The RIGHT Way to Hang Things on the Wall: Part I -Getting Started.

By: Bill Harvey

Have you ever found some sort of nail -any damn sort of nail- and used the wrench or a big screwdriver to sort of bludgeon it into the wall and then hung a picture on it? Hung it after fiddling about trying to find the nail with the little toothed do-dad on the back of the picture? And then tried to get it to hang straight and stay that way? Everyone has. Not a bad way to hang calendars and pictures that are sort of light and more decorative then meaningful.

This is NOT the way to go if you really care about a collection of some authority. I mean something like 13 signed baseballs, or WWI bayonets, or brass model railroad engines. Such things need to be put in a case and that case needs to be hung correctly. Here is how -and apologies if you have read my instructions before -they tend to be pretty detailed. This is for the folks that have never done such things at all and need all manner of advice. But even if you are pretty good at such things, you are apt to learn a thing or two here. Hang in.*

STEP ONE: GET ORGANIZED
I'm a big fan of gathering everything you will need and approaching the job with planning and preparation. In my experience -the difference between a simple-job-well-began-&-promptly-finished.... and a cluster-f____ (Chinese-Fire-Drill / fiasco / Tim Taylor Adventure / call it what you will) is usually a mater of preparation. I will address the necessary tools and hardware shortly, but have you given thought to the less obvious -but equally important- things? Things like a ladder or step-stool if necessary. How about a helper? Maybe a spirit level if your eye is not adept at judging such things? (And if there is any doubt about your needing a level, YOU NEED ONE.) Don't underestimate the need for a refreshing beverage of some sort

You will obviously need what ever tools are necessary to drive / attach / screw-in / generally attach whatever fastening device you need -but the decision as to which to use is rather a loaded question and will be addressed anon.

STEP TWO: FIGURE OUT WHERE IT GOES
This part might involve a helper or spouse. You hold your display case up against the wall and someone else stands back and says things like, "No, a little to the right -no, too far, now up a little. More to the right" etc. Nothing to do but to do it. If you are working alone, this step is considerably simplified. You just put it where you like it -at something like your own eye level- and it's done. Once it's right -either via the committee method or the "This is my collection and I -by-Gosh- like it there-," make two little pencil marks. One somewhere under the case, -to indicate how high, and another one on one side or the other, -to indicate where one side of it goes.

Next thing is to figure out what is holding up this particular wall. Ordinarily it's wood two-by-fours. This is not profound, but the 2 x 4's are behind wallboard of some sort -and the guys that put up the wall board worked very hard to make sure you will not be able to see the 2x4's. So how do you find them? Those little electronic sensor things work pretty well, but they aren't cheap. Knocking on the wall with your knuckles also works -most of the time. Here is a tip -outlets are always on one side or other of a stud. Find an outlet and knock on the wall to determine if the outlet is to the right or to the left of it. The wall will sound hollow on one side and more solid on the other. Measure over 16 inches and knock again. It will probably sound solid. If it sounds hollow, measure over 24" and then try. Some houses are built with the studs 24" apart -but the majority are built on 16" centers. You may have to measure several increments of 16" to get from the place you found the first stud till you get to the place on the wall where you want to hang the display case, but it's no big. Give you the chance to practice your multiplication tables (16", 32", 48", 64" etc.) Put a tiny little pencil mark on the wall where you think there's a stud. Put it at about eye level. Easier to find it again this way and you will probably cover it up with the case.

Now study your pencil marks -especially the one on the side- with respect to the studs. A tape measure and a few more light (judicious) pencil marks might be appropriate. If you are hanging a tall narrow case and the stud falls more or less in the middle, you can get by with two fasteners, one high and one low. It it's a wide case and falls on, (covers) two or more studs, two screws are appropriate -one on the left and one on the right. If it's a big case and spans two or more studs, go with two high and two low. Simple enough. The problem arises when one end of a wide case doesn't land on a stud. Or you find that when you have the case exactly where you want it, only one side lands on a stud. This is a job for hollow wall anchors -but more on this subject later.

*If this is all beyond you, and the thing you want to hang is heavy or valuable, have a look at my advice on Hiring Carpenters and Other Useful People, (http://www.home-museum.com/How-To-Arts/Carpenters/carps.htm).

In Part II, I take up the fascinating topic of nails and screws and bolts. (Dull, but VERY important.)

For the full article, with pictures and all, have a look at The RIGHT way to Hang Things on the Wall, (http://www.home-museum.com/How-To-Arts/HangUp/hangups.htm),

Article Source: http://www.collectibles-articles.com

Bill Harvey makes drawer and display cases for collectors and museums at Home-Museum.com. (www.home-museum.com), He is also author of the COLLECTOR's HOW-TO (www.home-museum.com/How-To-Arts.htm) series for dedicated collectors and hobbyists who wish to display and protect their very best stuff.

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