Introduction: Cheap and Minimal Way to Hang Posters and Prints!
After looking for ages for a cheap way to hang posters and prints I came up with this method which actually works out a lot cheaper than even the cheapest options available to me in the UK via online delivery etc.
For each poster or print you will need:
- 2x metal rods cut to the same width as your poster or print. Try to find rods which are not threaded as they won't look as good! I used 4mm diameter rods, which were perhaps on the slightly too thin side. 5 or 6mm would probably be better for large prints such as these, both in terms of strength (at the top) and weight to hold the poster taught (at the bottom). We buy these from the local hardware shop at £1.20 per metre and the hardware shop gladly cuts them down to size for us. Make sure they don't bend them in the process as they have to be perfectly straight.
- Hot glue
- 8x bulldog clips - small enough to be unobtrusive, large enough that the rod can easily fit inside and still allow the clip to close. In case of regional variation in name, just look for the type pictured here!
- 1x panel pin or similar
- Tape measure
- Sharpie
Step 1: Step 1: Attach Bulldog Clips to Metal Rods
- Prise open a bulldog clip enough that you can add hot glue to the inside of the clip. Try to get most of it on the back of the clip.
- Quickly drop the metal rod into the inside of the clip before the glue sets (the metal clip and rod will act as massive heat sinks, so be quick!)
- Repeat 3x more times, equally spacing the clips along the rod, and ensuring that they are all facing the same way. This can be done easily by resting the clips on the metal handles, if that makes sense...
- Repeat steps 1-3 for the second rod, using the first one to position the clips so they don't look too different in spacing
You should end up with 4x bulldog clips glued to each metal rod, equally spaced.
Step 2: Step 2: Clip Poster or Print to Metal Rods
This step is pretty self explanatory: use the handles of the bulldog clips to carefully prise the clips open and attach to the top and bottom of the poster or print.
Be careful here, the hot glue can get quite brittle after a while and too much opening/closing of the clips will cause it to simply crack off the pole. The glue is only really there to prevent side-to-side movement of the clips so not the end of the world if they get a bit loose.
If you do have lots of problems here there are probably other glues available which set less brittle, which you may have more luck with - I just used hot glue as I had it to hand.
Step 3: Step 3: Remove Handles From Bulldog Clips
For aesthetic reasons you can now remove the handles from the bulldog clips.
This is simply a case of squeezing the handles and removing one side from the clip. Let go and the other side should spring out.
Step 4: Step 4: Measure Centre of Pole and Hang on the Wall!
Use a tape measure to find the exact centre point of the metal pole. As I didn't add a loop of string to mine, the centre point had to be measured carefully to keep the poster straight.
Hang the upper metal rod directly on a panel pin or something else small and discrete.
Feel free to hang these using string (maybe tied to either side of the inner two clips) to make this easier - I preferred the minimal look with no string.
Step 5: Finished Product
Should look like this!
Our prints had been stored in a tube for quite some time so were considerably bent. Really irritating - hoping the curve will naturally dissipate over time - but if your posters/prints are flat you should not have any issues.
One solution would be upping the weight of the metal rod used - 5 or 6mm - to make the poster more taught.
Hope this helps someone to hang some prints and posters nice and cheaply!