Toggle for a ceiling hook

[shmokes]

I'm mounting a pot rack and only two of the hooks from which the rack hangs on chains hit studs. I want to use toggle bolts for the other two, but all the toggles I've seen come with fine-threaded machine-type bolts, whereas the hooks that came with the pot rack have a very course thread that I think will not screw into any toggle nuts I've seen. Does anyone have experience using toggles with a ceiling hook? I can use plastic anchors, but I don't remotely trust them to stay in place, and the last thing I want is a metal pot rack, filled with metal pots and pans, to come crashing down out of my ceiling.

[whammoed]

What is above the ceiling?   Attic or 2nd floor?  If it is the attic, just go up and nail in a 2x4 cross member.

Otherwise, is the hook decorative?  If not I'm sure they make a hook with machine threads you could use with an anchor.

If the hook is decorative and you want them to match....then not sure...

[HaRuMaN]

He's not really mounting a pot rack.  It's for a sex swing.   

[shmokes]

No, my sex swing only requires two hooks, so they're both in a stud.   

[drventure]

If you can get into the attic over the spot, i'd put up a couple of 2x4 cross braces and screw the hooks into them.

If you CAN'T get into the attic, you might try these. I used them to hang flowerboxes on the outside of my house where a stud wasn't available given the position I needed. They've held for years now.

http://www.toggler.com/products/snaptoggle/overview.php

[lilshawn]

You could just modify a toggle bolt to work with the thread of your hook. drill it out a bit and screw in your hook. you aren't going.to.be hanging 500 lbs off of it. a plastic anchor while do fine. they have a white one that has huge threads on it. probably would work the best. its especially for drywall.

[shmokes]

If you can get into the attic over the spot, i'd put up a couple of 2x4 cross braces and screw the hooks into them.

If you CAN'T get into the attic, you might try these. I used them to hang flowerboxes on the outside of my house where a stud wasn't available given the position I needed. They've held for years now.

http://www.toggler.com/products/snaptoggle/overview.php

I have some of those, and I think they're great. But I run into the same problem. The nut threads aren't compatible with the threads on the ceiling hooks.

[whammoed]

Also keep in mind some hooks come apart and can take either a wood screw or machine screw insert.
Take a look at the pic.

[leapinlew]

I would either install a cross beam and do some drywall repair or put a decorative plate on the ceiling (stained wood or something) and screw into it. 

[drventure]

put a decorative plate on the ceiling (stained wood or something) and screw into it.

that's actually a pretty good idea if it'll work with your kitchen

Get a decent plank of 3/4" wood, cut a decorative edge on it, route an ogee around the edge, stain it, then screw it into the rafters

Then you can screw your hanger bolts directly into it.

[leapinlew]

put a decorative plate on the ceiling (stained wood or something) and screw into it.

that's actually a pretty good idea if it'll work with your kitchen

Get a decent plank of 3/4" wood, cut a decorative edge on it, route an ogee around the edge, stain it, then screw it into the rafters

Then you can screw your hanger bolts directly into it.

or mount it down about 3" and put some lighting behind it.

Get creative Schmokes!

[shmokes]

I hate to get too creative (read: expensive) at the moment. When my wife and I left Miami a year ago we got rid of most our stuff. Now we're getting back on our feet and having to buy pretty much everything, which means money's limited right now. So the wife is gonna roll her eyes in irritation if I go buy a piece of wood to work on, especially while I'm simultaneously working on a bunch of other projects (one of which being getting my bloody PC running again, lol). Also we're in an apartment that we'll probably be in for no more than two years, maybe only a year.

I'll probably first see if I can drill out a toggle and make it compatible with the hooks. Otherwise, it looks like I can probably find hooks with machine screw threading (like the ones pictured above). The last ideas, while arguably better, and definitely more interesting, will be backup plans.

[leapinlew]

Well... what about taking pan holder and setting it up so it only needs 2 points to connect and you can connect that into the joist?

[shmokes]

I REALLY like that idea. Unfortunately the joists are both poorly located and running the wrong direction for that to work. Actually, even as I'm typing this it's occurring to me how that might work. Requires more investigation. I'll report back. Thanks for the tip.

[Benevolance]

Following up on the cross brace idea...

When I installed my glass rack, I had trouble finding the studs in the ceiling. Those I found were not in appropriate places. Studs can be so unaccomodating. I installed cross-beams, but mounted them onto the ceiling rather than above the ceiling, and stained it all to match the hanging glass rack. That way I could drill into the cross-beam wherever was necessary to hit a stud and get stability, and then screw the hanging rack into the cross-beam as appropriate to get a balanced look.

Incidentally, studfinders don't work on ceilings and the little trick of shining a flashlight across the ceiling to find the joists is ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow---. Or I'm incompetent. But I'd prefer to place the blame elsewhere.

[lilshawn]

these chains aren't in your bedroom are they 

*hears whip crack in the distance*

[Benevolance]

Not theeeeese chains...