What do you use in ceiling for hanging lights?

[Crashnt24]

I honestly just use cheap plastic drywall anchors. Electricians would call them reds and threads or blues and screws... either way, these work fine. I have a maxspect 4' led bar that is pretty heavy hanging from two anchor points. My wife even puts heavy ceramic Christmas decorations on my light bar. Never an issue. I would never think that you would need such a overkill weight rating to build a cross brace between joists.

 

[Ludders]

I just used plasterboard fixings and screw in loops. It's not like I'll be swinging from it.

 

[Chayo]

What I have done when joists aren't in the right place for centering the light.....they never are....is to first take a board (say a 1 x 4 or 1 x 6) that looks pretty with rounded corners and painted ceiling white, and have it long enough to screw into a couple joists. I can now use this board to center the light and attach hanging hardware where I want. I hope this explanation is clear.

Hello,
id appreciate the help as I’m trying to hang some lights as well, now as far as the type of wood I’m looking for is pine which I think should be good, that is paintable, and measures 2‘ in width by 6’ in length, what kind of thickness should I be looking for? and is there special screws to use? Thanks for the help! Also I think that using a big board might be too much weight over the tank? Might need to run 4 smaller individual pieces of board still measuring at 2’ length but width 1”

 

[Paul B]

The pine you are looking for measures 5/8" thick and is very common. You need screws that go through the pine and sheetrock then into the ceiling joists. Screws should be at least 2 1/4" long. That will allow them to go into the joists about 3/4" or a little more depending on the thickness of your sheetrock which is probably 1/2"-5/8"

 

[1guydude]

My 8 bulb 48" tek light and 18ft vaulted cieling have other ideas. Lol
D

 

[ReefLaw]

I have an incredibly heavy ATI fixture hanging from two 3 inch screws into studs

 

[Chayo]

The pine you are looking for measures 5/8" thick and is very common. You need screws that go through the pine and sheetrock then into the ceiling joists. Screws should be at least 2 1/4" long. That will allow them to go into the joists about 3/4" or a little more depending on the thickness of your sheetrock which is probably 1/2"-5/8"

thanks for the reply! I’ll get some screws that size, this is my poor layout of what I’m thinking of doing rather then buying a super big sheet of wood that’s basically the same dimensions of the tank lol I’m just going to use 4 pieces cut small enough to get two screws drilled to the joists on each end of the board. wish me luck I’ll be working on it this weekend. Saw someones thread with their lights in the tank after securing with toggle bolts which was my initial plan... lol

 

[biecacka]

Built then painted. I’ll use them to hang Orpheks from the 80/20 on the bottom. I built a lip on the top to house the ballasts and cords from sight.

corey

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I bolts

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Lag screw hook. They come in all sizes depending on how heavy your lights are. Just to to any hardware store or home depot . They are like $1.50

What about 6" stainless steel 1/4x20 i bolts drilled thru the studs with a stainless washer and lock nut in the attic?

 

[Paul B]

You could also do that. As an electrician I spent my life hanging things from ceilings. Sheetrock is made from chalk with paper on it and is weak so anything that spreads out the load a little like a toggle bolt will work.
For really heavy things, you need to screw into the stud but for almost any light I can imagine over a home tank, a toggle bolt will work. They are just not the nicest looking thing because you have to cover the big hole with a washer. Also if you ever use a toggle bolt, always drill the hole in the sheetrock. Don't push a hole through with a screwdriver because it makes a big hole in the back of the sheetrock vastly weakening the anchor.

 

[Chayo]

I have my wood cut and painted now I’m wondering if I should install option A - just the hook into the joist board supports, or option B Just using the toggle bolt to go through the board and ceiling? Any opinions appreciated thanks sorry for the newb ?s

 

[Paul B]

If you want to put it over a wooden joist, use that wood thread hook. If there is no joist exactly where you need the anchor, use the toggle.