best anchors for drywall?

[Homerboy]

I'm putting up a 42" long shelf that will be carrying a decent load (plants, books, etc) pretty much right above my headboard in my bedroom. The problem is, of course the bracket locations don't line up with the studs in the wall at all. So, I'm looking for my best options for anchors. You think standard toggles will cut it? The bracket's I'm using are below and they will be carrying a 1" thick butcher-block style shelf (so it's pretty heavy too).

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

42" should span at least 2 studs spaced at 16". I wouldn't do any kind of shelf without hitting at least one stud. And no, never push in plastic anchors for that type of thing. I'd only use Toggle bolts.

Push ins are for light weight things like pictures where all of the force is down (shear) and there is no pull out or tilt/angle force.

 

[Greenman]

I don't do shelves hung on drywall, it's not a structural material. If the spacing of your brackets won't work with your framing, use a 1x4 base screwed into the studs then hang your shelf brackets off of that.

 

[Homerboy]

Yeah - after I posted I went back upstairs and did some remeasuring. I'm able to hit one stud if I don't go perfectly symmetrical and since I'm pretty much of the same belief of both of you that's the route I'm going. I did end up buying some "special" toggles like these: https://www.lowes.com/pd/TOGGLER-20...andard-Drywall-Anchor-Screws-Included/3183869

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

I'll use metal or plastic screw in anchors:



on a shelf like this:




where the down leg lengths are equal to or exceed the shelf protrusion from the wall. The chance of a small/narrow shelf being loaded with enough weight to pull away is very slim.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I'd really try to fix it in a way so you can get at least 2 studs but one is better than nothing.

If you absolutely can't go into a stud, I would go with the style of anchor that opens up inside the wall, they are often used for ceiling hooks for light fixtures. Also I would modify the shelf so it has "legs" like one shown above. The legs themselves don't necessarily need to be fastened to the wall just rest against it. They will help counter the leverage forces on the fasteners.

 

[sdifox]

Yeah drywall is not going to hold books. Make sure you screw into two studs. Or do what Greenman suggested, add a wood strip screwed into two studs, then mount your shelf braces on that wood.

 

[mindless1]

I agree with others, in this case you want to hit two studs or mount to a backing board that does.