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Picture Frame Hardware - Learn What to Look For Before Buying Your Next Frame

By Autumn Lockwood

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 21Oct2009 Word count: 686 Viewed: 1019 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Have you ever been upset after purchasing the perfect frame only to discover it didn't include the picture frame hardware you need for displaying it? You're not alone. Most people focus on the appearance of the frame and don't think to check how it can be displayed. This article will help you to know what picture frame hardware to look for so you are never disappointed again.

It is important to know how you want to display your frame before you start your search for the perfect picture frame. Not all frames can be hung on a wall or displayed on a table top. So, knowing how it will be displayed is the most important consideration before you buy a picture frame.

Easel back stands are what you need if you plan to place your picture frame on a nightstand or table. Easel back stands have a built in stand that allows your picture to stand by itself on a flat surface. The frame will rest on the stand at a slight back-leaning angle.

Most ready-made picture frames come with an easel back for displaying the frame both horizontally and vertically. However, some very inexpensive frames may not come with an easel back stand and are only made to hang on a wall. If that is what you have purchased and you want your picture frame displayed on a flat surface, you can purchase a separate stand-alone easel. With a stand-alone easel, the picture frame is placed on the easel and held in place with a simple or decorative edge. Most stand-alone easels come in metal or wood and are available as a table top easel or a floor easel depending upon the size of frame you want to display.

With many ready made frames, they come with both an easel back stand and hanging hardware so you can choose how you'd like to display your frame. However, there are some ready made frames that are made to only be displayed on a table top. These frames won't come with wall hanging hardware and often have either a velvet back or a wood lacquered back that make it difficult to install wall hanging hardware.

There are also those ready made frames that are designed to only be hung on a wall. Generally they hang on a wall because of their large size or shape and usually include built-in wall hanging hardware on the back of the frame. This hardware might be a built in frame ring or a triangular loop on the back, which makes hanging your picture frame easy.

Two Types of Hanging Hardware

If you have selected a picture frame that doesn't have wall hanging picture frame hardware, don't be discouraged. You have a couple of options. You can install the hardware yourself or have a custom framer do it for you for a fee. If you opt to do it yourself, be sure you select the right picture frame hardware. Your choices are either saw tooth hangers or eye hooks that require stringing a wire between the eye hooks.

1) Sawtooth Hangers: If you want the easiest hardware to install then saw tooth hangers are the best choice. Once you have the hanger centered and straight on the back of the frame, hammer in two small nails, and you are ready to hang your picture frame. Another important tip to remember is that you should always use the short picture frame nails that come with the hanger to avoid damaging your picture frame.

2) Eye Hooks: Eye hooks are a little more difficult because they require screwing two eye hooks to either side of the frame and stretching a wire between them. The tricky part of this is getting the eye hooks evenly spaced and secured on the sides of the frame; then cutting the right amount of wire so the frame will hang flat against the wall. Careful measuring will help make for a satisfactory end result.

By always checking the back of your picture frame, you'll always know that you've picked out a frame that can be displayed just the way you want.

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