ALL ABOUT PICTURE HANGING WIRES

The frame and the artwork are important parts of the wall display, but without the hanging wire, there wouldn't be any wall display! This article takes an in-depth look at picture framing wire - the different types, thicknesses, and other important things to know when preparing to hang your own artwork!

SUMMARY WIRE TYPES BREAKING STRENGTH ATTACHING WIRE ORDERING WIRE Most picture hanging wire is made from steel - either stainless or galvanized, and twisted or braided. Picture hanging wire may be graded based on the maximum weight of the picture, or on the breaking weight, which is 3-4 times more. The wire should be attached 1/4 to 1/3 of the way down the frame ,and be given enough slack to hold securely on the wall hook. At KeenART Media, we sell six thicknesses of vinyl-coated stainless steel picture hanging wire spools.

WHEN TO USE PICTURE HANGING WIRE

There are a number of different ways to hang pictures on the wall. You may use the hooks attached to the back of a pre-made frame, sawtooth hooks, French cleats, cable systems, or picture hanging wire. Small Frames Most small picture frames (4x6" to about 11x14") will come with a sawtooth hook at the back, or just a couple of hooks fastened to the frame's backing. In most cases, this is perfectly acceptable for a frame this size. Sawtooth hooks are easy to use - you simply set the zigzag edge onto the nail or screw protruding from the wall. Hooks attached to the back of the frame are a little trickier. It can be very difficult to make the hook stick out enough to slide it onto the nail, since you are unable to leave your hand back there to push it out. the frame has two hooks (which equals twice the difficulty), it may be best to string a piece of wire between them. Large, Heavy Frames French cleats work well for very wide (panoramic) images, very heavy frames, or frames with an uneven weight distribution. French cleats are long bars of metal or wood which are cut to fit the width of your artwork. One cleat is fastened along the top frame edge (at the back), while the other is attached to the wall. The artwork cleat sits in the wall cleat, so the piece is supported all the way across. Installing french cleats is a larger investment, since they require a number of screws - and usually anchors - across the wall, as well as numerous holes drilled into the picture frame. For mid-weight and length frames, wire may work, with two screws or nails inserted at intervals across the wall, instead of only one in the center. Professional Artwork or Galleries Cable systems are often used in professional galleries or private homes where an entire room is lined with art. The artwork hangs from thin cables that connect to a track affixed to the ceiling. Cable hanging systems require even more work than french cleats, but are worth it for extensive collections. All Other Artwork If your artwork doesn't fit any of the above categories - if it's of medium size and weight or, more specifically, under 100 lbs - you'll want to use picture hanging wire. Picture wire is relatively easy to attach, and easy to hang on the wall. It is also quite inexpensive. Read on for more information on picture hanging wire! For more information on the different hanging systems, see our Hanging and Displaying Art article.

Sawtooth hanger Metal French cleats Cable hanging system

STYLES OF PICTURE FRAME WIRE

Wire is defined as a flexible strand or rod of metal, usually cylindrical (though it may also be square, rectangular, or flattened). It may be comprised of a single piece (solid core), multiple strands twisted or side by side, or braided into a thick cord. It made be made from copper, steel, aluminium, or nickel. Material Though many types of wire will work, steel wire - one of two types - is most commonly used for attaching to and hanging picture frames. Galvanized steel wire has had a zinc coating applied to it to prevent it from rusting. This is usually done using a hot-dip galvanization method wherein the steel is submerged in molten zinc. Stainless steel wire is in fact a steel alloy, made from a mixture of steel and at least 10% chromium, which prevents corrosion and rust, and keeps the steel from staining other items when in contact with water. Both of these types of steel are strong and flexible. Whichever steel method was used, the wire will have been either braided or twisted. Twisted wire - generally stainless steel - is very strong, but less flexible. It is made by twisting many thin strands together with mechanical tension. Braided wire - usually galvanized - is more flexible. The size of the individual strands never changes, but more strands may be used for a thicker wire Coated Some twisted picture framing wire is coated in a vinyl or PVC plastic (poly vinyl chloride) sheath that adds strength and protects fingers, artwork, and walls from scratches and pokes caused by broken wires, but will not detract from the flexibility of the wire. Uncoated Braided styles of picture hanging wire are often uncoated, with the raw, galvanized metal metal exposed. This type of wire is extremely flexible, and quite easy to cut, but still strong enough to support considerable weight. If one of the thin strands breaks, however, the wire can puncture skin and artwork, or scratch frames.

Galvanized, uncoated wire Stainless steel, coated wire

PICTURE WIRE BREAKING STRENGTHS

Picture hanging wire is graded by the amount of weight it can support. The grades are identified by numbers. The following chart shows the maximum weight each grade can support. The grading is independent of style, so No. 2 braided wire may have a different breaking strength than No. 2 coated wire. Different brands also grade their wire differently. It is generally recommended that you select a picture hanging wire with a breaking strength about three times the weight of your frame to account for the years of constant . PICTURE WIRE # COATED WIRE FRAME WEIGHT COATED WIRE BREAKING WEIGHT BRAIDED WIRE FRAME WEIGHT BRAIDED WIRE BREAKING WEIGHT No. 2 15 lbs 40 lbs 12 lbs 50 lbs No. 3 20 lbs 68 lbs 16 lbs 68 lbs No. 4 25 lbs 75 lbs 20 lbs 85 lbs No. 5 43 lbs 105 lbs 24 lbs 98 lbs No. 6 60 lbs 150 lbs 28 lbs 115 lbs No. 8 100 lbs 300 lbs 36 lbs 145 lbs

Three grades of vinyl-coated wire

ATTACHING THE WIRE TO THE FRAME

From a conservation framing perspective, hanging artwork with picture frame wire is a better choice than hanging with the sawtooth hooks or the hangers attached to the back of the frame. When a frame is hung with wire, it inevitably leans away from the wall a little bit. This space allows for better air circulation, keeping moisture from building up behind the frame and causing water spots or mold. To ensure your artwork hangs correctly, there are a few basic rules to which you should adhere when attaching the wire to the hanging hardware. Attach the hanging hardware so the wire sits 1/4 to 1/3 of the way down from the top of the artwork. For larger pieces, closer to 1/4 is best, while smaller pieces can be closer to 1/3. Give the wire a bit of slack, so it form a triangular peak between the two sides. A few inches below the top of the piece is best, or about half way between the hanging hardware and the top. Don't cut the wire away once it's been tied around the hanger. Wrap the excess (short end) around the longer end until it is used up. This will prevent the wire from slipping over time. When tying the wire around the hanger, the slipknot method is best, though double- or triple-wrapping the wire will work as well. For detailed instructions on tying your wire, see our How to Tie Wire article.

Two ways to tie the wire Leave some slack in the wire

ORDERING PICTURE HANGING WIRE

At KeenART Media, we are proud to use and sell Super Softstrand, vinyl-coated stainless steel picture hanging wire. Easy to cut and wind, this strong, smooth wire minimizes the possibility of scratches and punctures in your hands, artwork, and frames. You can order complete spools (125 to 1500 ft depending on the grade) of Super Softstrand wire from our online art supply store. If you're ordering a Giclée canvas print or a custom picture frame, you can rest assured that this high quality wire will be used on all your orders, either attached in-house, or shipped to you for your own assembly.

At KeenART Media we pride ourselves on pairing top-quality products with extensive knowledge of printing and fine art. If you have questions about any of our services or products, don't hesitate to contact us. Our knowledgeable staff is always happy to assist with answers, advice, or suggestions.