Best fixings to hang light mirrors and a heavier one?

kinger8938

kinger8938

kinger8938

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New build style plaster board, ive only really used general purpose wall plugs for lighter stuff so far.

Picked up some mirrors today. They have the key hole style hanger on the back. I asked for best fixings and was pointed to the metal self drive sort of things and screws . However these wouldn't go flush by the looks of it, they are more for fixing something against a wall rather than for hanging in the style mentioned above!

Are the Grip it things any good? Or what would you recommend?

Thanks, I'm not too clued up on all this :)

*another mirror on its way is heavier, 5-6kg
 
Participant said:
Depends if board is dot and dab or stud and what's behind the board.

Where possible I always try and screw into brick behind plasterboard.

For a light mirror those easy fix self tapping silver screws will work fine. Not sure what you mean about not being flush.

For heavier stuff you want to be looking at things like spring toggles.

^ £12 to hang a mirror is nuts, lol.
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Thanks. By not flush I mean the metal thing that you screw in to the wall is a lot shorter than the screw supplied. So the metal thing will go flush with the board but the screw looks like it will sit out off the wall by way too much to be used for hanging on a key hole style hanger, looks like they are more for screwing a thick item to a wall?

Maybe I need the style that spring out behind the wall to grip from the back? Looks like you can get a tool to fit them or try by hand
 
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Dynix said:
I always recommend GripIts - I've hung TVs, mirrors and shelves much heavier than 5-6kg with them without a problem in our new build (and our neighbours!).
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I was going to go for those, I think the green range is suitable for what I need but the Amazon reviews put me off a bit, they looked like they would do the job for sure. I just need the screw to sit out a little bit to then hang the key hole style thingy over it
 
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Dynix said:
Haven't heard of the green ones - is it these ones? If so, I have no experience with those so can't comment on them - the reviews indeed don't look good.

The ones I use are these (the Blue/Brown/Red/Yellow ones): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grip-Assorted-Plasterboard-Fixings-Pieces/dp/B00KO7S7PY

For the TVs/mirrors I've put up, I've gone 'overkill' and used the blue ones. Providing the fixing isn't right at the top, you can't see them anyway so makes no difference. Anything smaller like shelves/cupboard I've used the smaller ones.
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Ahh yes I was pointed to these when asking about hanging a TV and it's definitely the way I will be going
 
Ginger-Menace said:
I'm a picture framer, and the amount of frames I have had brought in to replace because they have used command strips to hang them and they have come off the wall is ridiculous. Its not that the command strips don't work, its the fact they are only as strong as the paint on the wall.
I would recommend using the correct fixings for the wall, the last thing you would want is for the mirrors to come crashing down on anyone.
something like this with the correct plugs for either brick or plasterboard will do the trick
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Yeah I do appreciate the suggestion of the sticky stuff as an option but it just doesn't seem right to me! It would probably be fine With smaller light pictures but I'd still have concerns.
 
I went with grip it's. Just drilled 2 15mm holes all fine only to find I don't think these fixings are still what I'm after! I assumed they locked in place however I think they are only good for fixing an item too the wall. When screwing something up to the wall it will pull the fixing forward and tighten up. However for simply hanging a key hole style item on a screw, it has nothing to tighten up against if that makes any sense :/

Not sure if I can find a way around this now but currently have 2 fixings in the perfect position but not suitable for hanging in this style, unless I'm missing something
 
skyripper said:
Gripits will work if you use the ones with a bolt and a nut rather than screw. That way you can have something sticking out to slot into the keyhole on your mirror. But tbh the screw in metal plugs will also work.

Edit: in my head a bolt is straight, a screw is pointed. Engineers will say this is claptrap :)
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As I have already drilled the 15mm hole for the grip it's I'm trying to decide if I can somehow get away with them still! I can put a screw almost all the way in and just the pull the wings up against the wall by pulling the screw out towards me. I imagine that will hold as long as the screw isn't pushed back again thus moving the wings back!

Doesn't seem too safe though but it is currently hanging like this lol.

I wonder if I could spot weld a washer to the screws. Then the washer would tighten up against the grip it thus pulling the wings against the wall as intended.

Funny you mention engineers. I am a mechanical engineer but anything around the house.. I'm clueless or just not confident perhaps
 
Kaka said:
Should be fine. I've hung a small mirror weighing about 5kg with just the single metal self drive fixing without any issues. As long as you don't overtighten it, they are pretty secure. They are only quite weak when pulled towards you, which is why I wouldn't use them on ceilings.
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I'm mistaken its 5.5kg so lighter than I thought.

So you have that in the wall, then the screw sitting out a bit to just hang the item on the head?
 
Kaka said:
Yes.
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Should have just gone with those :D

*actually No :O that's what I went for originally and the screws supplied were much longer than the self drive part which gave me the impression they too were for fixing things up against the wall of a certain thickness. Probably loads of different types or I could have just found shorter screws I guess!
 
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