Screwdriver or hammer drill

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I need to attach a bookcase to a plaster wall

What tools do I need to do this?

Power drill, rawl plugs, screws, screwdriver. Don't just put screws directly into the plaster - it will crumble and they'll fall out. Ideally get one of those electric detectors to make sure there are no wires in the wall where you want to drill. And a spirit level. And a pencil.

When you say plaster wall, do you mean a stud wall, with plasterboard on a wooden frame? If so, you will need to screw it into the stud uprights, without rawl plugs. You can use wall anchors which go into the plasterboard, but have to be careful about the weight off the shelf and books.

What kind of power drill please? A hammer drill or a screwdriver?

A hammer drill is usually used for drilling into stone or concrete. For plaster/board and wood you’d just need a power drill. That said, my power drill does have a hammer drill function which can be handy.

Drill for the hole
For a plaster wall use a masonry drill bit
For plaster board use either a masonry or wood drill bit
As above don’t use standard rawl plugs for plasterboard, but there are ones designed for plasterboard
Screwdriver to fit the screws

www.bosch-diy.com/gb/en/all-about-diy/guide-to-drills
www.handymanknowhow.co.uk/drillingandfixing/drillbits.htm
www.handymanknowhow.co.uk/drillingandfixing/wallplugtypes.htm

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What kind of power drill please? A hammer drill or a screwdriver?

‘Standard’ power drill with hammer option. Only use hammer mode for masonry / concrete

If possible a variable speed drill

For the screwing if not a lot then use an ordinary screwdriver.

If you’re doing more screwing then use an attachment on the drill but turn down the torque if you have the option.
If you’ll be doing enough to justify it then get an electric screwdriver as well

Using the same drill for drilling and screwing gets to be a pain with all the switching of bits

Try YouTube it’s easier to watch someone do it than try to understand explanations 👍

Do you mean a shelf for books or a freestanding bookcase that will have a strap securing?
Plasterboard walls are not great for load bearing bookshelves but if you secure to a stud or two then should be fine.
Worse is a plasterboard over insulation then wall as you have a gap of around 70mm to bridge.
In any event you don;t need a hammer drill to get through plasterboard and I have no idea what's behind your plasterboard so can't suggest suitable fixings etc

Op first you need to try and work out what the wall has been built with ( brick,stone, concrete , stud work, breeze,thermolite. Even straw). And that with determine the type of fixing you need. Also the weight of what you want to hang on the wall will also be a factor as to the type and number of fixings required .