I used three of these to hang various things around the apartment. They all weigh less than 50 pounds, so I haven't fully tested their weight capacity. But so far they have been in the wall for 3 months and have been doing their job and I don't expect any problems. They can be screwed in by hand, but if you need it in a very precise, measured location, it's probably best to use a drill to create the pilot hole. This is because it takes a significant amount of force to screw it in, and if you do it by hand the screw can move slightly without your knowledge. You do NOT have to do this again as you will be stuck with a significant hole in the wall and that hole can compromise the integrity of the wall making it difficult to install another one within about an inch of the old hole. .