How the heck do I hang this mirror?

June 5, 2017 3:37 PM

Can you help me figure out a way to hang this mirror ? The catch: plaster walls in a rental.

You can kind of see the hanging set-up on the back of the mirror in the fourth picture on the website --it's a heavy mirror with a small screw/nail bracket inset, like the kind you'd have on a clock. I don't want to sink an anchor into the wall, which ordinarily I would do with an object of this weight and breakability, because of the damage it would do to the plaster. I don't think just a nail will be strong enough to hold it long term. We have picture rails at the top of the ceiling that I have successfully hung other heavy paintings from, but the nail bracket on the mirror isn't sturdy enough to support the vertical pull of the picture wire and just bends up/out. The back of the mirror isn't flush or I would try to use multiple heavy duty Command Strips.

Please hope me!

posted by stellaluna to Home & Garden (9 answers total)

Best answer: I just went through this, and am the farthest thing from a home improvement expert, but I think you want the Floreat picture hangers recommended on the Wirecutter. There are similar hangers in other brands that are likely available at your local hardware store. I think we used Ook because it was available.

We hung a bunch of pictures this way in plaster walls, they they've been perfectly fine so far. As I recall, we put some painter's tape in the wall and then (gently) hammered the tiny nail through that to reduce the chance of cracking around it. We pulled the tape out once we got the anchors in. They seem super solid.
posted by cnc at 3:58 PM on June 5, 2017 [3 favorites]

So that probably weighs 20 pounds or so. From the photos it looks like there must be two keyhole slots for hanging. I'm guessing they're meant for screws rather than typical small picture-hanging nails. What is the diameter of the circular part of the keyhole slot? Are they 16" apart, on center? The diameter of the holes will dictate the size of the screws. If they're 16" O.C. then screws can be driven into studs.
posted by jon1270 at 4:22 PM on June 5, 2017

Response by poster: There is only one keyhole slot. High-centered and affixed to the top of the frame like a pop top, unfortunately.
posted by stellaluna at 5:09 PM on June 5, 2017

If you think the bracket would otherwise work with your picture rail you could just JB Weld the bracket to the mirror frame so it can't bend.
posted by Mitheral at 6:40 PM on June 5, 2017

How much does it weigh?
posted by gregr at 7:56 PM on June 5, 2017

The nail bracket bends out with the hanging wire wrapped around it? Begorrah. First thought is the one you dismissed - a fat screw in a sleeve anchor tightened just enough to allow the keyhole thickness to slip behind the head. Hey - This Old House agrees, look under heavy picture, plaster. Less than 1/4" hole for the anchor, I think.

Second, maybe the Ook 50 lb picture hanger - the hanging tab looks like it would fit through the keyhole. Good luck.
posted by turkeybrain at 9:20 PM on June 5, 2017 [1 favorite]

Best answer: If you're convinced that all of these things won't work, you could epoxy a block of wood to the back and run picture wire to eye hooks put into the top of that block. The fanciest plan would be wood that was as thick as the recessed portion. You could probably use other strong glues as well.
posted by advicepig at 6:30 AM on June 6, 2017 [1 favorite]

Take it to a framing shop and have them add better hardware to the back of the mirror.
posted by amaire at 7:57 AM on June 6, 2017

Response by poster: Will try the Floreats first (that's a hell of a review at the Sweethome!) and if that doesn't work, will try the wood/eye hook solution. Thanks, all!
posted by stellaluna at 3:17 PM on June 6, 2017