How to mount a networking cabinet?

[Joshuam08]

Hi all,

I am wanting to mount a communications cabinet in one of my cupboards to put my networking gear. Currently it's on top of a shelf but it's causing the shelf to droop.

I've found two studs in the wall (one in the centre, and one right on the corner of the plaster) but the stud spacing is too wide for the mounting holes on the communications cabinet (https://www.selby.com.au/brands/raxx/8u-wall-cabinet-530-450.html). Based on this, I assume my best option is to somehow span the gap between the two studs with another material and then mount the cabinet to that. But I'm not sure the best way to do it! Can someone suggest the best material to attach to the two studs? I've seen people suggesting plywood and also pine. Furthermore, can anyone recommend the best screws to use to attach to the other material to the studs?

Thanks in advance!

[MitchellMc]

Hi @Joshuam08,

My only real concern here would be if the top screws on your timber bridging piece actually missed the studs and the weight of the cabinet is pulling the gyprock away from the wall. If that’s the case, you'd want to fix that immediately. Typically, studs should be running straight up the wall, so it’s a bit surprising if there’s that much of an angle difference.

But if you’ve confirmed that your bridging timber is securely fixed to the studs—especially at the top—then it’s likely just an uneven wall surface causing the tilt. In that case, packing out the bottom of the cabinet with some shims or packers is a perfectly reasonable way to compensate and get it sitting level. 

Mitchell

[Joshuam08]

I tested the bridging pieces prior to mounting the cabinet by almost doing a pull up on them and they didn’t budge so I’m pretty confident they are in the stud… I assume if I missed the stud they would’ve come down with me hanging on then! 

I have been keeping track of the droop though and the droop hasn’t got any worse since mounting the cabinet so I also interpret that to mean it’s solid. The actual plaster directly next to the bridging timber measures about 8mm/m out which is less than the difference between the bridging timber so I’m not sure exactly what’s happened but obviously the only way to know for sure is to probably take it all down and check the wall but I assume I wouldn’t be able to reuse the same holes in the stud so would need to move them?

[MitchellMc]

No, you'd be fine using the same holes @Joshuam08. If you tested the bridging pieces and they are solid, I'd just pack out the bottom of the cabinet.

Mitchell