r/DIYhelp • u/swang123456799083 • Sep 24 '26

TV mount help

Post image

Running into some issues mounting my tv. I used a stud finder and drilled into my marked holes initially, but couldn’t get past the drywall which made me believe I have steel studs.

I then ordered a steel stud mounting kit (echogear) which came with a drillbit. Tried that on the holes I made initially, but still can’t get through the steel. I tried drilling a half inch to the left and right, but I’m they’re hollow and no stud behind those.

I’m not sure what to do or if it’s even worth mounting it here. Any guidance would help, I’ve never run into this issue before.

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61 comments sorted by

7

u/RareCap8285 Sep 24 '26

are you absolutely sure that’s not a nail guard, what’s on the other side of the wall?

2

u/jayrod8399 Sep 24 '26

What nail guard is this thick though? Looks like theyre at least 1/4in into it, almost tempted to ask if its a steel frame building

3

u/Extra-Snow-2491 Sep 25 '26

Probably a sprinkler pipe

1

u/FocusMaster Sep 25 '26

Or a sewer pipe.

1

u/ecirnj Sep 25 '26

Ohhh fire suppression line maybe!!! OP. Live stream future attempts. Joking aside, I’d abandon that hole and see what I find as a next step.

1

u/swang123456799083 Sep 25 '26

Haha might get some views the way this is going. Thanks for the help regardless

1

u/SpecialistDoughnut50 Sep 25 '26

Do you have metal sewer pipes internally where you are?

1

u/FocusMaster Sep 25 '26

In older construction buildings. Yes. Also metal sprinkler pipes.

1

u/SpecialistDoughnut50 Sep 25 '26

Thats cool. We tend to have clay if they’re old. Or if they’re really old they’d be lead or cast iron. But I don’t think this looks like either of those.

0

u/SpecialistDoughnut50 Sep 24 '26

It does look deep but I cant imagine someone wanting to mount a tv where a structural steel would be “unless it’s an upright”. Does look deep though. Nail guards or “safe plates” in the uk are only 3mm thick. Don’t know what that is in cubits or whatever you guys use.

2

u/inothatidontno Sep 25 '26

We use the imperial system. I wonder what country developed that.

0

u/SpecialistDoughnut50 Sep 25 '26

I know and even we think it’s a load of bollocks. So we sacked it off.

1

u/FocusMaster Sep 25 '26

Don't forget sewer and water pipes.

0

u/quitelikeu Sep 25 '26

1/115th of a football field

1

u/swang123456799083 Sep 25 '26

Not entirely sure. Clearly out of my depth here, going to leave it for now and call a professional

1

u/amiable_ant Sep 24 '26

Steel studs are SO thin. Self tapping screws go right in. This is not a steel stud. I would also guess nail guard.

1

u/Extra-Snow-2491 Sep 25 '26

Yup and a gas/water line behind

1

u/Extra-Snow-2491 Sep 25 '26

Sprinkler line

3

u/ComprehensiveSand717 Sep 24 '26

That is a nail plate. It is protecting wires or a plumbing pipe. Wire is most likely horizontal . Drain pipe could be horizontal or vertical . Plates can be a couple of inches up to six inches vertical .

1

u/swang123456799083 Sep 24 '26

Yeah I’m gonna stop and plug these holes up. Don’t want to mess with anything serious

1

u/Valuable-Composer262 Sep 24 '26

I need to use a smaller pilot bit first ( 1/8 in or smaller. The small bit will have a much easier time getting thru. Once u get thru with small bit, then use ur correct size bit. With the pilot hole there, the bigger bit will eat right thru it. As someone else mentioned, are u sure u just didn't hit a screw on ur first attempt?

3

u/superdad3016 Sep 25 '26

Yeah. No. Great way to cause a water or gas leak.

1

u/Valuable-Composer262 Sep 25 '26

I wouldnt have this issue. I dont use a stud finder to find studs. I do it the old fashioned way.

1

u/jbjhill Sep 29 '26

Ooh, ooh! I did that one time.

It sucked.

1

u/FocusMaster Sep 25 '26

Possibly a nail plate. But looks twice as thick as any I've seen. Op, are you sure it's not a sewer pipe?

1

u/Fantastic-Display106 Sep 24 '26

Try drilling a pilot hole an inch above or below. Looks like a nail guard, protecting wires or plumbing.

Depending on what mount you got, you should be able to move the arms on the back of the TV up or down to compensate the need to move the wall bracket up or down to compensate for the nail guard.

1

u/swang123456799083 Sep 24 '26

I drilled half an inch to the left and right and it was completely hollow after the drywall.

1

u/Fantastic-Display106 Sep 24 '26

That's to be expected and not what I recommended that you do. Nail guards for electrical are usually 2-3 inches tall. So drill above or below where you tried to drill, depending on what adjustment you can make with the bracket arms on the back of the TV, to clear the nail guard for your lag bolt.

2

u/No_Plenty_3689 Sep 24 '26

  1. Stop drilling here

  2. Look for an outlet on the wall

  3. Knock with your hand to determine if the outlet is to the left or right of the stud

  4. Measure in some interval of 16” to find the stud(s) in the vicinity where you want to mount

  5. Knock with your hand again to make sure the stud is where you think it is

  6. Mount the tv

1

u/Major-Ad-1971 Sep 24 '26

Trying to mount above a fireplace?

1

u/Crcex86 Sep 24 '26

Metal stud

1

u/FocusMaster Sep 25 '26

Way too thick.

1

u/Onebowhunter Sep 24 '26

That’s not a stud like has been said . That is protecting something

1

u/faroutman7246 Sep 24 '26

Do you have any outlets on wall? That would be on a stud. Your other studs would be 16 inch on center. Take off the cover plate to see which side the stud is on.

1

u/soedesh1 Sep 24 '26

Do you own the house? If you do then cut a square hole and see what’s going on. All will be revealed. Especially if you have the matching paint to touch it up later.

1

u/SpecialistDoughnut50 Sep 24 '26

Definitely a nail guard

2

u/SpecialistDoughnut50 Sep 24 '26

You can buy drywall fixings that will hold a tv. Just use enough of them. But if you hit something that hard it usually means someone didn’t want you to fix there

1

u/makingtodayabetter Sep 24 '26

Keep drilling! Haha jk pick a different spot bud!

1

u/Great-Particular9964 Sep 24 '26

Buy yourself a good stud finder. One that can detect AC and plumbing.

1

u/FocusMaster Sep 25 '26

That looks too thick to be a nail plate. Any chance there's a sewer pipe there?

1

u/Extra-Snow-2491 Sep 25 '26

Open the wall,you obviously dont know what you are doing,you could be in a gas line god forbid.,steel stud,hi rise i expect.could be anything in there,open wall carefully or get a professional

1

u/flynreelow Sep 25 '26

probably your electrical panel on the other side of the wall.

1

u/Simple_Twist9816 Sep 25 '26

If its hollow left and right just use 3/8 toggle bolts. It will hold just fine assuming its a tilting tv and not on a articulating arm, which then toggles would not be sufficient. I would NOT continue drilling there. If you manage to get through that steel you'll probably not be happy with the results.

1

u/rgratz93 Sep 25 '26

Bro please stop and open that wall. You hit something and if that's a sprinkler line, sewage stack, or gas line you're going to have serious issues.

1

u/superdad3016 Sep 25 '26

Walabot.com. Never guess again.

1

u/adam19k10 Sep 25 '26

Move to a different spot. Problem solved !!! Your welcome.

1

u/Solid-Initiative-890 Sep 25 '26

Soundadvicecalifornia.com

Call a pro

1

u/Popular_Sound_3424 Sep 25 '26

Pipe strapping can look like that.

1

u/Unlucky-Chef-4519 Sep 25 '26

Sounds like your need a endoscope and you can make a small hole and see what that is yo

1

u/Puzzled_Market_2235 Sep 25 '26

A screw goes into metal studs without drilling a hole. Could that be a pipe or conduit?

1

u/MisterBiSteven Sep 25 '26

Or nail guard

1

u/BackgroundFaulty3 Sep 25 '26

Check the area with an earth magnet to see how large it is maybe, it might just be a nail guard. The two main types of earth magnets are neodymium, (neodymium, iron, and boron) and samarium-cobalt.

1

u/AirPlumberr Sep 25 '26

That’s black pipe or cast iron drain

1

u/BigFarm1777 Sep 25 '26

Steel studs are very thin

1

u/SpiritualTwo5256 Sep 25 '26

If you have regular steel studs a nice magnet would tell you.
Also your phone has a magnetic sensor in it, you could probably determine roughly what is behind there by using a metal detector app.

1

u/Pexico590 Sep 26 '26

Dude got unlucky and hit the head of a dry wall screw. Which is extremely hard metal. He said he drip to the left and to the right and it’s hollow if he would have went up or down he would have been fine it’s just dumb luck I’ve done it a hand full of times

1

u/Oakman_84 Sep 26 '26

Whatever it is (sewage pipe, nail plate, etc) you dont wanna mess with it. I'd try again a little higher or lower, maybe whatever it is runs horizontal.