I live in an apartment that has that has metal studs. I'm considering hanging various things from the wall, including a coat rack that will span 5 or 6 studs. I've seen advice that says metal studs are useless and crumple like tin foil and instead of hanging from the studs, I should use one of various heavy-duty drywall screws like SecureMount or Toggler. I've also seen advice saying that heavy objects should always be attached to studs, whether metal or wooden. I've even heard both sides by two different employees at the same hardware store.
I don't know the gauge of the studs but the drywall seems to be 5/8" thick.
Since the coat rack will span so many studs, it's as easy to mount it on the studs as it is between them. So which is better?
Best Answer
It's going to be more secure to use the studs, but depending on the weight of what you're hanging, it may not be necessary. If you're hanging more than 40+ pounds, I'd go ahead and use the studs.
Instead of using wood screws or lag bolts as you would use in wood studs, use toggle bolts similar to the Toggler brand that you mentioned. Starting from the center of the stud, make progressively larger holes in the drywall and stud until the toggle bolt will fit through. Follow the instructions as if you were putting it through just drywall. You'll only need two studs for all but the most heavy items. I've used this method to hang a small server rack in a partition wall, and it's stronger than I expected.