Mediocre_Incident694 t1_it3w6st wrote on October 20, 2022 at 7:14 PM

Plaster and Lath walls, but there are absolutely still studs.

Best way to find them is to use a magnet, which will pick up the nails used to fasten the lath to the studs. Will usually stick on the wall in a straight line up and down. Once you've located stud, can screw into it like anything else.

Alternatives are to use toggles. I prefer snap toggles, but you'll need a 1/2 inch drill bit to drill the hole for them. If you're hanging something that's very heavy, I would definitely NOT rely exclusively on toggles on plaster/lath, as they're rated for drywall.

The other hack you can do on plaster and lath for something that isn't very heavy and is to take one of those gold picture hanging brackets and just swap the nail for a screw that you will screw down into plaster at an angle.

b7d OP t1_it4izkh wrote on October 20, 2022 at 9:43 PM

So it seems plaster has moderate strength, more than dry wall, for light-to-medium things. Is that correct?

The only super heavy thing I am trying to find studs for is a full motion TV mount for a 63 lb TV which will be extended and from the wall. The rest of my stuff I can use command strips for.