Looks fine to me; use two wall anchors and it should be fine.

You could add new wiring yourself without removing the backing.

Funny - not too long ago I bought a HUGE gesso frame that I am going to have a mirror made to go in. It also had a silk cord, but thicker - it almost looks like silk rope LOL.

Where are you going to hang it?

tina

My guess is that what is on there now will hold the mirror just fine. If you want something nicer all you have to do is buy some wire, loop it 2-3 times and then twist the end 2-3 inches around the lengths.

I would not open up the backing.

The link below may help.

Here is a link that might be useful: hanging mirror

Yes, I guess I could just add some more wiring to back up what is there. What's there, doesn't look very sturdy and I think it could break with the weighted mirror. That's why I wanted to remove the backing (which looks to be a chore because it is tacked down every inch or so.) Any idea the age of this mirror and why such a thick backing is used? I am used to seeing cardboard or paper.

tinam61 - I thought about over the bed (behind our heads, not over lol) but worried about it falling on us. DH and my daughters vetoes that idea. The next place was a long wall as you enter our bedroom hall. However, I realized that a pocket door is behind that wall, and do not think I could fins a secure stud. Seems to me that the frame for pockets doors is firring strips, or 1x4 turned sideways. The third choice is straight ahead at the entrance of the bedroom hallway. I am not too thrilled with that choice because I am not sure I want to look at myself every time I enter the bedroom. Also, the mirror would look best turned the way you see it in the above photo, but the wiring runs the other way.

I meant to post earlier that I was no expert, just adding my two cents worth. I don't know about the age.

You can change the wiring so that you could turn the mirror what ever way you wish.

I'm with you on what hangs over the bed (HEADS NOT OVER - you cracked me up on that!), I think about it falling too.

Be sure and show us when you get it hung!

tina

Yeah, but if I use the originally wire with additional support, I don't want to change the hardware/hooks. I'd definitely have to get someone else to do that to make sure it's secure.

nhb that's masonite on the back and is what holds the mirror in place - I would not remove it. Masonite is very heavy - it's the backing on a large mirror that I have and that mirror dates to at least 1960 possibly earlier. I don't think the age is a factor in the use of the masonite but rather the size of the mirror and the quality - it's used in a piece that is intended to last because it provides a very stable backing for the mirror and frame. The wiring appears to be fine to my eyes but since I'm not there to see it you know what my opinion is worth! For hanging weighty objects, I prefer a toggle over a molly (or 2 if the object is wide) - they seem more secure to me. .

I don't know anything about the age but I would add additional wire to what's already there keeping the same hooks. There are screws on each side so it should be pretty secure. There's never a stud where I want to hangs things so I use wall anchors for anything heavy. I used two large ones for my bathroom mirror.

I wanted to add.. I like your mirror! :)

That mirror looks to be a mirror added to an antique frame. The glass is probably 1/4 inch float glass and very heavy and takes a heavy back to hold it. The wire and fasteners look certainly heavy enough to hang the mirror...I have several very large very heavy mirrors hanging in my house....and all are on several strands of twisted wire...and the huge one in the bedroom, about 5 foot square, is hung from 2 studs.
It's fine the way it is....you may add new fasteners and wire to hang it horizontally...but don't remove the old in case you change your mind.
Think about hanging it somewhere that needs light, because it will reflect a lot. I have a mirror over my mantle and over the dining room buffet and over a piece in the living room and a sideboard in the dining room ( 2 mirrors in the dining room!...never thought about the over kill there...) I love nice mirrors!
Linda c

I just hung a 40 pound mirror on the wall in my guest bath. Forget wire, I used an 18" long cleat! When I was trying to decide how I was going to support that beast I took a trip to Home Depot and Lowes. Both have picture hanging stuff in their hardware sections and both have "heavy item" specialty stuff. I'd suggest that you go take a look at what they have!

dlm2000 - Masonite! That's the word I was looking for. Thank you for that information. I would have made a terrible mistake taking it off. If I hang it wide, can I still use one single nail in a stud? The good news is that I measured the wall space where I wanted to hang the mirror (the pocket door wall) and I think it will work. There appears to be a stud right at the end of the door and perfectly centered where I need it.

Thanks sheesharee - It's simply elegant, IMO. Every time I was in that antique store, I was drawn to the mirror. Then the last time i saw it, I was with my daughter and casually mentioned that it was a great price for such a nice large mirror and I might buy it some day. She beat me too it. :)

lindac - I was hoping you'd see this thread. Thanks for that information. If it's a newer mirror, it's been in the frame for quite a while. The nails are rusted.

The hallway does need light, but the only thing to reflect off of it would be the overhead can lights. I have a mirror in just about all my rooms, too.

whitdobe - Missed your post. I'll look into cleats. The mirror weighs 35lbs. Seems heavier than that!

Forgot to ask how to best remove sticky tape from the mirror. Hot water?

A nail protruding from a stud is not intended to handle that type of stress - shear stress. You risk having it come crashing down, maybe not immediately but at some point, it's pretty likely.

Don't hang the mirror from wire strung across the frame. Hang it at the two eyes that are screwed on to the mirror:

dlm2000 - Would a long screw work better?

suero - That's how I hung my foyer mirror, and we had a time trying to get it straight. I'll have to use my laser level. But, I need to hit two studs.

While the house was being built, we had wide boards put up between the studs, to accommodate heavy paintings in strategic places where we knew we would hang things. I don't think we put one on the wall in question.

Yes a screw is better - but - you need a mirror hook that the screw goes through before it goes into the wall then stud. You don't want to hang the wire directly over the screw because it will eventually fray the wire. But suero's right - the better way is to use both hooks that are already on the back of the frame and hang THEM on the mirror hooks - that's what they're for. But looking more closely, that wire isn't strung properly. It should be wrapped through that hook twice and then wrapped on itself. From the picture it doesn't look like it is.

You can also make loops of sturdy picture wire and attach each loop to the eyes on the side of the mirror. That way, just in case the eyes are not level, you can adjust the length of each loop to level the mirror.

Here's the hook that I used to hang an extremely heavy mirror. It can go either into a stud or drywall.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cobra MegaHook

I have a mirror that is probably that heavy with backing on it and I had it hung by the hooks also. Beautiful mirror...what a lovely Mother's Day gift. :-)

Thanks all! I feel sure I will get it up one way or another. I have to wait for the right time to ask DH to help. He hates putting holes in the wall, hanging stuff etc. He was not thrilled about seeing the mirror, although he was very patient and agreeable when I hung curtain rods/curtains. Anyway, he is not feeling well (allergies) so i will wait another day or two to ask for his help.

I have a very old, heavy round mirror with seems to be fiber board on the back of the mirror and held together with very old brackets of which three are missing around the mirror attached to the backing. My question: since I cannot find these old brackets can I use e6000 glue to reinforce the backing to the mirror?