Opinions Wanted What hangers do you use and when?

[IdahoDave]

I've been using wall buddies for several years now. Wire on things for artist because of gallery and show rules and nail less sawtooths on small pieces.

My qwestion then is: How do you decide what hanger to use and when, and (not being a huge fan of sawtooths) what do you do for the small pieces you frame? I've been at this for 15years but I am currently writing a training manual and would like a 'This how you do it' answer so it is the same for everyone.

The grumble family always knows best.

Thanks in advance

 

[jframe]

It sounds like we do pretty much what you do. I think saw tooth hangers are good for very small frames. Sometimes wire just looks ludicrous on small items plus they just end up dangling on a nail the same as a sawtooth does.

 

[nikfrz]

For 8x10's and under we use sawtooth. I always place it low just in case the customer uses a regular hanger, so that it wont show on the wall. Forget about it, if it is a metal sawtooth with a regular 10 lb hanger. You have to use nails, unless there is a hanger I dont know about. Artists organizations around here have to have wire, even 4"x6"

 

[Sherry Lee]

Infinity hangers

For small pieces I use the Infinity Hangers (discussed numerous times) and wire.

I NEVER use sawtooth hangers because of their instability.

Just 2 hours ago I was in a home that had a horribly crooked small picture on the wall. I said, "you need two hangers on it"; she took it down to look and it was a sawtooth hanger! 'nuff said!

 

[PaulSF]

I try to use wallbuddies more and more now. I've had to do quite a few installations lately (including last night), and it's just so much easier. Probably the only time I won't use wallbuddies is when the frame isn't deep enough for everything in it (which is almost always, for canvas art and roma frames).

 

[Shayla]

A couple years ago, I framed a really skinny horizontal painting. It was a watercolor of a train, painted on a paper roll for a cash register. About two and a half inches by two and a half feet. Put a mat on it about an inch and a half wide, and a metal frame. The final thing was about six by thirty-four. For the hanger, I just took pushed the Nielsen omnihangers up on the sides as high as they could go, till they were butted up against the bottom of the metal corners. Put floreat hangers in the wall like for D-rings, and the holes of the hangers fit right down over them. Forgive this post if it seems painfully obvious to you, but it was a useful idea at the time, and maybe there's someone else out there who would like knowing about it.

 

[Rick Granick]

I'm with Sherry. I love Infinity Hangers. They are versatile and professional looking, and don't stick out like screw eyes (remember those?). With those I use United's Tuflon coated wire. If the frame is a little larger I may use #4x1/2" screws with the infinities instead of the matching screws. Larger than that goes to D-rings with wire. For big frames it's two D-rings (with no wire) or Wall Buddies. I give out two brass courtesy hooks with each picture and explain why two hangers are better than one. For frames with no wire I make a cardboard hanging template which simplifies hanger placement for the customer, and also protects the glazing on the trip home. (Customers LOVE templates, and it's a good way to recycle glass boxes.)
Rick

 

[Luddite]

I like odd...Love the Brass oriental hangers for some stuff.For most other stuff it`s Flangers,or D-rings and wire,in a non slip larks head knot before twisting.I hate saw tooth hangers,only because I can`t use em at shows,pegboard,ya know. L.

 

[PaulSF]

A couple years ago, I framed a really skinny horizontal painting. It was a watercolor of a train, painted on a paper roll for a cash register. About two and a half inches by two and a half feet. Put a mat on it about an inch and a half wide, and a metal frame. The final thing was about six by thirty-four. For the hanger, I just took pushed the Nielsen omnihangers up on the sides as high as they could go, till they were butted up against the bottom of the metal corners. Put floreat hangers in the wall like for D-rings, and the holes of the hangers fit right down over them. Forgive this post if it seems painfully obvious to you, but it was a useful idea at the time, and maybe there's someone else out there who would like knowing about it.

That actually sounds like a very simple and elegant solution to the metal frame/wallbuddy problem I was having, where the wallbuddies made it impossible to get a tight corner on the metal frame.