Screws to mount shelves into drywall?

Hi.

I recently put up some drywall around my work bench in the cellar and I attempted to put those L braces to put a shelf on. I can't seem to find screws to hold. The wood screws I'm using seemed to strip the drywall hole and just pull right out.

Should I be putting the braces into the studs maybe?

 

Yes. Sheetrock is not structural. You can use special fasteners in Sheetrock but easiest is to use screws long enough to go through the Sheetrock and at least an inch into the stud.

 

Thanks ray. Are drywall screws ok?

 

I'd use decking screws. They aren't as brittle.

 

For the extreme rare occasion that a drywall screw will break (usually due to the installer not installing straight) I've installed thousands of them from hanging pictures to building work benches to finishing basements.

They come in a variety of sizes and finishes and cost is so reasonable. A fantastic product that I would never be without the 10-12 boxes that I always have on hand!

 

Sheetrock screws are designed for sheetrock, not structural construction. Once you torque a sheetrock screw enough to hold structural materials, you will find the head will snap off more often than not. I would use decking screws, too.

 

me three I used to use drywall screws for everything but have had the heads snap off enough times that now I rarely use them for anything but drywall.

 

Except for composition of the metal decking screws can be identical in apperance to Sheetrock screws including using a #2 Philips driver. Some do use a special driver but I stick with Phillips. I use to use Sheetrock screws for every thing but when decking screws became common I switched. The one screw mentioned in this thread I can't remember ever buying is wood screws. Usually there are better choices.Substitute decking screws for Sheetrock screws and I'll agree 100%. I always keep an assortment of four sizes from 1¼" to 3".

I will say shop for prices. Back in the day my favorite lumber yard sold one pound boxes for $5 but Home Depot sold the same one pound box from the same manufacturer for $10.

 

FWIW, I have become a big fan of square (Robertson) drive screws over Philips. I know Larry is a fan of the Torx (star) drive screw, when available as an option.