Command Hooks don't hold very much weight wise and I would like to mount heavy objects – e.g. a whiteboard …
any ideas?
(yes this is drywall – I cannot leave any marks in it ).
context: college dorms; they're not happy with any holes of course.
Drywall – How to hang heavy objects on a wall, without leaving any marks
adhesivedrywallmounting
Related Solutions
If you really want to securely hold objects that heavy to the wall using magnets, I think you need to be working with sheet metal on top of the drywall (or in place of the drywall).
The magnetic force will fall off very quickly with distance away from the plate, so even skim-coating with plaster will dramatically reduce the holding power of the magnet.
If you want the surface to blend in with the surrounding walls (you didn't actually state the finish on the walls, but I'm assuming it's painted sheetrock or plaster), try simply painting the steel sheet to match. The texture of the finish might be slightly different, but I'd imagine it wouldn't take away from the feeling that it "blends in" with the surrounding walls.
As others have stated, I'd also consider a polycarbonate mirror rather than glass.
Luckily your mount has slots for the bolts so you have a bit of room to work. Get another (stronger, higher quality) lag bolt and put it in right beside the broken one.
Leave a tiny bit of room between them if you can, but make sure it still solidly hits the stud.
Predrill the hole. To find the right size, hold the bolt up behind your drill bit. The drill bit should cover the entire shaft, but not the threads. Make sure you drill to the same depth the bolt will go to.
Rub the bolt threads on a candle or bar of soap to lube it up a little if you think it is going to be hard to drive in again.
Drive the bolt in slowly. Don't use a drill unless it has a low torque screwdriver setting. You might want to tighten it with hand tools anyways so you don't risk snapping this one too. There probably isn't room for a third try!
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Best Answer
You have a dilemma. The strongest removable glue bases hooks, such as Command, appear to be rated to to hold a maximum of only 7.5 lbs. Even if you double these up, you are at 15 lbs. It might be possible to rig a series of hooks to spread the load, but it would take a careful rigging to avoid having all the weight on the two outside hooks.
This is not a practical solution for something weighing over 20 lbs., especially if it is not static. A whiteboard is not static since it is subject to constant jostling as it is written upon.
Any surface attachment is problematic. When dealing with wallboard, you have a paint film attached to layer of thin paper/cardboard, attached to a plaster substrate. The adhesive strength of the paint film sticking to the paper over a few square inches is not enought to hold significant weight. If you had an adhesive between the hook and the paint that was strong enough not to let go, the paint (or more likely the top surface of the wallboard paper facing) will likely pull away.
A possibility, one I have not tested, is the use of a tension pole system, such as ZipWall
The poles are extended between floor and ceiling and held in place with spring tension. This system is intended to hold up a thin, lightweigh film of plastic to create a dust barrier, but several poles could probably hold a board of moderate weight. This would only work if the ceiling were solid, not a dropped tile ceiling or any surface that was not plaster, plasterboard or wood. It also rules out textured ceilings. Even if the ceiling is solid, there is a possibility of marring the ceiling.
While I know you ruled out nails, you might consider using Ook style picture hooks.
These use superfine hardened steel nails that are easily removable and leave a pinhole size mark. Even that may disappear with a slight rub or covered with a tiny dot of tempera or acrylic craft paint. These hooks are available in weights up to 100 lbs. each and are aslo available with a cushioned back that is even better at avoiding damage to the wall.
If you want a truly mar free, safe installation, you should prop the board up on an easel-like structure, as suggested by Michael Karas.