Mounting is one of the most popular tasks on TaskRabbit and for good reason. Almost everyone has something hanging on their wall, in their garage, from their ceiling, or maybe even something exotic like hanging from a tree outside. No matter what you need to mount, having the best tools for mounting tasks can make all the difference when it comes to getting what you need mounted safely, securely, and in a reasonable amount of time.
Before You Mount
Mounting starts long before you actually hang anything on the wall. You will need a number of different tools to know where you can and cannot put screws or other hanging hardware into the wall. Here are some of the best tools for mounting so that you don’t waste a bunch of time looking for studs in the wall.
Stud Finder
A stud finder is one of he best tools for mounting because it enables you to know about what is behind the wall before you make any holes. There are a few different stud finders available but not all of them work as well as others.
Stud Buddy
The Stud Buddy is one of the absolute best tools for finding where a stud is behind drywall. Instead of relying on some sort of digital contraption, the Stud Buddy has a much more simple approach. It uses powerful magnets that stick to the drywall screws in the wall. Not only is the incredibly quick and easy to find wall studs it also helps a homeowner to easily visualize where the studs are in a wall and where they might want to mount something.
StudBuddy is also incredibly cost-efficient at just $10 each. You can get by with only one but if you are mounting larger items like long shelves or a wide mirror, it’s a good idea to have at least a couple. If you already have a quality torpedo level (mentioned below) with powerful magnets in it, you might be able to use that to find the drywall screws in the wall.
Electronic Stud Finder
An electronic stud finder is another good tool to help you with mounting tasks. While these claim to be able to locate studs through the wall, they can be pretty hit or miss. Since they tend to cost at least $30 and don’t always work as well as they claim, these are more commonly used by professionals rather than just a homeowner.
Inspection Scope
Using an inspection scope can prove to be extremely helpful when it comes to mounting items on a wall. Before drilling holes and attaching hooks or brackets, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of what lies behind the wall’s surface. An inspection scope allows individuals to see beyond the drywall and identify any studs, pipes, or electrical wiring that may pose a challenge during the mounting process. By thoroughly inspecting the wall beforehand, potential issues can be addressed, and proper precautions can be taken to ensure a safe and secure installation. This tool eliminates the possibility of damaging wires or causing structural damage while mounting objects, providing peace of mind and convenience.
There are multiple different types of electronic stud funders but if you do some experimenting, you will likely discover that the stud buddy is the best for finding studs in most walls and also has the lowest price point. If you are mounting smething more technical and need to look and see what is inside of the wall before you make any holes, a high-end stud finder or even an inspection scope might be needed.
Laser Level
A quality laser level is a tool that is helpful for mounting multiple objects all at the exact same height with laser precision. These tend to be expensive so if you need to bunch of stuff mounted precisely, it might be a better idea to hire a pro instead of doing it yourself.
Make Your Mark
Before you make any permanent holes in a wall, it is best practice to make some marks and then double check that what you are about to nail or screw into is what you want to be making holes in. Here’s what you need to make your mark before you make any holes that you can’t un-make.
Non-Stick Tape
If you are working in someone else’s home, then you want to make the absolute least amount of impact on their property. That means that making the least amount of marks is a good idea. When you need to make a mark on the wall, you can mark the non-stick tape instead and then drill or nail through the tape and remove the tape afterwards. Tape can also be used to make a makeshift template of the hole layout on the item being mounted.
Pencil and Chalk
Making a mark on the wall will absolutely help you to mount with the most precision but if you need to avoid making any unnecessary marks, then using something like pencil or chalk is a great way to keep your liability risk to a minimum.
Keyhole Companion
The Keyhole Companion is one of the best tools for mounting smaller objects with more than a single attachment point. Instead of making multiple different measurements that can be difficult to be sure are correct, the Keyhole Companion attaches directly to the object being mounted and then easily marks the wall right where you need to put your nail, screw, or hanger.
If you hang lots of smaller objects and want to save time and reduce or even eliminate inaccuracy when mounting, the keyhole companion is an excellent addition to your tool box.
The Best Mounting Tools For Small Items
Small items like pictures, smalls shelves, coat racks, etc. are some of the most common things that get mounted on a wall. From adhesive hooks to magnetic strips, these tools offer secure and convenient ways to mount small items onto walls, cabinets, and other surfaces. These are some of the best mounting tools and materials for smaller items.
Mounting Putty
Mounting Putty can be a great way to hang smaller items on walls that can’t easily be drilled into. If you are trying to maximize work efficiency while minimizing the impact that you have on the wall that you are mounting to, then having some mounting putty is an incredibly useful and effective tool to get things done well with minimal effort.
Mounting putty can also be one of the best tools for mounting or hanging things on hard surfaces like concrete or any walls that you can’t make any marks in.
Torpedo Level
A good torpedo level is one of the best tools for mounting tasks and ust a good tool to have in general. This is the quickest way to make sure that what you are hanging is level.
If you get a torpedo level with strong magnets, you might be able to use it along side or even instead of a StudBuddy (mentioned above) to find wall studs.
Wall Hanger Kit
Mounting of all different sizes will require mounting hardware of all different sizes. Having a universal wall hanger kit is a great thing to have if you just moved into a new hourse or apartment and a must-have if you’re a professional tasker trying to get hired for more mounting tasks.
– An assortment of wall hangers
– Adhesive wall hooks
– Command Strips
– Velcro strips
– Mounting Magnets
– Mounting tape
– Mounting Tacks
These typically come equipped with everything you need to mount small things like a picture all the way to small shelves, clocks, and small art pieces. If you are hanging heavier items, you will need some more specialized hardware (mentioned below).
Go Hang It
Go Hang It is one of the best tools for mounting smaller objects with precision and ease. Whether it’s a frame, mirror, or any other lightweight item, this innovative tool simplifies the hanging process for both homeowners, renters, and professionals.
With its unique features, Go Hang It ensures perfect alignment and balance every time, eliminating the need for multiple trial and error attempts. Its compact size and user-friendly design make it ideal for any space, allowing users to hang objects securely and quickly.
This is particularly useful for mounting anything with multiple different attachment points.
Variable-Speed Drill
A variable speed drill is not only one of the best tools for mounting but a good tool to have for most tasks that you will ever do in your life. A good variable-speed drill can also be a really helpful tool on moving day or for assembling furniture more efficiently.
The Best Mounting Tools For Larger Items
If you ever need to mount some larger and heavier objects, it becomes even more important to have all of the best tools for mounting that are available to you. Using all of the top-tier tools and products will not only ensure that you maximize safety during and after the object is mounted but they will also maximize efficiency so you can complete the task as quickly as possible.
WARNING: Do not mount these sorts of heavier objects without the right tools for the job. If you don’t use the proper equipment, you run the risk of hurting yourself, hurting someone else, damaging the object being mounted, or damaging the house/apartment/etc. If you don’t feel comfortable mounting larger items, it is best to hire a professional.
Some of the larger items that you may need to mount are:
– TVs of all sizes
– Large mirrors
– Art and sculptures
– Dry erase boards
– Large shelves
– Workout equipment
– Speakers
– Entertainment Centers
– Basketball Hoops
– Track Doors
– Racks: bikes, skis/snowboards, guitars, shoes, garage shelving, lockers, tools, ladders, etc.
Wall Anchors
Sometimes you won’t be able to screw directly into a stud so you will need to use one of many different a wall anchor options that are available. Luckily there are some excellent tools for anchoring a lot of weight if you’re unable to mount directly into a stud.
Depending on your own situation, you will have to do some research and see what is the best option that is available for you.
– Drywall Anchors
– Drywall + Stud Anchors
– Masonry Anchors
Toggle Bolts
When a drywall anchor isn’t quite enough, you will need to use the most heavy duty hardware available. Toggle bolts are the industry standard and capable of holding more weight than most other wall mounting hardware.
There are multiple different brands available but Flip Toggle seems to have one of the heaviest load capacities with a claim of 106 pounds per bolt. This is ideal for mounting heavier objects like a mirror, artwork, or even a small TV mount.
– Steel Toggle Bolts
– Snap Toggle Bolts
– Flip Toggle Bolts
Assortment Of Lag Bolts
An assortment of lag bolts is always a good thing to have for larger mounting tasks. It’s typically best to screw directly into a stud and when you are mounting heavy and expensive items like a wall-mounted exercise equipment, a basketball hoop, a large screen TV, etc. An assortment of lag bolts will help to ensure that you get the job done right.
While most heavier objects come with their own set of lag bolts, it’s a good idea to have some of your own. You can find lag bolt sets at your local hardware store, Home Depot, and on Amazon.
Standard and Metric Ratchet Sets
If you ever need to mount something super heavy duty like solid steel lifting equipment that needs to get lag bolted into studs in the wall, you will definitely need a solid ratchet set. When ratcheting lags into the wall, make absolutely sure that you know where the studs are and that you are lagging directly into them. If you don’t you could find yourself doing some drywall repair as well as completing the mounting task all over again. Nobody wants to do that.
For a basic ratchet set, I recommend both a metric and standard set. This 2-in-1 ratchet set on Amazon comes with both metric and standard sizes.
Impact Drill
An impact drill is also an incredibly important tools to have for mounting tasks because sometimes a variable speed drill isn’t enough to sink lag bolts of some TV wall mounts, exercise equipment, and other heavy objects.
An impact drill provides the extra torque and impact to sink larger bolts, tighten larger screws, and other more specialized tasks.
Hammer Drill
If you ever do any mounting into concrete or other hard surfaces, you’re going to need more power than just an adjustable-speed drill or even an impact drill. A hammer drill is specialized to drill directly into concrete, asphalt, cement, brick, mortar, stone, and other hard surfaces.
WARNING: If you are using a hammer drill, you need to make sure that you are not going to damage anything else around where you are mounting. This is best used in more industrial applications or in the modern industrial chic apartments/homes that are popular today.
Hiding Cables
If you are mounting anything electronic like a TV, speakers, video game console, or entertainment center, then you will probably want to run some cables to a power supply. If you are trying to avoid all the cable clutter, then a quality cable management system is a must-have. Here are some of the best tools and products for hiding cables out of sight.
Cable Clips
The easiest way to keep cables organized and out of sight is with cable clips. These are usually small adhesive tabs with a clip on one side so they can be attached to all sorts of surfaces. They come in an assortment of colors but if you have both a set of white cable clips and black cable clips, that should be enough for most cable management.
In-Wall Cable Kit
If you want to go the extra mile and hide wires inside of the actual wall, you can use an in-wall cable kit to run cables inside of the wall so that you don’t seen any loose cables just hanging down from your wall-mounted TV.
These can get a bit pricey by Amazon has this one for ~$22 and it comes with the necessary hole saw to cut the drywall. Just make sure that you drill a hole between two studs and not in the middle of one.
Clean Up After Mounting
After successfully mounting something, it’s essential to take care of the aftermath to ensure a tidy finish. This involves addressing any small holes left behind from previous installations or repairs. It also means that you clean up and dust and debris left behind from your mounting task.
Small Hole Repair
Sometimes your task will require you to move something from one spot to another and you will need to patch an existing hole. It’s also possible that an accident happens and you simply need to repair a hole that you made. Having some small hole repair tools can be a great way to make old holes disappear.
This all-in-one small hole repair kit from 3M is a great solution that comes with everything you need at a reasonable price point.
Vacuum
A vacuum is a great tool to have for cleaning up after any task but if you have been making holes in any walls, you have almost certainly created a mess that can only be cleaned up with a vacuum. Something as simple as a dust buster will probably do the trick for most tasks. For larger tasks, you might need the extra power of a shop vac.
Final Thoughts
Mounting can often be a daunting task. If you want to do things right and make sure that they don’t ever come crashing down, make sure that you are using all of the best mounting tools available on the market today. If you are trying to focus on mounting tasks as your niche on TaskRabbit or other tasking apps, then having the right tool for every mounting task possible is a must.
With all of these tools mentioned above, you can mount anything into just about any kind of wall. Be sure to take your time, measure twice before marking or drilling, and use all of the bast hangers & mounts that are available. If you are using all of the tools and materials mentioned above, you shouldn’t have any problems with anything coming crashing down.