Plasterboard wallmates help. Mounting a Soundbar

eckorock on 05/09/2022 - 14:04
Last edited 05/09/2022 - 14:06

Hi fellows
Problem summary:
Screw isn't driving in, wallmate is spinning in place.

I'm trying to mount a Soundbar as per directions
I bought twist and lock wallmates
They looked bigger than what I needed because the Soundbar mount fixing had a big hole and I wanted a screw with a big enough head.

The wallmates went into the plaster ok
But when I started to drive the screw in with my screwdriver, one side refused to drive in and it was just spinning in place with the wallmate.

https://postimg.cc/QVKKP7v1
* Note I'm not using the anchors in this mount product, this is just a 3rd party one I found on Amazon. I'm using original Samsung mounts and wallmates from Bunnings.

https://postimg.cc/ppXbrQxn

https://postimg.cc/2VxMf1Z8

https://postimg.cc/mzFKxVQ0

Distance between holes is 6cm.

The mount guide suggests M5 screws and M6 plasterboard mounts

The screws I have are 40mm, not sure of the width but they came with the wallmate pack.
The pack doesn't specify what diameter the wallmates are, but I don't see why bigger wallmates should be a problem here, they just don't seem to have gripped into the plasterboard.

How can I recover the situation?
Plaster over and use Smaller anchors?
I'm worried there's nothing for the anchors to grip now

Any suggestions appreciated

Home & Garden

Comments

  • nocure on 05/09/2022 - 14:11

    Use These instead

    • bmxr on 05/09/2022 - 19:34

      Yep, these.

      Cavity wall anchors. Can hold up to 20kg each in decent quality plasterboard (not recommended, but I have tested it!)

  • chrisie on 05/09/2022 - 14:24
    +1

    I would use this type they are made for the job
    https://www.bunnings.com.au/ramset-plasterboard-togglemate-5…

    • chrisie on 05/09/2022 - 14:28

      Yes I would go with those

    • eckorock on 05/09/2022 - 15:36

      Thanks. The guy who I spoke to just before at Bunnings suggested those too

  • geek001 on 05/09/2022 - 14:27

    Looks like you either need to get some toggle anchors or another anchor that needs a bigger hole. Toggle anchors require some thinking, maybe get a pack of these:

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/gripit-15mm-yellow-plasterboard-…

    I think these require a larger hole than what you currently have to grip onto.

  • pjetson on 05/09/2022 - 15:27
    +2

    It looks to me like you might have screwed in the anchors too far and "stripped the thread" in the plasterboard. You only need to screw them in until the head of the anchor is about level with the plasterboard.

    Best option would be to repair the holes and try again in a slightly different location.

    • eckorock on 05/09/2022 - 15:35

      It has to be that exact location because it's a Soundbar
      Otherwise it will be completely misaligned with the TV

      • pjetson on 05/09/2022 - 15:43
        +1

        You might need to raise or lower it a little, so that the new anchors are in solid plasterboard.

        I seem to recall you can buy a small sheet of plasterboard from bunnings for just a few dollars. Maybe you could get a piece and get some wallmate practice.

      • jizmo on 05/09/2022 - 20:36

        If you're having troubles with a soundbar.. Who mounted the TV?

        • eckorock on 06/09/2022 - 16:26

          JB Hifi team

    • eckorock on 05/09/2022 - 15:35

      I did try to screw the anchors until they were flush with the wall and no further

  • slow on 05/09/2022 - 15:48
    +2

    Some plasterboard is very thin and soft and doesn't provide enough purchase for wallmates.

    These are much better and you can move them around until they are in the right position before tightening

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/ramset-1-8-x-50mm-round-head-tog…

  • JimB on 05/09/2022 - 16:47

    How big is the soundbar?

    6cm between the holes makes its weak.

  • Euphemistic on 06/09/2022 - 06:53

    Plastic screw in wallmates are rubbish. Find a stud and drill a new hole in the mounting bracket to suit it.

    • eckorock on 06/09/2022 - 16:25

      It's a soundbar so i can't just put it anywhere where the nearest stud is.

      • Rahonui on 06/09/2022 - 18:08

        You should cut enough plaster out to access the studs on either side of the hole, then attach a noggin to the studs on either side. Cut a piece of plaster to suit the cutout and patch it up. Personally i wouldn't trust plaster alone to hold up a soundbar.

        • eckorock on 07/09/2022 - 11:29

          Is the noggin a horizontal cross beam that will he connected to 2 studs? Or just a piece of wood that comes out far enough to reach where the bracket needs to go?

      • Euphemistic on 06/09/2022 - 18:18

        I imagined a soundbar to be wider than the spacing between studs and to have a bracket that’s quite wide too. If it’s only held by 2 screws 60mm apart how wide is the bracket?

        • Rahonui on 06/09/2022 - 20:47

          Yes, the soundbar would likely be wider than the stud spacing… but it's the bracket you need to be concerned about. I don't know how wide your bracket is, but if the screws are 60mm apart, then so long as they are fastened into something that will hold the weight, then it will be all good.

          • Euphemistic on 06/09/2022 - 21:39

            @Rahonui: If it’s a nice wide bracket (which would make sense) you are more likely to hit at least one stud somewhere. That way the stud will take the weight and a second screw into plasterboard will stop it rotating without taking too much load.

            Itd be nice to see the bracket (but I don’t really need to see it)

            • Rahonui on 07/09/2022 - 09:32

              @Euphemistic: @Euphemistic apologies, for some reason i thought you were the o.p. last nightwhen I was replying. There is a photo:
              https://postimg.cc/2VxMf1Z8
              And yeah, seems weird the screws being so close together!

              • eckorock on 07/09/2022 - 11:27

                @Rahonui: There are 2x mounting brackets. One left, one right

                4 screws in total

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