Think that I posted this in the wrong place earlier.....

I am intending to mount a tosh 37wlt66/68 onto a partition wall in my flat. Investigation reveals that the wall is plasterboard mounted onto metal studs. The 2 studs are 900mm apart and 820mm from the solid wall at each end. At a join with another wall at right angles behind the partition wall there is an area of hard brick, this is next to one of the metal studs.

The previous owners had shelves professionally installed into this wall which makes me believe that it's probably a lot stronger than it looks. They did have the advantage of using the solid brick at each end of the wall though.

I am intending to follow the plan outlined below and before starting on this, possibly this weekend, would very much appreciate any tips that you might be able to offer me on the plan that I have cobbled together from various posts in this forum.

1) Cut out hole in plasterboard from middle of each stud - would prefer not to create a hole bigger than the TV will cover (915mm length) as i don't know how to cover this up after the job???

2) Drill 14mm holes into the brickwork at one side

3) Partially fill holes with "no nails" and insert 14mm dowels

4) Attach piece of timber about 3cm thick (such that it extends to the same point as the studs) to brickwork by screwing into dowels - what size screws recommended?

5) Cut piece of 18mm plywood to fit the gap left by plasterboard.

6) Screw plywood into timber and attach also to metal studs - How does one attach to metal studs??????

7) Attach bracket to plywood with as many screws as possible!

8) Tidy up any areas of the plywood that might show outside the TV - the studs are so far apart that there is a distinct likelihood of a couple of cm halo at each side. How would I go about this??? - needs more than a lick of paint I suspect!

I hope that all that sounds sensible and there are only a few details to comment on rather than a complete reworking! I have read posts where people have successfully mounted using just scres into plasterboard, but I value my sleep. I have heard that the metal studs are not ideal for mounting onto but think that the clincher is the brick which should provide at least one point of rock solid stability to take the load.

[mr-gobby]

Are you trying to mount inbetween the two metal studs or between one of the metal studs and the wall? I cant get to grips with the dowel principle, can't you just screw a batton directly to the wall instead?

Fixing to metal stud/s is the weakest link because the studs are a C section and the only way to get a good and proper fixing into them is by wedging timber within the C section to be able to screw into. Plasterboard screws will go into the metal but the contact area is quite thin.

Your plasterboard will be 12mm thick so 18mm ply would protrude I think. 12mm maybe better if your going down this route and you could also use MDF instead. If it looks dreadfull afterwards you'll have to fill it as best you can and line the wall with paper. Trying to cut a straight line in plasterboard walls - draw a straight line and use a pad saw (plasterboard knife)

Personally I'd fix the bracket to the wall with lots of proper cavity fixings. You can always drill extra holes in the bracket if there aren't enough. You could also use no nails on the back of the bracket as well. Fix it up and hang something about 21kg from it before mounting the tv!

For a fixings guide see: http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/cat.jsp?cId=5

I am trying to mount between the two metal studs but, since I have a small area of wall in there as well, it makes sense to fasten it to that as well, I think.

The dowel bit is because the wall is very hard brick so I have the option of either using dowels or rawl plugs glued into the brick - at least that's what I understand, I'm far from an expert!

Rough Diagram!

| plasterboard 80cm|-| plasterboard 80cm)|-|pb (2cm)|-|plasterboard 80cm|-|
brick xxxxxxxxxxxx stud xxxxxxxxxxxxxx brick (8cm) xx stud xxxxxxxxxxxxxx brick


The brick is only present in a very small area as it is the end of a solid wall running at 90deg to the partition wall, otherwise I'd fasten to that all along.

[mr-gobby]

I understand the brick wall bit now - the fixings link i gave has an injection fixing section btw. Sounds like you would need a decent hammer action drill for the wall then. The metal studs will take the load, it's just all about getting a good reliable fixing into them hence mentioning the C section construction and inserting timber to screw into.