# Small nails OK for hanging light stuff on drywall? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 20, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-nails-ok-for-hanging-light-stuff-on-drywall/710332 "2015-01-20T00:39:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-nails-ok-for-hanging-light-stuff-on-drywall/710332/1 "2015-01-20T00:39:47Z")
My mom wants some pictures hung, but she doesn’t want them to leave visible holes in the wall. They have to go on drywall, between the studs. They’re light, probably no more than five pounds each. I would normally use a screw in a plastic expanding sleeve, but she doesn’t want a hole that big. My BIL says a tiny nail is all I need for something that light, even in drywall, but I’m afraid that if he’s wrong, it will tear a chunk out when it is pulled out. Is he right? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-nails-ok-for-hanging-light-stuff-on-drywall/710332/2 "2015-01-20T00:46:30Z")
I wouldn’t use nails (alone) for anything with a weight heavier than “negligible.” These hangers are cheap and will do the trick nicely: [http://www.dlawlesshardware.com/bu20pihaam.html?utm\_source=googlepepla&utm\_medium=adwords&id=18283950120&gclid=CjwKEAiA8\_KlBRD9z\_jl\_fKBhQkSJABDKqiX4sgxcQt\_WZzYIyAnKF5ebVRXXw3fXilTzgi7mGBlQBoCVQ7w\_wcB](http://www.dlawlesshardware.com/bu20pihaam.html?utm_source=googlepepla&utm_medium=adwords&id=18283950120&gclid=CjwKEAiA8_KlBRD9z_jl_fKBhQkSJABDKqiX4sgxcQt_WZzYIyAnKF5ebVRXXw3fXilTzgi7mGBlQBoCVQ7w_wcB) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-nails-ok-for-hanging-light-stuff-on-drywall/710332/3 "2015-01-20T00:49:07Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I wouldn’t use nails (alone) for anything with a weight heavier than “negligible.” > > These hangers are cheap and will do the trick nicely: > > [http://www.dlawlesshardware.com/bu20pihaam.html?utm\_source=googlepepla&utm\_medium=adwords&id=18283950120&gclid=CjwKEAiA8\_KlBRD9z\_jl\_fKBhQkSJABDKqiX4sgxcQt\_WZzYIyAnKF5ebVRXXw3fXilTzgi7mGBlQBoCVQ7w\_wcB](http://www.dlawlesshardware.com/bu20pihaam.html?utm_source=googlepepla&utm_medium=adwords&id=18283950120&gclid=CjwKEAiA8_KlBRD9z_jl_fKBhQkSJABDKqiX4sgxcQt_WZzYIyAnKF5ebVRXXw3fXilTzgi7mGBlQBoCVQ7w_wcB) Yep, and they only leave a small nail hole, too! ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-nails-ok-for-hanging-light-stuff-on-drywall/710332/4 "2015-01-20T00:51:46Z")
12 cents apiece?!?!?! Do you guys think I’m made of money??? Thanks, I’ll pick some up next time I go to town. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-nails-ok-for-hanging-light-stuff-on-drywall/710332/5 "2015-01-20T00:54:56Z")
If you use [picture hangers](http://www.homedepot.com/b/Tools-Hardware-Hardware-Fasteners-Picture-Mirror-Hanging/N-5yc1vZc2cu) it’s less likely to pull out of the wall. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-nails-ok-for-hanging-light-stuff-on-drywall/710332/6 "2015-01-20T01:26:46Z")
I have one of these [Gorilla hooks](http://www.homedepot.com/p/The-Hillman-Group-0-42-in-Monkey-Hook-Gorilla-Hook-Combo-Pack-591818/204404195?N=5yc1vZc2cu)holding a fairly heavy clock on the wall. Just one small hole. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-nails-ok-for-hanging-light-stuff-on-drywall/710332/7 "2015-01-20T01:43:32Z")
The 3M “Command” stick-on products are getting [better and better](http://www.command.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/NACommand/Command/Products/Catalog/?N=5584766+5924736+3294529207&rt=r3). ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-nails-ok-for-hanging-light-stuff-on-drywall/710332/8 "2015-01-20T02:09:52Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > I have one of these [Gorilla hooks](http://www.homedepot.com/p/The-Hillman-Group-0-42-in-Monkey-Hook-Gorilla-Hook-Combo-Pack-591818/204404195?N=5yc1vZc2cu)holding a fairly heavy clock on the wall. Just one small hole. I’ve seen ads for those and wondered if they were too good to be true. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-nails-ok-for-hanging-light-stuff-on-drywall/710332/9 "2015-01-20T02:22:27Z")
Wasn’t the late Billy Mays hawking those at one time, not as Gorilla Hooks, but as something else? (…googling…) Yes, as Hercules Hooks! And [here’s the video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF-IWJEQuEQ). My wife would love those. I don’t think our 3/8" sheetrock would like them though. I would only trust them in 1/2" sheetrock. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-nails-ok-for-hanging-light-stuff-on-drywall/710332/10 "2015-01-20T12:57:11Z")
[picture hanger](http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Hangers-Supports-Pounds-Nails/dp/B005SXAAZO/ref=sr_1_4?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1421758546&sr=1-4&keywords=picture+hanger) ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-nails-ok-for-hanging-light-stuff-on-drywall/710332/11 "2015-01-20T13:02:45Z")
Use two per picture. Shares the load and makes it easier to keep them dead level. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-nails-ok-for-hanging-light-stuff-on-drywall/710332/12 "2015-01-20T13:17:08Z")
OOK Professional picture hangers are also nice, they use a hardened steel nail that is thinner than the basic hangers, but cost more. ---
**Author:** ![vomit\_comet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/73ab20/32.png) [@vomit\_comet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vomit_comet)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-nails-ok-for-hanging-light-stuff-on-drywall/710332/13 "2015-01-20T20:15:33Z")
If the walls are painted white you can use a bit of white toothpaste to hide most small nail holes. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_doped](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@straight\_doped](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_doped)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-nails-ok-for-hanging-light-stuff-on-drywall/710332/14 "2015-01-22T03:23:56Z")
what are the pictures of? how wide are the frames?