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How to Hang a Picture

Hanging a picture is an easy do-it-yourself project with a couple hanging options.

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Drill and counterbore bitFastenerLaser levelScrewScrewdriver

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How to Hang a Picture

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" How to hang the picture. First, decide where you want to hang the picture. Then, make small pencil marks at the bottom two corners of the frame. Now, measure up to where either the picture brackets are located on the frame if you're using brackets or where the peak of the picture frame wire would be if you're using a wire. The fastener will be placed exactly at these marks. In most houses, wall studs are located sixteen inches apart. To choose the correct picture fastener, you'll need to decide whether the picture will be fastened to a wallboard or to a wooden stud behind the wall port. On older homes that have plaster walls, the picture hangers can sometimes be hung on the last strips that are behind the plaster and run the length of the wall horizontally from stud to stud. You can locate where the studs are by tapping on the wall and listening for a solid sound or locating the heads of the nails found in the baseboard or ceiling molding or use a stud finder to locate stud positions. There are many varieties of hanging fasteners to choose from. If there's a stud behind where you want to place the fastener, you can use a 2-piece hook-and-nail hanger combination. Select one that is rated for the weight of your picture. You can also use a hook and nail to hang your picture and wallboard too as long as your picture is not too heavy. If the picture is heavy and there's no stud located where anchor point needs to be, then use a hollow wall anchor designed for fastening to wallboard. Drill a hole into the wall just large enough to fit the insert. Next, screw or push it depending on the fastener through the wallboard and into the hollow space in the wall. Drive in the screw that came with the fastener, leaving enough room for the wire to rest on the screw. Place the picture- -frame wire hanger over the screw. You can accurately level the picture using a laser level. Either place the level on a stable surface or use a camera tripod. Once leveled, the laser projects an accurate horizontal and vertical reference line. Then simply align your picture with the laser lines and your picture is ready to enjoy."

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Has anyone had success w/ a stud finder and wet plaster?

the only safe bet is that the stu spacing probably won't be consistant...did the stud sensor you were using have a deepscan mode on it...if not try one that does....i have had pretty good luck with those in the past with plaster walls...

Has anyone had success w/ a stud finder and wet plaster?

Thanks for the reply. Yes, it had deepscan and I tried it. It did seem to find one stud, but it was the only one indicated in a 9' long wall (there were some other blips, but nothing as good as the one) and the one it did find was about 2.5' off of one edge...

Has anyone had success w/ a stud finder and wet plaster?

I borrowed a Zircon the other day, and it just went bonkers The house is pretty old- 1924; anyone care to guess on the stud spacing and if it will be consistent? Thanks, Robert

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