Real Estate Blog - Getting the Hang of it-Cool Hardware You May Not Know About

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Getting the Hang of it-Cool Hardware You May Not Know About

hammer and nail

I'll admit that I am addicted to hardware and gadgets. Anything that promises to make the work of staging faster and easier will get my attention. Keeping it is another matter. In my quest to find the perfect picture hanging hardware and accessories I have tried quite a few, each with it's own pluses and minuses. I've also come across a few interesting web sites in the search.

The following are some of my favorites and some you may or may not have heard of in your own search:

Attach-its (previously posted here)

"No Tools" Push and Hang Picture Hangers

OOK Shield Picture Hangers Serious business

Canvas Hangers quick and easy-no wire needed

Floreat Hangers

Foam Fast Hangers Great for kids rooms

Heavy Duty Wall Hanger (similar to Hercules Hooks)

Picture Hanging Tool Similar idea as the Picture Plumb

U Can Do Hardware

Picture Hanging Solutions

Have I missed some of your favorites?

Posted by Pam Faulkner-Faulkner House Redesign Stager-Northern VA-Fairfax & Loudoun Co on 06/09/2008 08:55 PM

Comments (33)

staging, staging tools, hardware, gadgets, picture hanging, sources, supplies, hangers, picture hanging hardware

Post is included in group: Gadgets, Tools, & Extras
Post is included in group: Stage It Forward...
Post is included in group: Home Staging
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33 Comments on Getting the Hang of it-Cool Hardware You May Not Know About

JUN

2008

So do these really work ?? I have wanted a set but feared it was just another TV trick Heavy Duty Wall Hanger

Hang in there.

I haven't tried any, thought they were all gimmicks. I'll try...

Eric, yes, the heavy duty wall hangers do work. There are several manufacturers of the same type that go by the generic Heavy Duty Wall Hanger, Hercules Hooks and Monkey Hooks to name a few. The two drawbacks I have found is that they won't work where you have a stud and where you may have metal ductwork dirctly against the drywall.

David, you too ;)

Linda, as I mentioned above, the heavy duty hooks do work. I love Attach-its for other heavy duty items but their drawback is that you have to mount them on the piece which takes a little time and the wall can't be bowed much or they won't work.

Check out the others too since they all have their uses.

I'll add the link for the Attach-its in a sec.

Hi Pam, I would have to say that Monkey Hooks (Heavy Duty Wall Hangers) are still my favorite. We amazed a local Seattle artist who had us design her gallery in her loft at THE PRESS while she was working on her laptop in another room -- she never once heard us pound a nail into the wall! ~ Julianna -- REDESIGNING in SEATTLE ;-)

Julianna, great photo! I agree, if only they would work for every application we could lighten our tool box by leaving out the hammer!

3-M HOOKS - REMOVABLE AND THEN REUSABLE. For use on smooth wall surfaces only. Sized by weight - pay attention and do heed the set up time.

Pam, you always amaze me with the wealth of information you find. You truly are a gadget guru. Canvas hangers? Where do you find this stuff. You must love those IKEA stores too.

Kathleen, yes, thanks, I forgot to mention them. Interestingly I used the 3M's quite a bit for a while and then found I needed to use more heavy duty hangers. I wish I could trust the Command hooks for everything since they don't leave holes-perfect for staging.

Gary, I was bitten by the gadget and hardware bug at an early age when my father dragged me with him to the hardware store on Saturdays. Funny that I now go voluntarily! Gadget Guru? Who knew?

Thanks!

JUN

2008

Hey Pam,

know this is a handy list indeed. Every picture hanger needs one in the glove box.

I am afraid that I am a hardware nerd too -cant get me away from hooks and things.

Thanks for hooking us UP!

Heavy Duty wallhangers are my fav...my post http://www.activerain.com/blogsview/525988/Fallen-picture-broken-glass oh my, tells the story of an open house where I was to find a broken picture with glass all over the now dented hardwood flooring. Been using them ever since. Life savers in many ways I am sure it's saved me headaches. AND, they're reusable.

Jennifer, hardware nerd, that's funny. I had two more to add to the list but I can't find them online. I forget where I first found them and I'm down to my last few. More research...

Hang & Level

Here's the video

Terrylynn, just read your old post-that's a stager's nightmare. I really like these hooks too. It's interesting, I bought a lot of these hooks too a few years ago from a small family owned company. They were less expensive that way and I was afraid that since the inventer had died that maybe they wouldn't be available after a while. Two years later I saw the first infomercial for the Hercules Hooks and wondered if they had sold the company. I guess not since there are at least two other "brand names" out there. I still have quite a few left from my original order (I ordered a LOT) even though I use them in lots of jobs. I wonder if that was the same company you mentioned.

Marina, I've seen this gadget and it looks like it is easy to use. Love that it has the little level in it too. Do you use it? Clever video too. Do I need it? Hmmm...Thanks.

JUN

2008

Pam I just recently came across a new hanger.

I was placing expensive art in a rental unit and wondered what I could do to prevent theft. I didn't want to screw the frame into place like they do in some hotels. The ladies at the framing store introduced me to security hooks. You use a little special tool to "lock" the artwork into place and without it you CANNOT remove the art from the wall without taking part of the wall too.

It works great and the tenants may lift other items but they won't get the artwork. I suppose that most framing stores sell them. They cost me $2.50 each, and worth every penny.

I too love new gadgets and tools. Interesting post thanks.

JUN

2008

Ginger, this is great information. Do you know the name of the hoks or the manufacturer? Where can you get them, other than at the framers? If you have or can find the information please let us know. I'll do a search too. Thanks for passing this information along!

Hi Pam, I will attempt to contact the framing/art store but this is in Hawaii so it may take some time. Let me know if you find anything. Thanks

Hi again, I have emailed the retailer where I purchased these and we'll see if they respond. In the meantime I found some that I think are the same at this sight. http://www.govart.com/hardware_security_B.html

You have to purchase the wrench also to lock-in the system and then find a secure place to keep it in your tool box or ? for when you destage.

Those stagers installing in high-end homes might find these really helpful BUT they do require a molly or screw into the wall, so a larger hole is necessary than with hercules hooks or other systems. Smaller hole/less secure or larger hole/very secure, I know which one I would pick.

Hope this helps.

haha nice post I have heard of some of these wasn't the first one an infomercial

Thanks for sharing your fabulous finds! I am a personal fan of Hercules Hooks!

Ginger, you beat me to the search. I've been crazy busy. I should have known that govart.com would have them. It's the same as Picture Hanging Solutions listed above and they do have great stuff. $4.00 a set probably isn't bad to secure high end art in an unoccupied porperty. Is it tricky to lock and unlock these using the tool. I am so intrigued. Thanks for reporting back on it and again for this tip.

Bryan, Both Attach-its and Hercules Hooks are or have been infomercials. The HH type are made by several companied and can vary a lot in price.

Kristina, you're welcome, glad to share.

Pam, perhaps a bit tricky. It helped that I could hold the piece out away from the wall while my husband worked the wrench on the hook. The only other thing was making careful measurements to place the hook at the right location for the art. But the directions that we got were pretty good.

I'll let you know if and when I hear from the retailer.

Ginger, so you really need two people to do it? That might be good-or bad. Good because it will really frustrate someone who is intent on taking the art, bad because it could really frustrate the stager! ;) Still, it is a great thing to know about, Thanks for all of the information.

Pam, You are the queen of tools and gadgets.... Thanks so much for sharing all these great sources... God bless

Cheryl, thanks. If you try any of these please come back and report on your experience. Seems like lots of people have used the HH type but no one has mentioned the others. Once you have used the Attach-its on ledges and other things with keyholes you will love how easy it is to hang them.

JUN

2008

Hi Pam,

I thought I would let you know that my son gave his second Toastmaster's speech and he talked about the class we did last spring called: The Art of Picture Hanging. He did not know he would be assisting me in presenting it. Of course he has not been a fan of public speaking, but when I told him he could bring his tools and do a "show and tell" for all of those women that were tired of asking their husbands and sons to help them, that made him happy and he did an excellent job!

Perfect timing on your post, I've got an office building that wants a plasma, but they don't want holes, at least any that will be noticed after the fact.

JUN

2008

Irene,

People love gadgets-especially the ones that promise to make life easier or better. Picture hanging can be frustrating. Put the two together and you can keep a group's attention. It's easier to talk about something that you know well, so now that he has that experience behind him I'm sure the next will be easier. Having you as a coach has got to be the best confidence booster!

Cindy,

Are you planning on hanging the TV yourself? I wouldn't. I've had two clients who have horror stories about these falling off the wall-even when the special brackets were installed per instructions. In one case a handyman company did it and in another the installers for the electronics store did it. In both cases the company's insurance covered the new TV and repairing the damage to the wall. In one case the installers tried to get out of covering it because they said that the homeowner bought the wrong type of bracket. Fortunately they had kept the information and warrantee handy for proof that it was the one recommended by the TV manufacturer. Hope this information is helpful

MAY

An update- the no tools hanger set listed above is no longer available on that link. Will post again if I find a good substitute

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