Forum Discussion

Naio's avatar
Naio
Explorer II
May 20, 2017

How to hang artwork on fiberglass shell?

My new van build has a raised fiberglass roof. I want to hang some artwork up there, but am not sure how to do it on the curved FG surface.

I've thought of two solutions, but I don't like either of them very much so I am hoping you folks will have some better ideas.

1. Tons of velcro. This seems too permanent to me.

2. Command hooks wired to picture hangers, D-rings, etc., on the back of the art. Clunky, but might work.

The art bits I have vary -- small paintings on unframed, stretched canvas, and wood, and a copper etching plate. I might even bring a drawing in a wood frame. Nothing very heavy, but not all are as light as the stretched canvas. Some ounces.

Suggestions for this are very welcome!
  • My art seems to have only amounted to tearing a page out of a magazine and taping it on the wall or a tool box so I cant help.
  • I might try foam double-stick mounting tape if you don't mind getting it on your artwork. It should come off of fiberglass gel coat with some elbow grease. If the artwork is relatively fragile when you go to unmount it, you should be able to saw through the foam part with a thin wire (preferably steel or bronze rather than copper; a guitar B or high E string might do well).

    If you put some ferrous plates on the fiberglass at strategic locations, you could hang the artwork with rare earth magnets.
  • Naio's avatar
    Naio
    Explorer II
    -laughing-

    I think the supreme court decided that was not art, rj :B
  • you can get 3M 'modern' velcro strips with the same adhesive that is used on the command hooks

    they call it 'command damage free picture hanging strips'

    i have a package i bought for another purpose
    the vinyl strip snap latches for my sliding doors and window shades are all tearing and breaking from age
    the command strips , and some velcro tie wrap strips, make an excellent replacement

    my artwork consists of pictures from our travels, along with a few of the grand kids, and fur kids

    i print them on 4*6 photo paper that is self adhesive, and stick them on the cabinets, IF they fade or get damaged, i print replacements

    larger pictures are printed on regular high gloss paper, then i use scrap book 'glue runner tape' on the back of the picture and stick it on the wall or cabinet

    NO frames, Not fancy, very light weight

    beach surf, ralley pix of friends, campgound pix, and tourist pix, grand canyon, king canyon etc..
  • You could also use something like rubber cement or 3m 6064 Artist's adhesive. Both will be long term removable from the surface and should be easier to deal with than tape.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Several suggestions.> Command hooks are nice because they come off with minimum, if any, damage.

    But if you are hanging art for display when parked try this.

    take a small pile of lumber.. I'd use 1x3's and 2x6's if hanging on just one side. all 1x3 if hanging on both sides.

    Toss rope (nylon or sisal or cargo straps (The 'Lashing' Type are good here, no need for ratchets) and hang the boards,, on either side of the RV.. Use the lashing strap's (Across the roof) to keep the boards from falling down since they are not actually attached

    Felt back the boards to protect the RV

    Use short boards (Like 3 or six feet) so they fit in pass through bays

    When you are done, Take 'em down and stow 'em for next time

    If hanging on one side 1x3 on the display side, heavier lumber on the other side (2x6 for example

    Or you can run those lashing straps all the way to ground stakes on the non-display side (Long distance, use rope if you do that)