April 24, 2006

• Home Improvement

  
  

  There are certain “truths” that exist in the world, like:

  
  

  - The Cubs will probably never win another World Series. 

  
  

  - Racism will probably always exist in some form. 

  
  

  - And I, Parry Shen, will never be able to find a wall stud.

  
  

  I’ve tried using electronic stud finders.  Magnetic ones.  I verify the location using both to zero in on the wall stud once, twice, three times and then mark the spot where the wall stud “supposedly” is.  When I finally tap in the nail… it goes through the drywall, hitting absolutely nothing (basically going between the wooden pillars in the photo above). 

  
  

  I’ve tried the rudimentary using your fist to “tap” the wall method in attempts to hear the changes in sound, hence locating the wall stud.  But when I think I ”hear” a sound change, I wonder if it’s indeed the wall stud or just me tapping harder on that spot in anticipation.

  
  

  In the past, I’d just fill the empty hole in the wall with an anchor expander, then screw in the screw.  Not too sturdy if you pulled on it really hard but it usually sufficed.

  
  

  But I recently got this huge bookcase.  And it’s got “Wouldn’t this be cool to climb?” written all over it.  So it really had to be anchored to the wall for Avery.

  
  

  So I went through the usual routine of trying to find a wall stud to secure the bookcase to — and of course, nothing.  When I tried using my anchor backup plan, I noticed the hole in the wall just kept getting wider and wider as I fussed more and more with it – until it was about 3/4 inch wide.  Basically too wide for any screw or anchor to fill it in.

  
  

  And then I found the best invention ever: The Toggle Bolt.

  
  

  When things get bad: Ya fold up the “wings” and insert it into the gaping hole.  Once the “wings” are on the other side of the wall…. Voila!  They spring open like a batarang and clamp onto the edges of the wall’s hole.  Then use a washer/bracket (bigger than the hole) on the other side of the wall so the head of the screw doesn’t get pulled through said gaping hole.  So aside from getting a pair of x-ray glasses to locate the wall studs through the drywall — these things are a great alternative.

  
  

  I bought a box of 20 Batarangs… um, I mean Toggle Bolts – as emergency backups for future mounting projects that go awry.

  
  

  God bless you Mr. Toggle. 

  
  

  And remember, to watch this Tuesday’s (4/25/06) ”THIEF“:

  
  

  As the situation between the Atwater Gang and the Chinese Mafia reaches an explosive climax when Vincent (Will Yun Lee) & Shrimp Boy (me) decide to take the fight into Nick’s (Andre Braugher) inner sanctum — his house.

  
  

  THIEF – Tuesdays 10pm on FX

  • 5:27 pm
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