Q: My girlfriend and I just recently moved into a cool loft-style space in the South End of Boston. We have some nice (albeit painted) brick walls, 10 foot ceilings, and quite a bit of wall space. We love the space and want to add some really unique pieces punch up the décor. While at the Elephant's Trunk flea market in Connecticut this past weekend, we happened upon a very old wheel used on a hay baler.
Since our goal is to mix in some country rustic chic into the apartment, we knew it would look perfect in the dining area against the brick wall. Our only problem is that affixing it to the wall is proving to be more difficult than we imagined.
Here are the constraints:
1. The wheel weighs somewhere between 75-100 lbs.
2. It will be affixed to brick (or mortar)
3. Because of the hub, the rim of the wheel will sit roughly 6 inches from the wall
4. We'd love to hang it using something complimentary in style to the wheel - for example; a railroad tie as opposed to a shiny industrial bolt from Home Depot
Any thoughts? Anyway, you guys are great at solving reader's questions, so I thought I'd try to stump you!
Sent by Ted
Editor: Can you help out with some tips and ideas for Ted's challenging wheel hanging? Let us know in the comments below - thanks!
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Do you rent or own? Either way, I'd hate to ruin that wall with something heavy-duty (= big holes), which is what you are going to need to hang that heavy piece. How about finding an equally rustic hutch for that wall - nothing too big, and sitting the wheel on the hutch instead of your traditional dishes, vase, etc. sitting on it?
p.s. You need a much larger or at least chunkier light fixture over that table to balance the big piece you are putting on the back wall.
Is anyone else thinking of the line from "When Harry Met Sally"?
Hang it from the ceiling on thin, rough rope. You don't want to mess up the brick wall with the hole that wheel would require.
And, priscilla: Oh, yes. Definitely.
Pricilla, OMG, that was the first thing I thought of when I saw this post, lol!
That said, it is kinda cool, but I have no clue how to hang it, but I imagine something very heavy duty. If this is a rental, def. consider that you may lose your deposit if you ruin the brick wall. Maybe you could get a slim console table on that wall and prop the wheel on it like it is on the floor.
First thing that went through my mind as well.
And I have to say, I'm not very fond of the big wheel.
Maybe it could work as a chandelier, but a main piece for this wall? Not in my opinion. But then again, I'm not an interior designer.
yeah.. WHMS al the way. why dont you just turn it into a coffee table?
Since the wheel hub (and center of mass) of the wheel will hang about 6" from the wall, you're going to have a lot more force on your joint than you would if the hub were mounted closer to the wall, meaning you'll need a stronger mounting system.
Is it possible to mount the wheel with the hub facing the wall, to reduce this moment force? At 6" away, your going to see a moment of 450-600 in-lbs, whereas if you could reduce that to, say 3", it would only be 225-300 in-lbs.
If you can hang it from the ceiling it could work -- drive a bolt with a hook into the ceiling where it meets the wall; loop a natural fiber rope (strong enough to hold that weight) around the very center of the wheel and hang away. Gravity will make it hang straight. Find appropriate hardware at a marine supply store. The main problem will be finding a beam that can take the weight.
But I also like the idea of resting it on a cool old buffet -- maybe painted or stained black -- -- like a mirror might. Then you also have a serving surface.
pam
howtorunyourlife.blogspot.com
Here's what I would do: get a large masonry bit for your drill. You might need to get a range of sizes so you can slowly build up to the hole size you'll need to nail in a lead anchor. Drilling into the mortar will be easier than the brick. I would drill two holes maybe 18" apart, and if you can find some picture hangers that are large enough to accept a screw or masonry nail and rated to hold the proper weight, these hangers distribute weight better than just a straight nail/screw would. You can also hang the wheel off of heavy-rated braided picture wire instead of directly using the spokes. This should help with dealing with the depth of the wheel too.
This page might help, as will googling even more:
http://www.essortment.com/home/hangobjectsbri_scev.htm
I vote for hanging from the ceiling. Use hemp or something rustic??
Look around, you can find masonry anchors that accept a bolt. I believe they are called machine screw masonry anchors. Get the biggest one you can find and as suggested drill into mortar. Easier than brick to drill and 100x easier to repair down the road.
Then find a metal fabricator or someone who knows what they are doing, and give them $20 to weld the bolt on the back of the wheel hub. You can then just spin the wheel onto the wall and have it sit flush.
These aren't great examples but you could create a chandelier using the wagon wheel.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37977524@N04/4127182018/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zachsdame/146650242/
And then put a credenza or other piece of furniture along that wall.
You can attach it to the wall. If you're not worried about holes I would drill a hole where I wanted the center of the wheel and and use a large bolt to hold it in place. Just make sure you're using masonry drill bits and bolts.
You can patch the hole and paint over it when/if you decide to take it down.
I do think anything you do on that wall will look better with a piece of furniture below. There needs to be something to "anchor" everything in that room. You have a lot of open and spokey/spindley objects and furniture.
Use two ceiling screws (w/ 'eye hook' end) into the joist, and cover the hole with an appropriately sized fender washer. Hang with wire or heavy fishing line. Check out www.hangups.com - that is always my source for hanging ideas.
I wouldn't try to hang it. I like the look of it leaning against the wall. How about a low side table with modern lines and lean the wheel as it is now but up on the new table? You could more easily secure it that way rather than trying to hold the whole weight.
Man, i would definitely put a short axle with a pin on the wall so that the wheel can spin. Look for some kinda metal base that holds a pole (free standing flag-pole? that fits inside the center of the wheel), four -at least- masonry screws into the proper anchors should hold with no problem, you'll have to avoid the mortar & spread the holes among more than one brick. Go look around with creative eyes & a open mind (plumbing department ?) at a good hardware store.
I'd find a different wall for this object - and hang it from the hub, not the rim.
Either lean it against the wall or hang it from the ceiling with chains, gallery-style.
I think it would be lovely hanging from the ceiling as a chandelier, much nicer than on the wall.
I do have to say though that the suggestion to make it spin-able is quite fun.
I think the chandelier option would be great, see the post on the artist's home that starts with V that's just been posted on the home page, pic 9959 for an idea of how to make it work, especially if you have beams to hang it off.
Leave it on the floor leaning against the wall like you have it but position it asymmetrically from your dining table, say where your clock is right now. Then remove the clock and folded chair from that elevation.
That wheel looks terribly heavy and will look even heavier on the wall. More importantly, it will look like it doesn't belong there- wheels are meant to be on the ground.