Wall Buddies for Dummies

[Ron Eggers]

Cut a piece of corrugated* the same size as the outside of the frame. Punch two holes with your awl in the positions where the wall hooks would be. Tape the little bag of hooks to the cardboard and use the cardboard to protect the face of the frame. Those rolls of stretch film work great for that.

Advise the customer, using pictures, grunts, or whatever means of communication seems appropriate, to hold the cardboard on the wall at the position where they want the frame to hang. (If they have a little torpedo level to level the cardboard, so much the better. Or go to the dollar store and buy a few dozen for "giveaways." Build the price into your fitting.)

Have them mark the position of the two holes on the wall and place the hooks at that position. THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO STUDS. IN FACT, IT'S PROBABLY BETTER IF THEY DON'T, UNLESS THEY ARE HANGING AN SUV. Use the torpedo level to check after hanging and make minor side-to-side adjustments as needed.

This is so simple, a HUSBAND could do it!

*This is a most excellent use for all the cardboard that your matboard and glass comes packaged in, unless you're already using it for your conservation mounting.

 

[deaconsbench]

So, the Wall Buddy is like a big 'D' ring, except it has a world of forgiveness? I'm admittedly ignorant as to how this animal functions.

"Little bag of hooks" - are these the common 'J' picture (Goodwill) hangers?

The Wall Buddy looks kind of big - does it also act as a reinforcement for the corners?

So many questions, so little grey space...

 

[Framar]

But they have to make TWO holes in their walls, Ron - folks 'round these here parts don't cotton to making TWO holes in their precious walls! Talkin' 'bout PLASTER walls - not just sheetrock!

If I had a dollar for every groan or exclamation from customers with massive framing jobs and D-rings with NO WIRE "You have to hang it on these two hooks." Cries of protest! Gnashing of teeth! Rending of garments - honest!!!

I am sure Wall Buddies are a wonderful product - just not for folks with Victorian homes!

 

[deaconsbench]

Although I twist my wires around several times (tightly) and shrink tube the ends, I FEAR slippage (and resulting liability!). I need to be convinced this system is as wonderful as it's been made to sound.

Any takers?

 

[JPete]

A wallbuddy is like a sawtooth for leveling but is on two corners. I assume you are at least doing a double loop as well as twisting of your wires.

I would say try them, then decide to use them or not.

 

[deaconsbench]

I need to look up double loops. I only learned from what I saw on perhaps HUNDREDS of other framing jobs... just the twist.

 

[Rick Granick]

Ron- Thanks for posting that. It's exactly what I've been doing for years, for WBs or D-Rings. Customers think I'm some kind of genius when I show them how this is going to be even easier than hanging from a wire. Plus, I've NEVER had anyone call with any kind of problem related to hanging this way. I honestly don't know what all the fuss is about.
As for the Victorian house owners, I have real plaster too, and yeah it's one more hole. But hey, don't they want their pictures to be level, and to actually stay on the wall?

Rick

 

[Mike Labbe]

So, the Wall Buddy is like a big 'D' ring, except it has a world of forgiveness? I'm admittedly ignorant as to how this animal functions.

 

[osgood]

"Dummies", Struth....if there so much lack of intelligence in your customer that they can't figure how to use a Wall Buddy, how do they have enough intelligence to realize that when they have a picture to frame they should go to a framing shop and not a butcher shop???
I would love to use Wallbuddies exlusively, but the cost to get them down here means I just sell them as an optional extra.

 

[Jay H]

My wife was one of them with "so much lack of intelligence." I'd put her against any operator among us in a battle of wits.

Must everything be so cut and dry and matter of fact? Let me play. Ahhh never mind. It’s not necessary. I can get my point across without using exaggeration or lying.

DB, a really great use for WB's is frames that are considerable wider than tall. Another is for shadowboxes that want to lean forward. Heavy items are another good candidate but not so much in they don't claim to hold any more than an old fashioned wire with two hooks. Anything too heavy for a wire, probably won't be much better off with WB's. Finally packages with a narrow frame work well with WB's. WB's let the picture hang from the two top corners of the frame. Wires tend to pull the side rails IN while forcing the top and bottom rails AWAY from the glass.

Does this help?

 

[Kit]

Originally posted by Framar:
But they have to make TWO holes in their walls, Ron - folks 'round these here parts don't cotton to making TWO holes in their precious walls! Talkin' 'bout PLASTER walls - not just sheetrock!

If I had a dollar for every groan or exclamation from customers with massive framing jobs and D-rings with NO WIRE "You have to hang it on these two hooks." Cries of protest! Gnashing of teeth! Rending of garments - honest!!!

I am sure Wall Buddies are a wonderful product - just not for folks with Victorian homes!

Mar, I know EXACTLY what you mean. They are planning to make one hole, right? Why is one more such an occasion for dismay?

Reasoning with them doesn't work.

Pointing out that spackle comes pre-mixed and ready to use doesn't work.

Selling them a hook designed to hang from their Victorian picture moulding works. Selling them velvet sleeves to cover the wire that hangs down from the hook works. (Actually most of the sleeves I made were washable velour.)

Customers who balk at making two holes in their walls aren't being obstructionist, they just want you to sell them more stuff.

Kit

 

[deaconsbench]

Originally posted by Jay H:

Does this help?

Yes, sir, thank you!