Installing Drop-leaf Table on Plaster Wall

Gork

I'm planning on installing this drop-leaf table on a plaster wall: http://m.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/art/20217522/

It has a vertical support bar in the middle with two holes to secure to the wall and four holes running horizontally with the leaf to secure the table to the wall. It weighs 20lbs. If I secure the support bar to a wall stud, do I need to worry about the four holes in the leaf being okay with just wall screws, or would I need to put in toggle bolts for them? Thanks in advance!

mts

you probably could just use drywall anchors and not go full toggle bolt

bowen

How much weight is going to be on this table?

anchors and toggle bolts will only get you something like 50 lbs.

Something like a table that might have heavy stuff or be pushed against should really be anchored to a stud for the support bar anyways.

The rest I would still probably use an anchor, but you might still get damage.

Gork

It's for dining, so probably less than 50lbs. The support bar will be secured to a wall stud, regardless. I haven't measured where the other holes hit, but one could end up matching a different stud.

Thro

Gork wrote: »

It's for dining, so probably less than 50lbs. The support bar will be secured to a wall stud, regardless. I haven't measured where the other holes hit, but one could end up matching a different stud.

I push myself up out of a dining chair by pushing downwards on the table; you should assume more than 50lbs of downward force. That said, as long as the support bar is in a stud you should be ok with the horizontal bar only being drywall anchors (get the nice metal ones that are rated for 50lbs) since that beam is really only to stop lateral force. Just don't run into the table sideways very hard. . .
Of course, if you do manage to get a second stud, all the better. Can't hurt to line it up and drill pilot holes.

Figgy

This is a 35" wide piece, so in theory you can secure one more screw on each side into a stud. If they were smart in designing it, you'll have multiple holes to choose from pre-drilled.

If you want it super sturdy, grab a thin piece of plywood 35" wide and drill into each stud, then fix the bracket over the plywood. You won't really notice it (paint the plywood edges the same colour as your wall or go for a cleaner piece of wood if you like).

Did a quick mockup:

mts

yea figgys idea is probably best. mount the wood to studs then use screws to mount to the wood with extra long screws on the stud mount

Gork

Whoah, awesome, Figgy.

You're right, though. From the length, I should be able to secure it to three studs. That could be all I need.

Technicality

I fitted the exact same table in my old flat.

When I did it, all the weight basically rests on the support bar. The reason to worry about the horizontal screws is that if they aren't nice and snug you get lateral movement which can be annoying (if for example someone bumps the corner of the table it would move side to side and glasses/candles would fall over).

So basically you want to make sure they won't work loose, but vertical load bearing is not an issue.