100 pound test wire looped 3 times around the two hangers in the studs
combines for 300 lb. test. Any time you can add an attach point, for example
having 2 or 3 in place of one, you are distributing the stress from the
individual point. Alternatively, I have seen some rest heavy items on
decorative shelves that are well anchored.

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Scott D. Peters
Sent: Monday, November 15, 2004 4:42 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Recommendations for hanging heavy framed pictures/mirrors


I know this might seem like an oddball question, but I'm hoping someone on
the list could provide some practical advice on hanging heavier (over 100
lbs.) framed objects. This would be in a residential situation, so house
museum curators would be especially worth hearing from. At the moment I am
"out of the field" and working in a hardware store. I have some curatorial
experience, but most of museum work was in interpretation, education and
archival collection management.
Over the past few days, we have had a number of customers asking for advice
on hanging items framed pieces that are over 100 lbs. Some well over 100
lbs. We do not carry wire that tests at more than 100 lbs and the guys in
our lumber department, who are knowledgeable about most such things aren't
too sure about how to go about hanging these items other than going into the
studs. From my experience, the key to hanging such items is to secure two
hangers to the studs and, using heavy test braided wire, hang the work on
the wire so that the wire hangs as parallel as possible. This distributes
the load evenly with little in the way of stress points that would cause the
wire to weaken. And the majority of the load is absorbed by the studs.

Can anyone verify if that is true, or recommend a preferred method that i
can pass along to our customers and to my co-workers?

Thanks in advance.

Scott D. Peters
Historically Speaking
(for the time being working for Millhurst Mills / Ace Hardware)

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