DIY Print Hanging Method—Binder Clip and Rod

Copyrighted original material, do not copy/repost in whole or in part without written permission—Steve Eichenberger

I’d like to share with you my inexpensive DIY mounting method for wall art—prints, posters and photographs:

 

 

This binder clip and rod hanging system has the following advantages:

— everything you need is readily available, and cheap to buy…likely under $10 total (depending on your local source for the rod)

— simple concept, simple project ‘most anyone can do

— easy to swap out the artwork anytime—infinitely reusable

— quickly and easily hang prints of any size or proportion without the hassle & expense of matting & framing

— holds the print flat across top & bottom, and keeps it from curling (the weight of the lower rod/clip assembly holds it straight)

— no tape or glue that could damage the artwork

— a minimalist solution, in keeping with the times

— looks great! (okay, so that’s my opinion…but I hope you agree…)

I’m using one of my Premium Art Prints as an example. The image is skinnier than the stock it’s printed on, which leaves wider margins left and right:

You can of course leave the side margins untrimmed if you want, but for sake of example let’s trim them down a bit.

Now add the binder clips and rods for hanging:

Details:

Get some 3/4″ binder clips online. There are many options, all inexpensive:

 

Get 3/16″ (4.5mm-5mm) steel rod from your local big box or hardware store’s metal display:

 

Should be under $10 for a 48″ length of 3/16″ round steel rod:

 

Trim your print (or poster, photograph) to desired size. Visually, I like the rods to be wider than the paper, so I make the rods ~1/2″ longer than the paper is wide (for an ~1/4″ overhang on each side). Mild steel cuts super easy with a hacksaw…just clamp it to keep it from jumping around. Note: Do NOT get stainless steel, thinking it will look nicer…you canNOT cut stainless steel with a hacksaw! (But if you have an angle grinder or cutoff saw, you already know to proceed as you wish…wear goggles.)

Choose your preferred cording, fishing line, beading string or the like:

 

and tie it to the *rod*…not to those nice little handles on the binder clips, tempting as it will be to do so (it could tug the paper out of shape, or pull the clips off the paper). See example photos above for placement of the hanging cord and two nails. The nails can be small diameter, but they need enough of a head to keep the strings from sliding off. I often just use aluminum head push pins with a 5/8″ point/needle, to minimize the size of holes in the wallboard.

Why not just one nail? Because I’ve tried it, and it wants to pull the strings to the middle along the rod, and/or if you open windows it may swing in the breeze (with two nails it stays put), plus it stays level better with two nails.

Voila! No more trips to the framer, much less expense. Now you can easily hang more of the artwork you love, anytime, anywhere.

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Addendum: For Artwork larger than 48″

Some of my prints are available in up to 60″ wide, and for that width 1/4″ x 72″ fiberglass rods may work better—and be easier to find and less expensive—than steel. Several million people on the West Coast live near enough to a TAP Plastics store to pick them up at the store for under $5 each as of this writing. Or you can order 1/4″ x 72″ fiberglass rods from their website, to be shipped to your door. For the example below, I used Florida as the destination:

   

Here’s another alternative for fiberglass rods, via Amazon:

I do NOT recommend using any kind of plastic rod…they are too bendy. Carbon fiber tube would likely work fine, but I couldn’t find a source for 72″ length…love the color though.