attach shelf using concealed brackets on plastboard

pel · Post by **pel** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:58 pm

Hi,

I want to put up a floating shelf which will be able to take about 20Kg (although the more the better). I have other pine furniture in the room so wanted it to match this. I am therefore looking to attached a plank of pine to a plasterboard wall in a way that does not show any brackets. The shelf will need to be 300x1800x18mm, although thickness can change if needed. I think I can use metal plasterboard anchors like these (http://www.screwfix.com/prods/38777), but how can I attach the plank to them?

Also, will the shelf be OK on the plasterboard?

Any help would be appreciated.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:48 pm

heeelllooo pel and welcome

i would only trust fixing into the studs or purpose built noggins

if your talking studs at 400mm or 16" you will have 5 studs required to support around 5kg each [including shelve]

you will need somthing like 8mm steel rod into each stud angled 2 degrees up and 3 " in to the stud and 8" into the shelve but not easy without drilling out the side of the shelve

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:33 pm

Hi Pel,

welcome to the forum,

Have you not looked for a custom floating shelf kit?

This one was bought from Ikea-

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/diy/s ... helves.htm

not sure if they do them in pine though

pel · Post by **pel** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 10:10 pm

Thanks for the responses.

ultimatehandyman:

I've had a look at some custom kit's but I haven't found any in pine or the correct size. I also found some instructions on making the shelve from MDF, but these will require painting.

big-all:

Thanks for the tip about using the studs. I see if I can find them behind the plaster. Does this mean that the plaster itself would not hold this weight? The steel rods - would they be something like these floating shelf brackets: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Concealed-Floatin ... dZViewItem

Has anyone used something like this?

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:03 pm

they are for 25mm thick shelves
they also look like they may hook over somthing

no heavy load can be hung from plasterboard

plasterboard is in effect a chalk like substance coverd in paper

plasterboard is extremly strong in shear where the load goes fully down the wall
like a shelve with in an alcove with a batton at each end
the further from the surface the greater the leverage and the weaker the fixing will be