HOOKS FOR HANGING WALL ART

After spending the time and money to get the perfect picture framed or canvas print artwork, you definitely don't want your beautiful work of art falling off the wall because it wasn't the right style or strength for the wall or the frame. In this article, we look at a number of different wall hooks and hangers that are suitable for displaying art equipped with hanging wire, sawtooth hooks, or keyhole slots.

SUMMARY HOOKS SCREWS ANCHORS Traditional hangers Heavy duty hangers Self-adhesive Utility hooks Molly bolts Toggle bolts Expanding/winged Screw-in Tap-in Mortar/Concrete

HOOK-STYLE HANGERS

TRADITIONAL PICTURE HANGERS If you've ever hung a picture, or moved into a home where pictures were hung, you've probably seen a picture hanger. Usually gold, these thin metal hangers have a dimpled hook at the end, and a reinforced hole at the top, through which the nail passes on a slant into the wall. This style of hanger can hold between 10 and 75 lbs. They range from hooks about 1/2 an inch in size, to larger versions with three splayed holes for extra strength. HEAVY DUTY PICTURE HANGERS Similar to the traditional hangers, these hangers come in gold or silver, and are usually constructed of a thicker metal. The single metal rod is bent into a triangular shape where it connects to the wall, then drops down into a hook, in which the frame wire rests. The nail passes on a diagonal through the hanger and into the wall. A single, small hook of this style can hold up to 30 lbs, while the larger hooks - about 1-1/2 inches long - holds up to 100 lbs. SELF-ADHESIVE HANGERS Often used for bathroom hooks and other practical functions, self-adhesive hangers are generally constructed of white plastic, and are affixed to the wall with a double-sided adhesive foam pad. A thick, plastic hook on the end of the hanger holds the frame. Though not as secure as a nail in the wall, self-adhesive hangers are a great option for light-weight art - depending on size they hold from 1/2 to 7-1/2 lbs. Newer versions, like the popular "Command" hangers can be removed from the wall without damaging paint or wallpaper, so they're an excellent option for rented homes or office space. UTILITY/SCREW HOOKS This most basic of wall hanger is not ideal for artwork because the simple hook, which screws directly into the wall, sticks out about 1/2 an inch, which can push the artwork too far out from the wall. They work well for styles that call for the wire and hanger to be visible above the art, however, and can be useful for canvas prints, which have space between the back of the stretcher bar frame and the canvas itself. It's important to be aware that utility hooks may not reliably hold heavy artwork, as they are not constructed to use the wall for added support, like traditional hangers. To order wall-mounted picture hangers, visit our Art Supply Online Store: Picture Wall Hooks and Nails and Screws. (Please note: wall hook orders come with required nails or screws.)

Traditional hangers Heavy-duty hangers Utility/screw hook

SCREW-HEAD HANGERS

A simple screw head can make a great picture-hanging hook. Additional accessories may be required, however, to lend added strength to the single piece of metal. MOLLY BOLTS Molly bolts look like a thick nail with a ridged middle section. After they have been hammered or screwed in place through a pilot hole, the screw head is turned clockwise, which makes that ridged section (now on the other side of the wall) splay out and grip the inside of the wall. The original screw is then removed, and a nail can be inserted instead. Essentially the bolt gives any nail the strength of a screw in solid wood. Properly installed, they can hold up to 50 lbs. These bolts can be a bit tricky to remove, so might not be ideal for renters. Another option, hollow-core door anchors, are essentially miniature molly bolts that are intended for inserting strong hooks into hollow doors. Keep in mind however: no matter how strong the hanger is, the strength of the thin panel wood must be taken into account as well! TOGGLE BOLTS The heavy duty version of the winged anchors described below, toggle bolts can hold up to 50 lbs, but require quite a large hole be drilled in the wall. Because the toggle must protrude on the inside of the wall, the screw to which the toggle is attached (called a machine bolt) is available in a variety of lengths. The machine bolt is pushed through the hinged toggle and the two pieces are inserted through the hole in the wall. You'll be able to hear the toggle spring open when it is fully through the other side of the wall. The toggle must then be pulled tight against the inside of the wall while the screw is tightened (or the toggle will just spin along with the screw). When the screw must be removed, the toggle is simply allowed to fall inside the wall as the screw comes out. Again, don't forget that however strong the hanger, the wall must be strong enough to support the artwork, or it will fail before the hanger ever does!

Molly bolt, unopened Toggle bolt

ANCHORS

When hanging art in drywall that doesn't have a handy stud, an anchor is a must to keep your artwork safe and secure. EXPANDING/WINGED ANCHORS This alternative to a basic anchor is a great way to secure your screw in drywall, when there isn't a wooden wall stud where you need it. The piece looks like a basic plastic anchor, with two pointed ends stretching away to make a 'T' shape. These "wings" are folded in toward each other and inserted through the hole in the wall. A special tool is used to force the wings out again on inside the wall, so they splay out against the back side of the drywall. The screw is then screwed through this plastic-ringed hole. If properly installed, winged anchors can hold up 25 lbs. SCREW-IN ANCHORS Similar to the anchor described above, this style is threaded so it may be screwed into the wall, instead of hammered like traditional anchors. The end of the anchor sometimes features a smaller version of the "wings" described above so it holds to the inside of the drywall. Constructed of metal or plastic, screw-in anchors also hold 10-25 lbs. TAP-IN EXPANDING ANCHORS Made of metal, these small, pointy anchors act similar to the winged version. They are simply be hammered into the wall until the flat top is flush. The pointed tips will have expanded within the wall for a firm fit. A screw can then be inserted in the provided hole. MORTAR/CONCRETE ANCHORS If you live in a re-purposed industrial building or an old home with brick walls, don't despair - you can still hang your artwork, you just need a special anchor. These anchors are usually made of metal (or heavy duty plastic) and will need to be fitted to the size of screw you require, since they won't expand like a plastic anchor. After drilling a pilot hole (make sure you have drill bits that can handle going through brick or concrete, or borrow a hammer drill), simply slide in the anchor and drill the screw in place!

Screw and anchor

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