Opinions Wanted Hanging Black 1/2 inch Gator to Wall- French cleat method

[PicturedFramer]

I have a job to hang 20+ pieces to walls in in a business office. Another co. did this job at the same place and stuck 2-sided thick double tape on the walls and on the back of the black gator board. they weren't too happy with that method since some are crooked and need to be straightened out.
I guess these two pieces -one on the wall and one on the back of the print- is called french cleat. It is double sided taped to 3 inch pieces of 3/16 gator board and then matched up for hanging.
My question is, since they already have the gator board 3" strips on hand, what would you guys suggest is the best way to hang these? Do the the double sided tape to the back of the print on 1/2" black gator and then use screws to the 3/16" black gator strip to the walls not 2 sided tape? Anyone have experience with this method?
If I didn't explain it well please ask for more info.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks.










I think the best tool to prepare Gator for mounting is a Gator Scraper. It will loosen debris that can then be picked up by the roller, yielding a smooth surface. Scraping can be followed by a wipe down with a Tac cloth to get the "big" pieces, but to have really smooth mounts, a DRS roller will pick up stuff you would not believe is still on the surface.

 

[PicturedFramer]

Not one reply, guess no one has ever done this huh?

If I had done this job originally and was asked to hang these how would you have advised me to hang these not involving framing.

 

[Jeff Rodier]

The solution you have posted is a good one. Be sure to use glue with the tape when you attach the gator to gator.

 

[Rob Markoff]

Hang them this way all the time for a company that does large mural blowups. We did Google's office in Irvine just like that.

Prints were mounted to 1/2" black gator. Cleats were made from same 1/2" gator cut to a 30 degree bevel. One was glued to the art, the other was attached to the wall using 2-1/2" drywall screws. Just don't tighten them too much or you will break the top layer and go into the foam. We attach one side of the wall cleat, confirm it is level, then put in the second screw. On very long pieces, we use a center screw in the cleat to keep it flat to the wall.

Corner Weld or yellow alaphatic glure works well. Just be sure cleat is weighted until it is completely dry.

The bottom of the photos has a squared piece of gator glued to it to act as a "standoff" and keep the gator parallel to the wall. For extra protection we use Picture Straighteners from Hangman. They are completely removable and the pull tabs make them a breeze to use. Unlike the picture from the Hangman website, we use one in each corner of the lower cleat standoff.

http://www.hangmanproducts.com/hangman-picture-straightener.html



Shameless plug: They will be demonstrated at the installation class at the WCAF.