I consider myself a pretty competent diy-er so it comes as a bit of a sur…embarrassment to find myself asking about the easiest diy job ever; how to hang a picture.

After all, doesn’t every man cut his diy teeth learning to hang a picture, even if it does involve the wifes stillettoes to complete the job.

Well, that’s the Western take on it because you only need three items, a hammer  (or stiletto) and the hook and nail.

Not here sadly……. Here it’s a major job involving drills and masonry bits, extension leads; plugs and screws, dustsheets, brushes and cloths.

I had four genuine Parisienne prints from a recent trip to frame up and you get asked where you want the hangers, the stand or the wire hanger.

They are not small, so wire it was.

Today at probably CMs best known picture frame shop I asked for the hooks to fit to the wall.

After rummaging a few drawers I was presented with 4 screws and 4 plugs.

They don’t have the traditional "s" hook with masonry nail to drive in at that oblique 35 degrees angle…”thailand not have”

Did a full recce at Home Pro, they have any number of fixing eyes and loops and hangers to fix to the picture itself but nothing for the wall.

 

So as I opened with, a relatively simple job for the ladies now needs a van full of tools.

Drilling walls is a nuisance, for me its not so bad with aerated blocks but even so getting two screws cock on level, horizontal to the mm even with accurate measuring can make a picture look a pig.

Not only that, there is a risk of drilling into water pipes, electric cables, big holes, spalling render.

 

So to change the subject completely….has anyone tried using the 3M self adhesive tape/sticky pad idea which I understand can actually be quickly removed (for example if you are in rented accom)

 

Quick replies please, don’t leave me hanging about.

Some of the concrete render here is  more like steel,  then  once you are through the concrete render often you'll hit actual steel (rebar or  some other metal I suspect beer caps)

which will quickly blunt your masonry drill bit

I found its better to start with a 3mm masonry bit "exploratory hole"  and try to keep the drill rpm low-ish  high rpm will also burn out your masonry bit (well any bit really )

Some of the concrete render here is  more like steel,  then  once you are through the concrete render often you'll hit actual steel (rebar or  some other metal I suspect beer caps)
which will quickly blunt your masonry drill bit
I found its better to start with a 3mm masonry bit "exploratory hole"  and try to keep the drill rpm low-ish  high rpm will also burn out your masonry bit (well any bit really )

Yes, the 3 mm masonry bit is a godsend.

I always tape ( masking tape ) a plastic bag just under the hole to be drilled, catches all the dust.

Scotch ( 3M ) have a large selection of double sided tape at Big C , waterproof, UV proof,clear, extra strong etc etc. But it all depends on how heavy these prints are.
I have put relatively light stuff on walls with some 3M double sided tape and found it to be very effective.

I have a wall clock mounted on a 3m hook. However, it is stuck to wood.

I have a couple of pictures, a wall clock and a rack of hooks that I hang work T-Shirts and shorts on behind the bedroom door all held up with just 1in concrete nails hammered into the cement rendering.

 

Works for me 

I use these back home, easy, fast, cheap way to hang a picture on a masonary wall. You just need a  hammer and is strong as hammer drilling. 

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/10-wall-mount-non-mark-non-trace-hook-uk-i271332135-s425014802.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.17.70b12feekwNzmQ&search=1

1 hour ago, BigT73 said:

I use these back home, easy, fast, cheap way to hang a picture on a masonary wall. You just need a  hammer and is strong as hammer drilling. 

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/10-wall-mount-non-mark-non-trace-hook-uk-i271332135-s425014802.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.17.70b12feekwNzmQ&search=1

Those look great.

1 hour ago, eyecatcher said:

Those look great.

They actually do work well, mainly because the little concrete nails are held straight and are kept from bending since the shafts are encased in the hard Teflon holder.  You can accomplish the same thing by taking a small/thin concrete nail and drive it in at a downward angle.  The trick is to hold the nail in a pair of electrical pliers while setting it to keep it from bending,I h have at least 12 pictures and clocks that were hung this way when I built my house 20 years ago and they are still there.

 


So to change the subject completely….has anyone tried using the 3M self adhesive tape/sticky pad idea which I understand can actually be quickly removed (for example if you are in rented accom)

Yep, they work great providing you don’t exceed the recommended allowed weight and secure per instructions. They are a must for hanging wall items in rental properties.

I can't be bothered anymore at 300 baht to my competent handyman job done. ????

I've given up mate.  All my pictures are still in their packaging and in the spare room.  I doubt they will ever see a wall again, unless my kids can be bothered. Apparently, I now live in a construction which the medieval cathedral builders would admire.   

44 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

I've given up mate.  All my pictures are still in their packaging and in the spare room.  I doubt they will ever see a wall again, unless my kids can be bothered. Apparently, I now live in a construction which the medieval cathedral builders would admire.   

I like this way of thinking. If you really want to view the pics, just go into the spare room and get them out of the packaging. Would show one's commitment

 

For myself; i have quite a few 'items' on the wall. One is a print of some koi carp swimming about. This is 1.2m x 0.8m, so not small. It is mounted onto a white-board and suspended from airbricks with 40kg fishing line; attached at each end.

 

Then there is a photo of the wife (in her prime) which unfortunately is covered by a calendar. Then there is a pic of Rama 5 and next to him is a print of a Chelsea team, and next to that a Man Utd one. These two have unfortunately been defaced, but only I have noticed the holes, rude words and felt-tip marks (I'm going to put up an Arsenal pic soon). Then there is a big poster - well a sort of scrolly thing - with drawings of 12 monk's heads. Under that, there is Mildred's educational stuff (3 posters). Then a pic of Mildred sitting on a bench. That is one wall.

 

Other walls have lots of posters and pics and educational prints.

 

I have just counted them; 69 in total.

4 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Then there is a photo of the wife (in her prime) which unfortunately is covered by a calendar.

One thing I've found useful with the 3M tape is that the bond gets stronger over time.  If you use it to hang something, clean the surface with alcohol first, let it dry.  Then stick the tape on one surface and let it sit for an hour or a day, leaving the film on the other side.  Then do the same to the other surface, put it in position and support it with something other than the tape for another day before removing the temporary support.  In my experience the tape won't peel off like it does when you just peel and stick.  

Ironically this takes much longer than a drill.  In all my years in Thailand I've probably drilled a thousand holes in the concrete walls and I've never had a problem.  Takes about 2 tools and 2 minutes.  But to each their own.  Good luck.

Have never had any problem finding eye/hooks as below in Thailand and just drill 6mm hole/insert 6mm plastic plug and screw in.  Vac is handy to catch the dust when drilling.    

53 minutes ago, bankruatsteve said:

Then there is a photo of the wife (in her prime) which unfortunately is covered by a calendar.

I think you had better remove the calendar and expose "the wife" (in her prime). Otherwise, she may wake up one day before you (after a bad night's sleep) and decide that you are no longer in your prime. You may find your few possessions out on the street.

 

Just kidding

I dont get a handyman to do jobs here, just get the wife to do it.

She is damned good using my Bosch hammer drill.

She used it this morning drilling a piece of 75x45 piece of c section to the fence and fitted bolts solar light etc, under my expert supervision of course, when i told her she was not doing it as would have done, she said  shut up or i will leave it for you.

I have used those 3 m things for years. Everything from frypans to framed photos. I have one next to the door for keys . The landlord was impressed when I asked him and he said if we leave we can leave them there if we want to because they are saving space in the kitchen and bathroom.

Just use 3M serrated picture hanging tape. Simple.

You can buy picture hooks etc in homemade and often in Big C, but usually they are useless as like said they cannot get through concrete.

 

The peel on off 3M sticker hangers I've used, but they are unreliable and sometimes unstuck and they DO take paint off with them sometimes! Especially  if the paint on the wall has a poor bond.

 

I've found easiest is drill a hole, then stick a little filler in it, push in the thin steel concrete pins you can buy, wait to set and all okay, and look okay afterwards if removed.

I live in a rented house, so to avoid discussions (deposit!) afterwards I use 2-sided tape and duct tape. I also use the ceiling board connections to hang; fish-line from the ceiling along the wall gives me plenty of room to hang things.
Good Luck ????

19 hours ago, eyecatcher said:

getting two screws cock on level, horizontal to the mm even with accurate measuring can make a picture look a pig.

I can loan you a spirit level with a laser in it for these thing. ????

3 hours ago, owl sees all said:

I like this way of thinking. If you really want to view the pics, just go into the spare room and get them out of the packaging. Would show one's commitment

 

For myself; i have quite a few 'items' on the wall. One is a print of some koi carp swimming about. This is 1.2m x 0.8m, so not small. It is mounted onto a white-board and suspended from airbricks with 40kg fishing line; attached at each end.

 

Then there is a photo of the wife (in her prime) which unfortunately is covered by a calendar. Then there is a pic of Rama 5 and next to him is a print of a Chelsea team, and next to that a Man Utd one. These two have unfortunately been defaced, but only I have noticed the holes, rude words and felt-tip marks (I'm going to put up an Arsenal pic soon). Then there is a big poster - well a sort of scrolly thing - with drawings of 12 monk's heads. Under that, there is Mildred's educational stuff (3 posters). Then a pic of Mildred sitting on a bench. That is one wall.

 

Other walls have lots of posters and pics and educational prints.

 

I have just counted them; 69 in total.

My hero, apart from the football prints. I have an original Chinese painting that is over 150 years old,  in a special frame and apparently quite valuable.  It's in the spare room too.  

17 hours ago, BigT73 said:

I use these back home, easy, fast, cheap way to hang a picture on a masonary wall. You just need a  hammer and is strong as hammer drilling. 

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/10-wall-mount-non-mark-non-trace-hook-uk-i271332135-s425014802.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.17.70b12feekwNzmQ&search=1

I brought a load of these from the UK and never had a problem.  Can hold a fair weight and is ideal for pictures etc.  One bang with a hammer and you're done!

10 hours ago, Nemises said:

 

Yep, they work great providing you don’t exceed the recommended allowed weight and secure per instructions. They are a must for hanging wall items in rental properties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I watched the video, and it looks impressive, but what about the actual surface? Is it smooth plaster, or wood?

What about a surface which is plaster, but not the smooth kind?

^ for about 90 baht to buy one to test, you will have your answer :)

This is a hammer drill at Tesco, the ฿990 is better, out of stock. Better ones at HomePro. Get 1/4” bits and plastic anchors. Better quality drill may be worth it for hard concrete here. Do be mindful of pipes and wires in wall, but in my unity that’s all on surface. Drill the holes, put the anchors in, then screws or hooks. Wood plugs will do in a pinch. 

5 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

I can loan you a spirit level with a laser in it for these thing. ????

Haha, I have 4 spirit levels, a cheap laser level and a dumpy level on a tripod.....oh and a 10m water level.

I am a surveyor, but thanks anyway

Making a bit of a mountain out of a molehill methinks.

   As a person who sees an empty space on a wall as an area crying out to be filled with a picture ..I have hung

hundreds (at least) of them.

   Out with the drill, in with the screw, all in the "blink of an eye".

You need a hammer drill which are not expensive and easy to find at Home Pro. Buy a couple of masonry drill bits and some anchors and screws, these can be bought in packages, and you're good to go.

 

I bought a Black and Decker drill with a toggle switch for regular / hammer for something like 1200 baht. 

 

How difficult is that?