Hanging mirror and achieving correct hole drilling alignment

modelreject

Hi,

I have a large mirror 140cm x 126cm (31kg). There are 4 keyhole hooks in the back. I am confident I can align and drill the top two using a length of wood and spirit level but I can't imagine how to get the bottom two in the right place. It needs to be very accurate. Anyone had to do this before?

Thanks
MR

Fat_Walt

You can get a spirit level with holes in to mark the drill positions but all you need is a level and a tape measure.

EssexExile

Measure the distance from each of the top two screw positions to the other two screw positions. Once you've marked the top two on the wall draw arcs the appropriate distance from each top hole, where the arcs cross is the position of each of the other screws. If you're drilling into masonry good luck getting the holes accurately positioned, I find the drill tends to wander when it hits anything hard.

Alter_ego

Make a cardboard template of the hole positions, put template on wall and mark positions of holes.

modelreject

Thanks everyone.

I did think about the card board idea but I would need something more like tracing paper to see where I am pin pointing.

I will give the arc a trial run and hopefully that works. Really want to get this sorted first go. On the right train of thought now!!!!

keith969

I use a laser level these days instead of faffing with a spirit level and wishing I had another pair of hands while I'm holding it.. Just put up a reasonably large mirror that required two steel j hooks, and a 4.2m curtain pole that needed 4 supports. Both went up dead level in minutes.

Hoploz

I like the template idea. If not cardboard, how about newspaper? You can get the holes in the right place then through the thin paper.

Followed by all the measuring stuff.

I'd advise to check the floor/ceiling/mantelpiece or whatever are above and below the mirror are level. Often they aren't - you're best taking this into account if you want it easy on the eye as when one thing is perfect and the other isn't it draws attention!

Norman_Castle

I've made minor adjustments to screws for a similar mirror by tapping them with a hammer.

Slinky

Hoploz wrote: »

I'd advise to check the floor/ceiling/mantelpiece or whatever are above and below the mirror are level. Often they aren't - you're best taking this into account if you want it easy on the eye as when one thing is perfect and the other isn't it draws attention!

I had this with our old mantel. Had to hang the picture above it slightly crooked so as not to draw so much attention to the sloping mantel.