Use your Cordless Drill to Successfully Hang Pictures on a Plaster Wall
Do you have plaster walls that you would like to hang pictures on, but are afraid you’ll crack the plaster? Don’t worry; with the right technique and tools, you can hang any size picture without putting a giant hole in the wall.
First things first, in order to hang a picture you need to have the right tools and materials handy to make the job as easy as possible. The following is what you may require:
- Small or large picture hook and nail (depending on the size of the picture)
- Hammer
- Cordless drill
- Stud finder
- Wall anchor (wall plug)
- Pencil
The easiest way to hang a picture on a hook is if the picture has a hanging wire attached to its backside.
If you are hanging a small, medium or large sized, light picture, all you will need to do the job is the small or large picture hook, nail and hammer. With a pencil, mark the area on the wall where you wish to place the nail and then gently hammer the hook diagonally into the wall. Due to the fact that the hooks are so small, it is highly unlikely that you will risk cracking the plaster. Therefore, you shouldn’t need to pre-drill a hole in the wall or find a stud.
Keep in mind that when nailing, you don’t want to drive a nail into an area of the wall that contains a piece of wood lath. If a nail strikes the lath located under the plaster, it is possible that the lath will vibrate and break plaster keys which will loosen the lath from the plaster. You will know if you hit lath, because the nail will bounce back when you hit it with the hammer.
If lath is present, you will need to pre-drill a pilot hole in the wall, despite the size of nail you are using to hang the picture. When drilling a hole, ensure that you drill on the approximate angle that the path of the nail will follow.
Note: For this project, you don’t really need a powerful drill. Check out SKIL® cordless drills to discover different options. For instance, a 14.4 volt drill will be just as effective as an 18 volt cordless drill.
If you will be hanging a larger, heavier picture, you should use more than a hook to hang the pictures. A wood screw is the recommended choice for the job. In order to install a wood screw, you will need to find a stud, or use a wall anchor if no studs can be found in the desired area.
To begin with, use your stud finder to locate a wall stud. If you find one, use your pencil to mark the area on the wall. Next, using your cordless drill, drill a hole into the marked location. Install the wood screw in the pre-drilled hole.
By pre-drilling a whole in the wall, you will prevent the plaster from cracking.
If there is no stud, you will need to use a wall anchor to act as the support for the heavy picture. Wall anchors come in various sizes, so be sure to choose the one that will securely hold the wood screw. Insert the wall anchor into the pre-drilled hole and then install the wood screw. If the picture is really heavy, be sure to provide it with two fasteners for more support.
When it all comes down to it, pre-drilling a hole in the wall ensures that no cracks can occur in the plaster.
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