Metal studs made this TV mount way more annoying than it needed to be!!!
If you’re mounting a TV and find metal studs instead of wood, a regular drill bit isn’t always the easiest way to make the larger hole needed for a toggle anchor.
This is why I use a step drill bit.
A step bit starts small and gets progressively wider. Once you get through the metal, each “step” lets you gradually enlarge the hole instead of trying to push one large bit through thin sheet metal all at once.
That gives you more control over the final hole size, which matters because the opening needs to be large enough for your specific toggle anchor to pass through and engage properly.
What I used:
Drill/driver
Step drill bit
Stud finder
Level
Tape measure
Pencil
Toggle anchors rated for the application
TV mounting bracket
One thing I wouldn’t do is guess the hole size. Check the instructions for the specific toggle you’re using and stop the step bit at the required diameter. You also want to know what’s behind the wall before drilling.
Metal studs aren’t automatically a deal breaker. You just have to approach them differently than wood.
Anybody else use a step bit for metal studs, or do you have another method you prefer?