How can I get well hung?

[potato80]

Howdy all

I want to display a heavy marble resin sculpture on my wall, but I'm struggling to figure out the safest way to 'hang' it.

It weighs about 20kg, and - unfortunately - I can't drill into it or otherwise attach any other kind of fixing.

The picture shows the reverse of the piece; you can see the 'lip' at the top. The lip is about 40mm deep.

I was planning to simply hang the piece, by placing this lip on a wall-anchored batten of similar dimensions. (And perhaps adding some kind of very mild adhesive to ensure it doesn't move off the batten).

Any other suggestions!?

Thanks!!

 

[RandomGrinch]

Hi,

I don't know how sensible this is, but could you wedge and epoxy a French cleat onto the back?

 

[potato80]

Hi,

I don't know how sensible this is, but could you wedge and epoxy a French cleat onto the back?

I had a similar idea, and I've made the first test batten with a slight 'ledge', though not a full cleat.

 

[BlueLoo]

It's all about perspective....

 

[potato80]

Final option is to create a shelf to lean it on, rather than hoping it doesn't fall apart from it's own weight!

 

[BlueLoo]

Bond a board on to the back and use that to mount hanging cleats.

You will support all of it and provide a large area for bonding doing it this way.

 

[potato80]

The inside face of the reverse side is an irregular shape (as it's from a mould), so I could only adhere a board to the inside sides which are straight. Would this be enough?

 

[conny]

Lets see if I can explain this clearly.
Cut 2 french cleats, each one about a third of the width of the opening. Bore a suitable hole in one end of each cleat to a depth of one third the length of the cleat. I.E. a 'blind' hole. These will be to accept a length of threaded stud which needs to be just over half the width of the sculpture opening.
eg. drill a 8.5mm/9.0mm hole to accept a length of 8mm stud. The threaded stud should have 4 nuts run towards the centre of the stud. Next place 2 repair/penny washers on each end of the stud. The cleats are next slipped on to the stud and the whole set up inserted into the back of the sculpture. You then run the 2 outer nuts outwards towards each cleat so they push the cleats tight up against each side. The washers will act as 'load' spreaders against the ends of the cleats. Once you are happy you have a firm fix then run the remaining 2 nuts out to each end to lock the retaining nuts in place.
On the wall you can hang a 'near full width' support bar to hook the french cleats on to.

Hope I've explained that in an understandable way. If not the feel free to ask me to clarify any points.

 

[potato80]

I understand up to half way! Let me absorb it a bit, but - in the meantime - thank you!

Lets see if I can explain this clearly.
Cut 2 french cleats, each one about a third of the width of the opening. Bore a suitable hole in one end of each cleat to a depth of one third the length of the cleat. I.E. a 'blind' hole. These will be to accept a length of threaded stud which needs to be just over half the width of the sculpture opening.
eg. drill a 8.5mm/9.0mm hole to accept a length of 8mm stud. The threaded stud should have 4 nuts run towards the centre of the stud. Next place 2 repair/penny washers on each end of the stud. The cleats are next slipped on to the stud and the whole set up inserted into the back of the sculpture. You then run the 2 outer nuts outwards towards each cleat so they push the cleats tight up against each side. The washers will act as 'load' spreaders against the ends of the cleats. Once you are happy you have a firm fix then run the remaining 2 nuts out to each end to lock the retaining nuts in place.
On the wall you can hang a 'near full width' support bar to hook the french cleats on to.

Hope I've explained that in an understandable way. If not the feel free to ask me to clarify any points.

 

[foxhole]

Fit timber baton too wall and hang sculpture on it, double sided foam tape will prevent any movement .

 

[potato80]

Foam tape is a great idea, thanks.

I'm now heading towards the shelf idea, simply because I'm worried the weight of it will tear the top off, if it's 'hanging' off something

Foam tape is really good idea though, if I can be more assured re coherency of the piece itself

 

[foxhole]

You could use the tape on the rear to stick it to a board then hang the board .

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I might consider going all traditional and making a corbelled wall shelf to sit it on in order to carry the weight, then using an epoxy foam tape to stick it to the wall behind and the top of the shelf to prevent it getting accidentally dislodged

Two bits of planed wood and not that difficult to form (admittedly a lot earier with a jigsaw to make the templates and a router to shape the edges) and if screwed and glued together it wouldn't matter if the screws were visible as they'd be beneath the piece when it was mounted

 

[cdbe]

Foam a piece of plywood onto the back of it and affix whatever hooks you want.