The butterfly dowel for drywall is a fastening device that is used when working with a material with a thickness of 10–12 mm. There are several types of dowel-nails for working with drywall, they all have a different purpose. The dowel "butterfly" is necessary for fixing lamps, skirting boards, cornices.
What it is
The dowel-nail "butterfly" consists of a self-tapping screw and a plastic part that resembles butterfly wings. The peculiarity of this fastener is that when twisting, the wings are straightened and pressed against the back of the drywall sheet. This allows you to distribute the load, which is a big plus when working with such fragile material as drywall.
Also, this dowel-nail has special ribbed sections that do not allow it to scroll in the GKL. There is also a ribbing on the inside of the head that prevents the fastener from folding.
It differs from other dowel-nails in the weight it can support. Permissible load - up to 20 kg.
Dowel "butterfly" can be:
- metallic;
- plastic;
- nylon.
The most common type is a plastic dowel. It is cheap to produce and therefore widely available. The advantage of plastic and nylon fasteners is their durability: they do not rust. But it is better not to hang heavy objects on them.
Metal "butterflies" are less common on sale and more expensive than their counterparts, but they can withstand heavy loads. Some manufacturers cover them with special anti-rust products, which is also a plus.
Why do you need a dowel "butterfly"
Drywall is used to level walls and create decorative structures in the interior. It is a brittle material that cannot withstand heavy loads. Therefore, it is not recommended to hang shelves and cabinets on it. It is allowed to attach only small lamps and paintings to it, but this requires special dowel-nails.
The dowel "butterfly" is also used when attaching to chipboard, plywood, GVL, as well as for other sheet material up to 12 mm thick.
When choosing a dowel of the specified type, its dimensions should be taken into account. It is necessary to correctly select the length and diameter of the self-tapping screw for various types of surfaces:
- Leg length can be from 12 to 260 mm.
- The most common diameters are 4, 8, 10 mm.
Fastening the dowel "butterfly"
Fastening this type of dowel-nails is not difficult, even a novice master can handle it. Stages of work:
- A hole of suitable diameter is drilled in the wall. There must be a distance between the wall and the drywall sheet that exceeds the length of the dowel.
- A dowel is inserted into the hole, but not completely.
- Holding the dowel with pliers, screw in the self-tapping screw (not all the way).
- As soon as the "butterfly" petals open, the dowel is inserted all the way and the self-tapping screw is screwed in to the end.
If you are not confident in your abilities, you can watch training videos on the Internet about working with this type of fastener.
Types of dowels for drywall
In addition to the "butterfly", there are several more types of dowel-nails for drywall sheets:
- Molly. This fastener is made of metal, so it can withstand loads up to 35 kg. It is similar in principle to the "butterfly": the sheet is clamped in front and behind, which increases the contact area.
- Driva. Another reliable fastener for drywall. But it is often made of plastic, so it can withstand smaller loads - up to 25 kg. It is screwed on with a screwdriver, like a self-tapping screw. Due to the special design, it is securely held in the wall.
- Folding spring dowel. Most often used for plasterboard ceiling, you can hang a chandelier or planter on it.But it should be remembered that this type is not suitable for punching bags and other heavy objects. It has plates that are held by a spring. These plates are inserted into the hole in the GKL, and the spring unclenches them, due to which a reliable fixation occurs.
- Ordinary dowel-nail. This fastener is used if there is no free space between the wall and drywall. A hole is drilled in the wall, a plastic part is inserted and a self-tapping screw is screwed in.
Important! Fasteners for gypsum boards should be selected according to the weight that it can withstand. It should also be remembered that some types (for example, an umbrella) cannot be dismantled, so you need to correctly mark the holes before installation.
The most reliable is considered to be fastening to a metal profile on which drywall sheets are held. If possible, it is better to place it at the beginning of the repair in those places where you need to mount shelves and other items.
The dowel-nail "butterfly" is used in order to hang a TV on a drywall wall, lamp, electrical wiring elements and other items weighing no more than 20 kg. This is the most common type of mount, which is produced by various manufacturers. The most reliable are metal dowel-nails with anti-corrosion treatment.
