been a while since I've dealt with metal studs; in your opinion, what the max shear weight (non-articulating mount) that's safe to install on a metal stud with hilti-style toggler bolts?

Display in question is a 60" 55lb display, while the mount is a chief tilting (approx 35lbs).

[Link: us.hilti.com]

If drywall will handle the load, drywall with metal will handle more. Hit two studs and you'll be fine.

Yup, have hung 90" Sharps by only hitting 2 metal studs using snap togglers. That weight certainly will not be a problem.

I have done dozens with zero problems. If you want some reinforcement use plywood backing.

[Link: factsfacts.com]
Good, basic information.
What's even better are the links on the bottom of the page.
Use those fasteners thru the metal stud and just count on drywall specs, where the metal stud is an extra measure of protection.

Togglers + metal studs? I would hang a fiat over someone's first born...

Link did not work! What are those links at the bottom of the page?

One of the great advantages of a toggler over the old toggle bolt is that the toggler has a much stronger "nut" part, with three or four turns of bolt captivated by the nut, so the toggler resists pullout much better than the toggle bolt. I throw out every toggle bolt I see and tell others to do the same. They're not worth the hassle.

Since I can't see Mario's info, I'll just comment on buzz's, looking only at the info for the 1/4-20 bolts.

It says the tension limit is greater for thicker drywall, then thicker for use in cinderblock. We can guess that 5/8" drywall plus a steel stud is similar to cinderblock in its ability of the wall to resist being broken when pulled on, so let's use that 160 pound number.

Envision a TV mount sideways. The main thing the upper bolts do is keep the top of the mount from being pulled out of the wall. There's no pull outward to speak of against the lower bolts. So... two bolts at the top and you've got the ability to withstand 320 pounds of pull. That's A LOT!

Shear force is what tries to push the bolt straight downward, shearing the drywall or shearing the 1/4-20 bolt. It's MUCH harder to make a bolt slide down a wall than pull out, reflected in the data: 240 pounds. Four togglers require 960 pounds to pull them down.

I like to use six bolts whenever possible. Whenever a mount has been designed that tells me exactly where the stud must be, but the customer's wall is not build that way, I drill additional holes in the mount so I hit a stud.

All that makes this an incredibly strong mounting approach.

Ernie, not sure why it doesn't work for you.
I just tried the original link and it still worked.

[Link: factsfacts.com]

I don't know which browser you're using or your security settings, but that page loaded faster for me than any page I can remember and I use AdBlocker and a separate pop-up blocker in my browser preferences.

I have a 60" Pioneer plasma installed through two metal studs. You can safely install anything that is currently on the market.

Mario,

And I just tried it both from Mario's original post and from his repost. It loaded like a sonofagun!

I'm using Chrome and I can't tell you exactly what my security settings are. I rarely have problems with pages loading. Maybe they were messing with the page last night.

I have to laugh, too: you guys would have such a cow if I wrote up something like that and dared to add it to a discussion as a post!

I think the writer makes a BIG mistake in publishing the ultimate strength rather than the design strength. If I say :
*one method can support 1000 pounds but you can only load it to one quarter that amount, and
*another method is designed to support 250 pounds with a safety factor of four....

Those two methods are identical but you'll remember 1000 pounds and 250 pounds, not the niggly little details. This can lead to breakage. When you describe how to do something, it's important to remember how people get things right and how people make mistakes, and tailor the information for the best result.

I have not heard anything about the 70" Sharp on articulating mount I put up with 6 togglers (4 of which are through steel studs) falling on anyone. By that empirical data, you are good to go. :)

As ever, many thanks for the advice and information :)

Why can't you tell us about your security settings? They're YOUR settings, using YOUR preferences. You should know them to make your browser do what you want and prevent actions that you don't want.