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New
Hampshire Sunday News - October 5, 2003
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In The Shop -
written by Larry Eisinger
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Most pictures are hung by first attaching picture wire (woven) cable with
many wire strands so that it is flexible to screw eyes that are driven
into the wooden frame near the top.
Picture hangers usually consist of a hook attached to a nail that is angled
so that it will be driven down through the wall to resist pulling out.
For small pictures less than 18 inches wide a single hanger will suffice.
But for larger, heavier pictures two hangers at the same level and about
12 inches apart are usually used. The extra hanger helps hold the picture
level.
This hanging method has worked for generations, but if you must remove
the picture for cleaning or to place it in a different area, the procedure
can be tricky. While holding the picture from the front you must feel
with your fingers behind the picture to make sure the wire grabs the hook.
For small pictures the job is relatively easy, but if you are hanging
a picture 3 feet wide the experience can be frustrating.
And how do you make sure it will stay level once hung? Is there a better
way?
Two entrepreneurs from California, Steve Kumetz and Jim Gallien, thought
so and developed and patented the concept shown here. It not only simplifies
the hanging process but guarantees the picture will stay level at all
times.
An added bonus: Slight movement to the left or right for better placement
is easy, just slide it over.
Kits for pictures of various weights (or other items you wish to hang)
up to 300 pounds are available, and all of them work on the same principle.
Kits contain a picture frame bracket, a wall bracket, a removable bubble
vial (so the vial can be used to level other pictures), screws and anchors.
Here is how the system works. First mount the frame bracket on the back
of the picture frame (Figure A). Then, determine the exact wall
height and mount the wall bracket to the wall by first driving one screw
into an anchor near the end (Figure B).
Insert the bubble vial in the channel and swing the bracket until the
vial indicates it is level (Figure C). Remove the vial. Mark the
screw position, install the anchor and drive the screw home.
To hang the picture, simply rest the picture bracket over the wall bracket
(Figure D). Gravity will hold it in place.
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I am confident you
will agree that this method has many advantages over the old-fashioned
way of hanging pictures from a wire. (And I think you will also agree
that the name of the company that makes this system is just as creative.)
A three hanger kit and other Hangman products are available at many home
centers, hardware stores and other mass merchandisers. For more information
call 818-610-0487 or visit www.hangmanproducts.com.
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Visit
the Home Workshop Web site at www.homerepairworkshop.com. To obtain a
copy of Larry Eisinger's 544 page "Super Book of Home Repairs, Remodeling
and Building" send $24.95 to Larry Eisinger, 1713 Meadowside Drive,
Charlotte, VT 05445. Make checks payable to Eisinger Publications, Inc.
Money back guarantee.
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