subject: Consider Safety When Hanging A Large Metal Work Artwork Or Mobile [print this page] While big spaces need big solutions, it is important that the big solution is safely displayed considering its size and weight. For example, if you have a large metal sculpture or mobile, it is important to understand how heavy it is and how to safely display it.
Generally drywall is not substantial enough to support a heavy metal sculpture or mobile. If you have very thick drywall and your piece of artwork is not too heavy, you may be able to get away with hanging it. Plywood, again if it is thick enough, can hold a heavier load than drywall. If you have block or stone walls consider drilling your mounting holes along the grout line to keep from accidentally cracking the stone. Hangers are rated for strength, so make sure that you use a properly weighted hanger when mounting your display.
A large metal art piece looks stunning mounted on a large, blank wall or to compliment a single large piece of furniture. The scale of the artwork should be in balance with the size of the room, the wall and the furniture in the room. A large piece of art will dwarf small, delicate furniture making it aesthetically unappealing.
Securing with Studs
Generally if you are hanging a heavy piece of art from a wall, you will want to anchor it to the closest wall stud. Wall studs are actually part of the wooden frame of the house. They can be found by knocking on the drywall and listening for a solid sound or by using an electronic stud from your local hardware store. In most houses, studs are placed either 16 or 24 inches apart.
Usually wall studs are located close enough together to let you hang a large metal sculpture with no problems. Drill a pilot hole and then sink a screw or thick nail into the stud. Make sure that you angle the screw downwards for a solid hold, and you can generally hang your art piece with only two to three screws or nails.
Anchoring Art
For the rare times that you simply cannot make do with the location of the wall studs, if the drywall is thick enough, you may be able to use wall anchors. They come in many different sizes and tensile strengths, so choose one that is heavy enough to accommodate the weight of your artwork. If you are not sure what size anchor to use, get help at the hardware store, and you should probably err on the side of caution.
To install a wall anchor simply drill a hole a little smaller than the anchor in the drywall where you want to place it. Push the anchor into the hole and insert the screw. The anchor base expands in the wall giving the screw a solid base in which to sit. A word of caution though, when screwing into a wall anchor, take care not to over tighten the screw, because it will actually loosen the anchor grip on the wall.
