Opening a metal art store. Need some ideas!

[michmetalman]

Hey guys! A while ago I posted on here we are gonna be opening a metal art store here in our town in Northern MI. This is just the beginning stages as the whole building and our spot are getting completey renovated, so we would be opening around March or April of next year.
Anyways, one of our biggest dilemmas is how will we hang stuff on our walls. Of course it will be all finished with drywall, and we would be putting a lot of holes in it. On our art we always have them stand away from the wall, so they all have legs with a hanger or 2 depending, and it would be almost impossible to get the legs in the exact same sopts to keep using the same holes.
Of course the best option would be some kind of wood wall, but just seems expensive. Our space will be around 800 sq. ft.
I'm looking for any ideas you guys might have!? Thanks!

[acourtjester]

This may sound silly but there is a produce called "Road Mesh" it is a wire frame work used to re-enforce concrete. It is like 4" squares formed by 1/8" steel wire and comes in a roll about 4" wide from builder supply type places. You could attach 2" X 2" wood strips to the wall and the road mesh to the wood. this would give you a framework to hang things that is off the wall. You would need to paint it.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nucoar-42-in ... /202090219

[michmetalman]

This may sound silly but there is a produce called "Road Mesh" it is a wire frame work used to re-enforce concrete. It is like 4" squares formed by 1/8" steel wire and comes in a roll about 4" wide from builder supply type places. You could attach 2" X 2" wood strips to the wall and the road mesh to the wood. this would give you a framework to hang things that is off the wall. You would need to paint it.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nucoar-42-in ... /202090219

That's an idea for sure, thanks!

[Joe Jones]

I would use sheet metal over the drywall. Cover it with a patterned fabric with some thickness to it, such as vinyl table cloths or denim. Use FRP to attach the sheet metal to the drywall, and use 3M Super 77 spray adhesive to bond the fabric to the metal wall.

Use rare earth magnets to hang your metal art wherever you want to on the wall.

The purpose for the fabric is to create a differential between magnetic forces. In other words, if a rare earth magnet is directly stuck to the back of metal art, but there is fabric between the magnet and the sheet metal wall, then the magnet will bond to the art piece STRONGER than the sheet metal, meaning when you remove the metal art, the magnets will come with it.

Depending on the size of the magnets, one magnet should hang most art pieces.

Pull the metal art away from the wall to remove, and make sure you collect all magnets before selling the item.

Of course, this will not work for aluminum or copper, etc., but you can make magnet hanger hooks with rare earth magnets that will support a lot of weight.

Joe



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[WyoGreen]

I know they make a grid like acourtjester talks about already painted. It's made for what you want to do.
An online search for wall grid will turn up lots of sites for it. Here's link to one to see what I'm talking about.

https://www.uline.com/Grp_372/Gridwall? ... lsrc=aw.ds

[Joe Jones]

Plastic lattice on a wooden frame works well for hanging art



Joe



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[OTHill]

I wonder if you can buy rare earth magnets with hooks on them. I know you can buy other round magnets with hooks. There is also a product called slotwall at lumber places. It is nicely finished and there are hooks available for it.

[Joe Jones]

Yep!

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/mater ... oCBOHw_wcB

http://www.apexmagnets.com/125-pound-ho ... oCoX7w_wcB

[michmetalman]

I wonder if you can buy rare earth magnets with hooks on them. I know you can buy other round magnets with hooks. There is also a product called slotwall at lumber places. It is nicely finished and there are hooks available for it.

Are you guys talking magnetized walls?

[Joe Jones]

I wonder if you can buy rare earth magnets with hooks on them. I know you can buy other round magnets with hooks. There is also a product called slotwall at lumber places. It is nicely finished and there are hooks available for it.

Are you guys talking magnetized walls?

No. Framed walls with drywall or plywood over the studs. Then sheet metal over that surface, with adhesive to keep it flat against the wood or drywall. Cover the sheet metal with any material that has some thickness to it. The purpose is so the rare earth magnets will grab the wall, but they will not grab it 100% due to being held back away from the sheet metal by the material. The magnets WILL attach to the metal art work 100%, so the art will hang by the magnets, and when you pull them from the wall, the magnets will come with them. You must remove the magnets before you sell or ship the art piece.

Joe

[little blue choo]

This is what I use and it works great. Can be attached to the wall or can be used free standing. Hope this helps.
https://www.storesupply.com/c-700-wire- ... anels.aspx

Rick

[michmetalman]

Thanks for all the ideas guys!!

[Nacs Fab]

Use Furring Strips and then you can use 1/8" pegboard with decent results.

[urbnsr]

You could also use slatwall:

http://www.fixturedepot.com/Slatwall_Panels_s/39.htm

[Joe Jones]

Oh, man! Things are happening. I am not officially "in business" yet, but I am selling art to people who are interested in it. I am preparing to open a retail store on the town square. 2,500 sq. ft., which will be partially for me, and also a host to about 40 vendors who will rent booth spaces to display and sell their own items. Not really a 'consignment mall' but along those lines.

Things are definitely looking up!

Joe

[little blue choo]

GREAT! Wishing you the best. Let us know how things progress.

Rick

[sawdust1]

I have seen something called a Bull Panel at farm stores. It is like heavy welded wire mesh the openings have different configurations. Some of it is really heavy duty and they can be bought already galvanized, most are fourty inches by eight feet. Hung on a wall like wainscot might work, held proud by a half inch would allow your standoffs to hook behind. The detraction would be the visual break up of the back ground.

David

[Joe Jones]

Well now things have morphed a bit. Instead of a small gallery, I am opening a 2,500 sq.ft. consignment mall on the square in town. I will display my own metal art and other items there, but we will also have 30 vendors who will display and sell their own crafts and items.

Joe

[taberahkj]

I used a system similar to this when I had a gallery. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011AO1968?psc=1 . Pretty inexpensive and you can easily change out the look and spacing of the pieces on your wall. For pieces without hangars on them you would need to use magnets with the hooks but it could be done. It's a very clean and modern look.

[Joe Jones]

It has now grown to an 8,000 sq. ft. consignment mall. I seldom do anything "small."

Joe

[sawdust1]

Go big or go home!

[Joe Jones]

I used a system similar to this when I had a gallery. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011AO1968?psc=1 . Pretty inexpensive and you can easily change out the look and spacing of the pieces on your wall. For pieces without hangars on them you would need to use magnets with the hooks but it could be done. It's a very clean and modern look.

This is interesting!

Those metal clips ... do they just pinch onto the suspended cable at any poiny, or do you thread the cable through them from the bottom and then slide them up and down?

I like the idea of an array of vertical cables permanently mounted to display boards and clipping these on wherever they are needed at the time. These displays are not permanent in a retail store. They will be set up and taken down repeatedly as we travel to car shows and flea markets, etc.

[taberahkj]

There are a variety of styles of clips and you can put multiple clips on a single wire. Very flexible system. I liked how easy it was to take down a sold piece and put up a new one. You can quickly and easily change the look of your display each day of a show to keep things fresh or to highlight what's selling at the moment.

[mrbuildit]

for my shop space and storage space I've been considering a simple slat wall and peg hook system.