Modern repairs with plasterboard wall covering are commonplace. But there is always something to hang on these walls: a picture, a small shelf, a framed photograph or a night lamp. To carry out such work, fasteners called a dowel-butterfly for drywall are used. Easy to use and reliable in operation dowels are well-deservedly popular among professionals and home craftsmen.
Dowel
Actually the product itself is a part of the mounting device, which is fixed on a bearing surface. The second part is threaded fasteners in the form of a screw, self-tapping screw, etc. A plastic dowel, invented by German engineer Arthur Fischer in 1958, replaced wooden choppers.
The design is very simple, it has two parts: spacer (movable) and non-displacement (static). The spacer when screwing the threaded fastener expands and thereby forms a strong connection. The border around the hole prevents the dowel from falling into the sheet of drywall and turning in it.
Classification
Drywall dowels are made according to the principle of harpoon, which provides reliable and durable fastening. All of them are divided into two groups:
- Walkthroughs. Apply for ceiling mounting. They are well suited for massive chandeliers, sports equipment, that is, where there will be a solid load on the mount.
- Loosening up. It is used for hanging any products weighing no more than 15 kg.
By design, there can be a dowel:
- nail;
- Molly;
- bung;
- spacer;
- self-tapping screw;
- bolt;
- screw;
- mungo;
- anchor;
- dowel-butterfly for drywall.
Some of them are used in the installation of the drywall itself, part in order to fix something on the wall from it.
By the method of mounting:
- due to the friction force - in this case, the device is held due to the snug fit of its walls to the base;
- due to the expansion of the rear of the dowel, which does not allow it to pass through a narrower inlet.
By installation method:
According to the material of manufacture:
- metal (the alloy may be different - stainless steel, brass, etc.);
- plastic dowel (use polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon).
Butterfly dowel
Gypsacorton is not the most durable finishing material; it can crack and crumble. Nevertheless, it is widely used in repair work. It is easy to install and handle. Often there is a need to fix any objects on its surface: switches, cables, shelves, cornices, lamps, baseboards.
In order not to subject it to mechanical damage, specially designed fasteners, such as a butterfly dowel for drywall, are used. When folded, it is a structure with a diameter of 8-10 mm, the length depends on the model.
Its peculiarity is that after screwing it opens, and a sufficiently strong emphasis is formed on the reverse side. Due to the opening, its area increases, so that the pressure is evenly distributed.
Depending on the size, manufacturer and material (metal or plastic) of which the butterfly plug is made, the price will be different:
Diameter (mm) | Material | Amount) | Price ($) |
8.0 | nylon | 100 | 1.10 |
10.0 | nylon | 100 | 1.34 |
4.0 | steel | 100 | 9.48 |
Features of installation work
To install the butterfly dowel, it is necessary, first of all, to drill a hole in the drywall. The diameter must exactly match the diameter of the dowel, and the length is 5 mm longer than the length of the self-tapping screw. The hole is thoroughly cleaned from dust and dirt. Then the dowel is inserted into it and clogged with a hammer. It is important that it does not hang in the hole. Another point that you should pay attention to is the thickness of the product (what is attached to drywall) should not be more than 5 mm.
Between the drywall and the main wall, the gap cannot be less than 35 mm, then the self-tapping screw will tighten securely and will press the stop. If the gap is less, a hole is drilled in the main wall, then the dowel will fit, and you can freely tighten the screw. It is better to use a screwdriver so as not to rip off the plastic edges of the stop with large turns of the screwdriver.
Benefits
The dowel butterfly for drywall has several advantages:
- it is sold complete with a self-tapping screw of the appropriate length, diameter and type, the versatility of the design makes it easy to replace threaded fasteners with a more suitable one (hook, ring);
- securely fixed in the sheet of drywall due to the ribbed surface, this guarantees the quality of the fasteners;
- the thread applied to the distal dowel head contributes to reliable clamping, and special inner legs provide rigidity to the entire structure when the dowel is fully twisted;
- its versatility allows the use of this type of fastener for chipboard, plywood and other building sheet materials.
In addition, the plastic version with a thickness of 12 mm is able to withstand several twists. The ability to use it repeatedly attracts consumers, and they choose this particular wall plug. The price is justified and corresponds to the quality of the product, whether it is metal or plastic.