Same Here
 

Ditto on success Hanging large flat screen TVs from expanding drywall bolts. They won’t be as strong as going into a solid wood stud so make sure the grandkids are told not to hang on the TV. :-)

metal studs need reinforcement
 

If your display cases, together with their expected contents, will have a total weight exceeding 50 lbs you would be wise to open up the sheetrock and reinforce the mounting area with 2 X 6's run horizontally between the metal studs. You attach the 2 X 6's at their ends with screws through the metal studs. If you work carefully, you will not have to repair the sheetrock you will have cut out as the opening will be covered by your display case or wall cabinet.

Metal studs will support vertical loads. They will not support a heavy load whose center of gravity is away from the vertical plane of the wall i.e. a wall cabinet filled with china and glassware.

Self tapping screws
 

Not sure about ten years ago but metal studs used now in homes now are not thick enough metal for self tapping screws to be effective. I suggest using toggles with a ledger strip under the full length of the cabinets to support the weight of cabinet and contents. I think you will find there are some wood studs in that wall that provide a better anchor. Another secure way is to install two straps to the wall the length of the cabinets and then secure the cabinets to said strips.

In one story buildings on slabs, electric wiring is typically run through the ceiling with vertical wiring dropped down to switches and outlets. The utility outlets closest to the floor feed down the wall attached to the outside of the stud approx 16-18 above floor, the run horizontally though the prepunched holes in the metal studs. Locate the studs with stud finder and stay above that 18" horizontal run and I would say your in good shape.

wire detector
 

Can you share what brand type detector you have that senses energized wire 6 inches away? Where did you get it? Will it detect
a wire through sheet rock or concrete ? Wish the house plan detail showed where the wires run through the walls.

Thanks. You can always learn something. I for one, never knew that existed.

People tend not to understand. The wall board screws that people seem to use for everything are thin. Any screw has limited holding power into end grain. Unlikely anyone will do it but the solution is to drill a hole across the grain close to the end where the screw will be in it and glue in a dowel. The screws will hold better and it prevents the wood from splitting along the grain-it's weakest point.

I hung cabinets in the garage where I knew there would be heavy loads. I cut rectangular holes at areas where I would be mounting them. Then took 2x3 about 2 to three foot long, pushed them up and down until where I was going to hang cabinets then used 1 3/4 inch sheet metal screws to go through metal studs into the wood studs nestled inside the metal ones. Replaced the Sheetrock rectangle and hung them with no problem. This also allowed me to see any wires running inside studs .

Have you a complete set of blue prints for your house??

Look up Walabot. Great tool for this job

I would probably want to be EXTRA safe by standing on a rubber/plastic mat and wearing rubber gloves when I drilled that 1st hole - just in case.

Thanks mate...
 

always nice being upgraded.:)

If the cabinets are heavy at all, I would suggest using a French Cleat to hang them. The cleat attaches to the wall and distributes the weight of the cabinet across multiple studs depending on size. Far superior to even the best Togglers. Since the screws are regular sheet metal screws they are highly unlikely to penetrate any loose wiring hanging in the middle of the stud, whether wood or metal.

Would using a French cleat be best for hanging some heavy wood-framed mirrors (apx 36x30) or large heavy-framed pictures? In my current home, there are pieces of wood nailed horizontally into the wall and then the hooks are placed into the wood. I have solid plaster walls here, so I don't have many issues, but I would think the walls in TV are probably drywall and you need to be more careful.

For cabinets and heavy mirrors or pictures I would not use anything but a French Cleat. Togglers are only rated to about 100 pounds or so. I've hung many heavier items with the French Cleat and never had a problem.