle
bolts are the option now. As you noted, there should be a box too.
....

Thanks for the info. So the bolts just fell off when i unscrewed them and
are now sitting on the floor behind the drywall?

The expanding toggle nuts did, yes...you've got the bolts (machine
screws, actually).

--

replying to dpb , mikehava wrote:
none wrote:

...
The expanding toggle nuts did, yes...you've got the bolts (machine
screws, actually).



Thanks, toggle bolts worked!

--

On Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at 1:33:05 PM UTC-5, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 28 Jul 2015 08:10:14 -0700 (PDT), Uncle Monster
wrote:

http://www.toggler.com/products/snaptoggle/overview.php

Thanks. I'd never seen these before. Sure makes sense and getting the
correct load size.

They're wonderful for hanging big screen TV's and shelves on drywall. I've even used them for hanging network racks. ^_^

[8~{} Uncle Hanging Monster

On Tue, 28 Jul 2015 20:32:12 -0700 (PDT), Uncle Monster
wrote:

On Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at 1:33:05 PM UTC-5, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 28 Jul 2015 08:10:14 -0700 (PDT), Uncle Monster
wrote:

http://www.toggler.com/products/snaptoggle/overview.php

Thanks. I'd never seen these before. Sure makes sense and getting the
correct load size.

They're wonderful for hanging big screen TV's and shelves on drywall. I've even used them for hanging network racks. ^_^

[8~{} Uncle Hanging Monster

I suppose they would work great for metal 2x4 wall studs, too.

On Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at 2:20:48 PM UTC-5, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 28 Jul 2015 20:32:12 -0700 (PDT), Uncle Monster
wrote:

On Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at 1:33:05 PM UTC-5, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 28 Jul 2015 08:10:14 -0700 (PDT), Uncle Monster
wrote:

http://www.toggler.com/products/snaptoggle/overview.php

Thanks. I'd never seen these before. Sure makes sense and getting the
correct load size.

They're wonderful for hanging big screen TV's and shelves on drywall. I've even used them for hanging network racks. ^_^

[8~{} Uncle Hanging Monster

I suppose they would work great for metal 2x4 wall studs, too.

Do you mean for adding a new wall to an existing Sheetrock wall by attaching the metal in an area where no stud is behind the drywall? 8-)

[8~{} Uncle Wall Monster

On Thu, 30 Jul 2015 10:13:41 -0700 (PDT), Uncle Monster
wrote:

On Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at 2:20:48 PM UTC-5, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 28 Jul 2015 20:32:12 -0700 (PDT), Uncle Monster
wrote:

On Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at 1:33:05 PM UTC-5, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 28 Jul 2015 08:10:14 -0700 (PDT), Uncle Monster
wrote:

http://www.toggler.com/products/snaptoggle/overview.php

Thanks. I'd never seen these before. Sure makes sense and getting the
correct load size.

They're wonderful for hanging big screen TV's and shelves on drywall. I've even used them for hanging network racks. ^_^

[8~{} Uncle Hanging Monster

I suppose they would work great for metal 2x4 wall studs, too.

Do you mean for adding a new wall to an existing Sheetrock wall by attaching the metal in an area where no stud is behind the drywall? 8-)

[8~{} Uncle Wall Monster

The wall behind my kitchen ovens has metal studs, instead of wood
studs as best I can tell without opening the wall (between kitchen and
living room).