Hanging up pictures

Kirbith

Hey there, I have a little problem I could use some help with. In our apartment, my boyfriend and I have some pictures we wanted to hang up on the wall. So I borrowed a studfinder from my dad, so that we could put in nails at the right places to hang up the pictures. Well, it seems that the studs are too far apart, since we need to be able to use two nails to hang up the picture frames we have. So I was wondering if anyone had any good alternative ways to hang up pictures other than using just nails? I've seen those little plastic hooks you can stick to your wall, but I didn't know if those would be hard to remove, ect.

Improvolone

You can go to a hardware store and say "hey, I need to hang some pictures but don't know what to get, can you help me?" But we can help you too.
Is there a wire across the back or any other sort of mounting hardware? Then its easy, you just need to buy the right hardware (of which you have several options). I can't find images right now, but seriously, there is an entire section of the hardware store for this stuff.

How heavy is this frame?

Forbe!

If the frame is light enough, you won't need to nail directly into studs.

Kirbith

There's 3 frames total, and none of them have wire on the back. One is very light, it's got a certificate in it so it's a little bigger than an average sheet of paper. One is a big heavy, it's got two comic books inside of it and it's fairly larger than the two of them combined, I was mostly worried about using the studs for that one. And the third one is a little bigger than the certificate one, its a bit heavier though since it is a different type of frame.

EggyToast

A teeny little picture nail is going to bend from a heavy frame anyway. You probably want to look into alternatives regardless if the picture is that big/heavy, such as drywall anchors.

NotYou

a framing store can probably adjust the backs pretty quick to fit over a single nailed in point, like a wire type setup

Forbe!

They probably have little holes on the back to hang on nails.

If this is the case, all you need is the correct length brad depending on the depth of the hole.

MagicPrime

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF-IWJEQuEQ


These work.

Kirbith

Oh Billy Mays, helping me from beyond the grave!

Thanks for the help though guys, I'll definitely be showing all this to my boyfriend when he gets home and hopefully we can get our wall looking all nice and full of pictures. =D

Chanus

I totally forget what they're called, but there are hooks that you can use which don't require a stud (assuming the picture doesn't weigh a ton). They basically go into the drywall and hook on the inside as well, displacing the weight.

You can get them at any hardware store... I just can't remember what they're called ><

Mushiwulf

Toggle bolts

Chanus

Yeah, there you go.

Improvolone

You don't want to use a toggle bolt for a picture, thats ridiculous.

Are you planning on getting all of your frames level with each other? Thats a seriously complicated pain in the ass sometimes.

EggyToast

toggle bolts are heavy duty, drywall anchors are similar but much cheaper and more suitable for picture installation (if it's a particularly heavy frame). Same theory behind all drywall-based support systems, though -- expand on the other side to give the screw more anchoring power.

Chanus

Er... drywall anchors are maybe more what I meant... now that I've looked at a picture of a toggle bolt... but that's the principle.

mts

you do realize they sell heavy duty picture frame hooks. they have 3+ of the little nails. just use more than one to disperse the load. unless the frame for the comic books weighs over 30lbs you don't need toggle bolts or drywall anchors

KidDynamite

I figured I'd ask here, instead of making a new thread.

My new house has old school Plaster and lattice walls. Are there any special considerations when haning pics and the like?

I think we've used nails in the past, but maybe I will consult the Google Oracle just in case.

iglidante

I always cheat and do things like stick two pushpins into the wall so they fall under the corners of the frame, and set it on top of them. It works alright with a light frame.

Reiten

You might try those 3M wall hangers. They use an adhesive to stick to the wall.

Mushiwulf

KidDynamite wrote: »

I figured I'd ask here, instead of making a new thread.

My new house has old school Plaster and lattice walls. Are there any special considerations when haning pics and the like?

I think we've used nails in the past, but maybe I will consult the Google Oracle just in case.

I guess the biggest problem with old plaster is that it can become "brittle" and crumble when exposed to any beating. But, you are also more likely to end up in the wood lathe behind it, which is normally pretty durable. I would probably suggest using a drill and/or screwdriver over any kind of hammering if your plaster seems at all delicate. However, if it hasn't degraded, it will take nails just as well if not better than drywall.

mts

i would think that if you can find a slightly longer than normal brad that might work better, but that will depend on wall depth

Kirbith

Hahaha we actually have a picture up in the hallway via pushpins below it. Figured we would hang up pictures the right way this time. I don't know about making things level, probably not, since I have terrible depth perception anyways so I wouldn't be able to tell haha.

Thanks for all the suggestions though, you guys are great! I think we'll be making a trip to the hardware store tomorrow.

Chanus

You can buy a level for like $2.

Improvolone

Laser levels are amazing, but since most frames hardware sits at different levels, its a pain in the ass.

lifeincognito

I might be crazy, but I cannot see a picture frame with two comic books being more than 50lbs in sum. If you have a scale, check to see how much it weighs. Then go buy some picture frame hooks from OOK. If you think it might be 50lbs, why not just get these and be done with it? I am sure a local hardware store should sell them. I mean, you have at least one stud so you just need one strong hook and maybe some thin wire rope and glue (epoxy) to attach a wire along the back of the frames.

Additionally, I can attest to the strength of those 3M sticky hooks. I have seen them hold up various sized items for the duration of many a school year.

DrFrylock

What you are looking for are these, or equivalent. The kind I have use nails with a little grippy head that you can just pull out with your fingers. You can get these at the hardware store or the framing store or whatever.

The tiny nail goes through the hook on the outside of the drywall at a downward angle and the picture hangs on the hook. The big ones with three nails will hold 75lb so unless your picture weighs more than a small child you're good to go. I have never had to use more than the 2-nail variety.

These require poking a terrifically small nailhole in your wall and don't involve molly bolts, toggle bolts, or anything of the sort that rips up your drywall. They work just fine.

mts

DrFrylock wrote: »

What you are looking for are these, or equivalent. The kind I have use nails with a little grippy head that you can just pull out with your fingers. You can get these at the hardware store or the framing store or whatever.

The tiny nail goes through the hook on the outside of the drywall at a downward angle and the picture hangs on the hook. The big ones with three nails will hold 75lb so unless your picture weighs more than a small child you're good to go. I have never had to use more than the 2-nail variety.

These require poking a terrifically small nailhole in your wall and don't involve molly bolts, toggle bolts, or anything of the sort that rips up your drywall. They work just fine.

but thats not overrationalizing at all how dare you suggest that. maybe the comic books are small child reenactments of the covers hence the need for toggle bolts

Kipling

lifeincognito wrote: »

I might be crazy, but I cannot see a picture frame with two comic books being more than 50lbs in sum. If you have a scale, check to see how much it weighs. Then go buy some picture frame hooks from OOK. If you think it might be 50lbs, why not just get these and be done with it? I am sure a local hardware store should sell them. I mean, you have at least one stud so you just need one strong hook and maybe some thin wire rope and glue (epoxy) to attach a wire along the back of the frames.

Additionally, I can attest to the strength of those 3M sticky hooks. I have seen them hold up various sized items for the duration of many a school year.

The 3M stickies do have limitations. If you don't install them correctly, the weight limits are little more than just guidelines.