Question Wall Buddies Question

[atley]

Hey Grumblers— I have a frame that is 36" x 28" and has wall buddies. I moved into a new place and the room I'd like to hang this particular frame has a style of wainscoting with flat panels between the rails.

If I tried to use the wall buddies in their usual corner position, the hardware would have to hold on the flat panels which are hollow behind and won't bear the weight. However, the rails between the panels are sturdy enough to bear it.

My question is if there is a way to safely modify wall buddies, maybe by wrapping them in frame wire and then suspending the frame from the center on the rails. Or is it best to replace the wall buddies with center mounting hardware?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ylva]

Welcome to the G.

I would not try to modify the wall buddies.
You might be able to use z-bar instead. Or use two d-rings, without wire. Even wire with 3 hangers, spread apart far enough might still work. All depends on the frame and the overall weight. It is not that huge, but maybe it's heavy?

 

[atley]

Thanks for the reply, @Ylva . It's not actually that heavy, it's just the flat panels in the wainscoting are so thin and hollow and can't bear weight.

The frame isn't wide enough to stretch over additional rails of the wainscoting where we want to mount it, and the rails are only 2 inches wide. I've attached a photo of the wall, excuse the poor sketch on top, but the idea would that I need the point of contact with the wall in the center.

Sounds like I shouldn't try to modify the wall buddies and should instead swap mounting hardware type to something center suspension. Maybe try a z hook, though it's gonna need to be a short one, if they exist.

 

[Bruce Papier]

If you don't want to use just a wire and single hook, you could use one of the Z-shaped hangers from a set of security hangers and the locking bolt at the bottom using the security brackets. That should keep the picture in place.

 

[Nikodeumus]

How thick is the frame moulding?
Can the frame bear its own weight with only a single attachment point at the top rail, without bowing?
If it's a strong frame material, probably fine to use the above suggestions.
If the top rail may be to flexible to hold the weight, is there any reason strong D-ring (or strap hangers) on the side rails with wire wouldn't work?

 

[wpfay]

You could build out the wall with some solid material (wood) that matches the thickness of the decorative trim. A couple smallish blocks positioned where the mounting hardware goes screwed to the wall with appropriate anchors should do it.
Welcome to the G.

 

[atley]

Thanks so much for the warm welcome and the help, everyone! A great reminder of what the internet can and should be.

@Nikodeumus Frame moulding is about 1.625" and can bear its own weight without bowing yeah.

@Bruce Papier Is this the type of security set you're talking about?

@wpfay I can't build out the wall as much as I'd like to

The frame itself is about 14lbs. Some photos of the frame attached.

 

[wpfay]

If you can't build out the wall you could put spacer blocks on the upper corners of the frame and mount the Wall Buddies to them to be close enough to the wall for them to work as designed? The spacers would only need to be as thick as the decorative trim, or slightly less, and the edges could be slightly recessed and painted black to match the frame color.
It looks as if there is just enough space between the vertical wall mouldings to add spacers and hang with the supplied hanger system.

 

[Bruce Papier]

Larson Juhl 24047 is the stock number for them in bulk, but you can get them in smaller quantities.

 

[JFeig]

Another alternative is to cut a "T" shaped piece of plywood that can be attached with screws to the center vertical railing on the wall. Hangers can be attached to this "T" such that they will catch the existing Wallbuddies hardware on the frame.