Testing the strength of Hercules

The claim

"Tested up to 150 lbs. strong" appears on the packaging of the Hercules Hook, part of the Billy Mays infomercial-product empire. Just "Twist! Push! Turn!" the wire hook into drywall, plaster, or paneling. A caveat—"for heavier objects (over 40 lbs.), use multiple hooks to distribute weight evenly"—means the claim is actually that each hook is "40 lbs. strong." A packet of 20 costs $15.

The check

A panel of staffers used hooks at home in various wall materials. And in the lab we hung progressively heavier weights on hooks that had been pushed into half-inch-thick drywall and into two layers of half-inch-thick drywall.

Bottom line

The Hercules Hook gets the hook. Six of nine panelists said they didn't like it and wouldn't buy it. Although hooks were easily pushed into drywall and wood paneling, they got hung up if they hit a stud, and they were very hard to force into plaster. Wiring and plumbing can also create roadblocks.

The hooks are fine for light objects, and a single hook easily held 40 pounds, but the insertion hole tore at that weight, especially in half-inch drywall. Conventional brackets, picture hangers, and even nails hammered into a stud are better options for heavier objects.

Note that the "as seen on TV" product might seem innovative, but a similar hanger, the J-Hook, was patented in 1957. Its more-realistic claim: "It will hold as much weight as your wall will support."