The test-
The test itself is very simple, firstly I have used the exact same jig for every single test, this is made from 3" X 2" timber, it is designed so that the sheet of plasterboard can be screwed along the top, down both sides and to the one stud that runs down the centre.
In all tests the plasterboard is 12.5mm thick standard plasterboard, it is not Corex plasterboard, fire rated plasterboard or Multiboard, all of which would give much different results.
Originally, I loaded up the shelf with blocks and bricks that I had left over from jobs, but when I started to do the testing inside, many of the blocks became damaged (I also used many of the blocks for filling post holes etc.), so in later videos I have used pieces of scrap metal. All pieces have been weighed and the total has been calculated after the plasterboard has failed.
I have tried to get the brackets in the same place for each test, and I have always tried to load the shelf so that the weights are closest to the plasterboard, so that the cantilever effect does not influence the results.
4 fixings are used in each test (two per bracket)
You may notice that some of the weights have moved during the video, this is because I load up the shelf, then have to unload it in order to add more weight to the shelf. Some of the videos literally take hours to film, and I try to cut this down to a short video.
Background-
A few years back I picked up a packet of plasterboard fixings, which claimed to be the “strongest in the world”, then I saw another packet with almost the same claim. I was bemused, as I had tried one of these fixings and was not really impressed with it. I got so annoyed with all of the ridiculous claims, that I decided to test them out myself. I filmed the results and put the video on YouTube, this is the first video-
At this moment in time, I bought a selection of plasterboard fixings (drywall fixings, if you are across the pond) and tested them out.
Then a few years later, there was an even larger amount of plasterboard fixings available, so I also tested those out in this video-
For some strange reason, the plasterboard test videos used to trigger some people on YouTube. One guy was constantly posting stupid comments on my other videos about the plasterboard tests, so I did what I do to all idiots on YouTube and blocked him!
Here are the results of how much weight 4 of the fixings could hold before the plasterboard fails-
1. Spring toggle 176KG or 387Lbs
2. Bullfix Extra 143KG or 314Lbs
3. Snap toggle (sometimes called zip fix fixing) 129KG or 284Lbs
4. Geefix fixing 125KG or 275Lbs
5. TOX Spiral pro fixing (these were sent by Paul Ekstorm-Hughes from Sweden) 118KG or 260Lbs
6. Hollow wall anchors 109KG or 240Lbs
7. GripIt fixing (Blue) 101KG or 222Lbs
8. EZGrip plasterboard fixing 91Kg or 200Lbs
8. Rosett plasterboard fixing 91KG or 200Lbs
8. Thorsman Duo Max 91KG or 200Lbs
8. Bladefixer 51KG or 112Lbs if installing the fixing from the front or 91Kg or 200Lbs if you can reach behind the plasterboard and help the fixings.
9. Metal plasterboard screw 53KG or 116Lbs
I have put this information into a spreadsheet to make it look more organised
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