Help Attaching Cabinets To Metal Studs.

BirmanBuilders

Hi guys, I'm finally back at work woohoo! First problem I'm running into is attaching cabinets to the walls. Walls are metal studs covered in 5/8 drywall. Tried using 2 1/2" fine thread drywall screws but they won't bite into the metal stud, the end is not sharp enough. Anyone know of any not outragously priced screws that would be good for this? Can't get the screws with the little drill bits on the end big enough.

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woodtradesman

If the studs are 20 gauge or thicker then try self taping screws, should work like a charm.

Gus Dering

If you can't get screws to pilot themselves then you could send a piolet drill in the hole first.

I had to do that once when the studs were 20 ga and all we had was regular screws on hand. PITA

OCRS

Your local drywall supplier will carry self-taping in the size you need

Teetorbilt

Just hanging the cabs is the least of your worries. What happens when they are full? What happens when they are full of antique Royal Daulton china? You're going to hate me and the idiot who installed the metal studs.

On uppers you'll need stands. Find the studs. Pre-locate the cabs. Transfer the stud locations to inside the cabs. Use a 1/8" drill through the cabs and into the studs (there's a lot of 'feel' here) and I sink 2 anchors in the tops.

When you hit all of the studs, break everything down. I use expansion anchors and you have to go oversized with the drill to get through the metal, so for a 1/4" I'll go 5/16" drill. Install the anchors with the 'legs' at 45* and set lightly. Cabs back up on the stands and play 'find the holes'. Juggle the play while the boxes are fitted to each other and then shim the unit to the wall as the anchors are adjusted.

It's not much fun and chews up a lot of time but no lawsuits to date.

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jhark123

build wood stud walls to hang the cabinets?

Chris Johnson

Grabber 2 1/4" Hardy Screws

or

Rip out the drywall behind the cabinets, install 1/2" or 5/8 plywood, hang cabinets fastened to the plywood, problem is you need to attach the plywood...see suggested screw above

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Chris

naptown CR

I tear out the drywall and install 2x6 blocking between the studs for the top and use self tappers on the bottom then you can put a screw anywhere in the top hanging rail.

Ashcon

That's the way i'd do it, matter of fact there an article in fine home building, that talks about doing that in residential for upper cabs.

skymaster

Also, in addition to ply use Tek screws. They are designed for metal studs. They have a drill point and fine threads. PL400 the buggers also

loneframer

Does anyone else find it unusual to hang cabinets with drywall screws. We always use a washerhead screw to reduce overdriving and pullout. They are also less likely to snap.

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stp57

I wouldn't trust 5/8" plywood to hold the cabinet either, unless you also Liquid Nailed it to the wall. What a messy uninstall that would be!
Steve

genecarp

That works goooood

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Morning Wood

Hanging cabinets with drywall screws Get yourself the correct length and size screw and go into the studs. I would use stainless sheet metal screws or I would do the wood blocking thing. Make sure your screws have a washer head or a very large pan head and adequate shank for holding the cabinets to the wall.

master of none

I have done it this way... worked out great
a better way is to do your blocking before the Sheetrock goes up.

JonM

Some places in Europe actually take their kitchen cabinets with them when they move. So what they do is literally just hang them. You could glue and screw the plywood bracket as shown below....

Tom R

Similar to several responses already given, - - I would cut two swaths (an upper and a lower) into the drywall (nice straight lines along the bottom edges) and install 5/8" plywood rip-strips in their place w/self-tappers. The plywood strips resting right on the drywall will give it added strength. Then install the cabs into the plywood(s).

A W Smith

Cut 3/4 inch plywood strips about 4-6 inches wide X 6 or 8 inches longer then the height of your uppers. Cut a pocket behind where the cabinet would be to insert these plywood strips vertically. Slip these strips within the channel of the steel stud but flat against the back of drywall. This will give you a margin of error for when a cabinet just misses a stud. Fasten through the drywall or stud with screws. And oh yeah. be careful not to put a screw in your hand as your holding the strips in place through the access hole. You can do the same for the lowers but just make the strips only about 8 inches long.

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Al Smith
http://www.awsmith.com

Gus Dering

I guess I'm just not that worried about screwing a cabinet to 20ga studs as some of you.
25ga is a little scary but we use a hanging cleat that can be glued on as well as screwed in that case.

But you will not find me opening up the wall to slip in backing. No way. There just is no money in that.
I may be the one sorry for that some day but no problems to date and there is a bunch of cabs out there hanging from steel studs.

Thats just me though. We all have to do what lets us sleep at night.

ClosetPro

For the most part we are talking about "sheer" so using a heavy enough (say a 10) screw into the center of the metal stud should be ample. Try not to overdrive it!