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Hanging A Heavy Mirror

16 years ago

I have a heavy mirror that's about 50 lbs, I need to weigh it. It was hanging on the drywall in the store, not sure how they did it. There are 4 hooks already on the back of the mirror. Although I'm guessing it's so you can hang it either vertical or horizontal, so I would only be using 2 hooks near the top of the sides.

I bought fasteners for hanging pictures on a wall, one box is for 50lbs items and the other is for 100lbs items. So it looks like your typical picture hanger hook, however the 100lb one has 3 holes for slightly larger nails while the 50lb one has 2 holes in it. Would that be okay to use?

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Comments (4)

ericwi
16 years ago
-to achieve the rated load capacity of the hooks you recently purchased, each hook must be nailed or screwed into a wooden or metal stud. Hardware stores sell stud-finders, for around 20 dollars. You skim the device across the wall surface, and it lights up when you are over a stud. Wooden studs will accept either nails or screws, and metal studs will take screws only.
brickeyee
16 years ago
Get a pack of molly bolts and hang it from two of them.
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Ditto to TexAsk's recommendation. The Hangman product is a metal cleat system. I have used other versions of Hangman products to hang a heavy framed piece of art, and they were also cleat systems. Very sturdy. The cleat system is a 2-part thing: One piece attaches to the wall and another to the back of the item you are hanging. They interlock. The Hangman website shows you what they look like. You'll want to make sure you find either metal or wall cleat systems that will work with the hanging wire UNLESS you can actually drill into the back of the frame (the wood frame, if there is one) to attach a "regular" picture frame cleat. There are ones labeled for mirrors. And you will probably need at least 3 people for the job. You want 2 people to hold the mirror up against the wall before you drill any installation hardware in, while you stand back and make sure it's in the right spot for you. Don't try to do it yourself!
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I think it's because wire could snap with the weight. I had the same issue and used adjustable picture hangers like these. Hard to use, but at least you can adjust them instead of putting numerous holes in the wall. LOL https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002YH3R7A/ref=asc_df_B002YH3R7A5337767/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B002YH3R7A&linkCode=df0&hvadid=193166724913&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13940315452290264613&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010753&hvtargid=pla-340513046604
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peaches89
Original Author
16 years ago
Okay I went to the hardware store today and bought a stud finder. However now I find out that the studs are not the same width as my mirror. Should I only hang one side in a stud and the other just in the drywall?

I also picked this up for 100 lbs. Or are Molly bolts better?
{{!gwi}}
brickeyee
16 years ago
Use molly bolts.
The picture hanger is only rated at 100 pounds if the nail is in a stud.
If you use a pair of molly bolts you can align the mirror without worrying about the stud locations.

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