Hanging a relief carving

[LynneLucas]

Hello. I was wondering how you hang your carvings on the wall. I have only used a simple sawtoothed picture hanger. I am planning on entering a piece in an art show but they don't allow this type of hanger. What are some other options?
Thanks,
Lynne

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

measure down about 3/4 inches on a side and put a small eye hook in. Get some small stranded wire (picture hanging wire) and use that between the eye screws..not taut tho leave a bit of slack. When putting the wire in the eye, make a granny and twist the remaining wire around itself and do the same to the other side, that way they will never come undone. Learned that one from a friend that owned a frame shop. Or.....I have used a router and a keyhole bit and made a slot in the back............your choice

[Mottles]

Agree with Dave--the two eye and wire is the best picture holder. Also sometimes after the wire has been twisted it still can be a little sharp. I wrap some tape around the sharp edges. For larger works before I put the second wire in the eye I run it though a soft plastic tube. Makes a nice carrier and much easier on the hands especially for heavy wood plaques or paintings.
Good Luck on the show.
Kathy

[Kenny_S]

Yep, Bave has a good suggestion on the eyehooks or ya can use eye screws and wire, the Keyhole router bit or drill a hole and an upward angle and hang it on a nail or two angle holes.

Good suggestion Kathy!

[AlArchie]

I have to wonder WHY they won't allow these type of hangers.....what other types DON"T they allow? Are the restrictions due to the type of display walls they have, so you won't damagew these? I'd check with the folks at the display area and find out exactly what they want you to use. I can think that they may use the "flannel board" type walls. Then you would most likely have to use a special velcro type hanger on the back of your carving. Or maybe they are using the old museum type top of the wall picture rail hanging systems, or maybe the new 3-M removable hangers. Ya, check with the folks at the art show place and ask what they do want.

Al

[Kenny_S]

Another is a Plate displayer. Folds out. May have to be a bigger one depending of size of relief.
Personally, I would not use any of the velcor and they usually don't work, even the industerial stregth kind. been there. But that is just my take on it. I agree with ALA to check with the people on why you can't use the sawtooth handers and what the suggest you use.

[LynneLucas]

Thanks everyone for the replies. This is new territory for me. I have never participated in any shows.
Al=I'm not sure why they don't want the sawtooth hangers. They only want wire. Most people display paintings. I think I will ask them what they would accept for a woodcarving.

It looks like the eyehooks and wire would probably be the best bet. The detailed description is helpful. I don't have power tools and my husband isn't the handy type but I'll figure it out (I hope).

Lynne

[Thor]

Sawtooth hangers are generally tapped into place with tapered nails . They eventually fall out. They may not for awhile, but the nature of a short tapered nail put into wood just isn't enough security to protect a piece hanging up high. Screw eyes with wire, or mirror straps with or without wire is the only way I will accept pieces to hang in my gallery. I'm responsible for it's health and safety while it's here.
You don't need anything more than an awl to use screw eyes. Just poke a hole, and use the awl to spin the screw eye into place.
thor

[Kenny_S]

Never had that problem with Sawtooth hangers.Setting here typing this message and looked up at a picture of my mother that has been hanging for 10 years with a sawtooth. But there is a first for everything.
One was to help on the sawtooth is add a dab of glue to the sawtooth backing as you nail in the nails.

[Pierre]

In some 40 years of executing commercial carvings and panels we've used two basic methods for mounting larger/heavier pieces. The first involves panels that are in the 25 to 150 pound category.
Using a door lock circular saw in your drill, sink two 1.5" diameter holes in the back of your panel not to exceed 1/4 of the depth of the carving thickness.
Place the holes in from either edge of the panel a nominal 1/4 of the width of the entire piece.
Chisel out the center to the depthe of the hole cut. Place a steel strap across the top 1/2 of the hole leaving enough room to hook it over the lag bolt heads which you'll be screwing into the studs in the wall behind the mural. Screw the lag bolts into the wall leaving just enough of the head to hook under the steel straps.
If the carving is on the heavier side you'll want to use 4 screws to secure the steel strap to the back of the carving. If you want a flush mount you can inlet the strap right into the wood. This also increases the shear strength of the whole unit.

More to follow for heavier murals.