How to Perfectly Hang a Picture That Requires Multiple Nails

This "ible" outlines the steps for a stupid little trick (which I picked up years ago) to perfectly hang just about anything that requires more than one nail/screw/cleat. It works just as well for pictures, as it does for power strips (or just about anything else you can imagine). I've wanted to capture it in this format for a while... but I'm lazy.

All you need are:
- Tape
- A marker
- A level
- A hammer (or other smashy-smashy device)
- Two Nails (or other pokey-outy devices)

Step 1: Painter's Tape and a Marker

Tear off a piece of painter's tape that's long enough to cover both the hangers. It doesn't have to be perfect piece of tape. It just has to be long enough to reach BOTH hangers. I like to use painter's tape, or masking tape, because it's usually accessible; it doesn't stretch much; it's easy to work with (meaning it's not so sticky that it tears or damages the things it touches).

Take your handy-dandy marker, and mark the apex of each hanger (wherever you expect the nail will go). The smaller the mark, the more precise your work will be. Note that I set it up so that the dots fall in the middle of the tape (vertically)? There's a reason for this. Once both of the hooks are marked, remove the piece of tape from the back of the frame and carry it with you to the wall where you intend to hang the picture.

Step 2: Transfer the Marks Onto the Wall.

Slap your tape on the wall in a "yeah... that looks pretty close" kind of way. Then get out your level. Pick one of your dots, set the level, and make your "T" marks (on the tape, not the wall).

This is the reason for putting the marks in the middle of the tape. Some of us are good at "eye ball" leveling. In this case, I was only off by about a quarter of an inch. Not everyone is so "skilled." You want the marks to be in the middle, so that you end up making all of your leveling marks on the tape (rather than the wall).

Step 3: Nail Through the Tape

Using your chubby digits (if you're lucky enough to have "chubby digits"), tap your nails through the tape. Repeat.

Once both nails are in place, peel the tape off the wall. See? No unnecessary marks? No "extra" holes.

Step 4: Hang the Picture!

See? It works.

Now, the part where you figure out how to get those stupid, flippy-style, triangle-shaped hangers to actually HOOK ONTO THE DOGGONE NAILS, is entirely *your* problem.

I suggest spending several thousand dollars on a fiber optic camera. You know, the ones you see in movies with the small LCD screen? It might also come in handy if you ever have to diffuse a bomb, which... come to think of it... I would probably rather do than mess around with these types of hangers.

Step 5: Place Fancy Things Around the Picture

Take a second to be pleased with yourself. Nothing got punched. Minimal curse words were used. No unnecessary holes in the wall. You did this the smart way. Why not assemble a collection of your most pretentious books and decorative doo-dads in front of the picture, so that you can take a picture... of the picture.

Good luck!