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You might not need hardware to put something light on your wall. Mounting putty can hold a small display item temporarily without making a hole. The trick is knowing when putty is enough, when nails, screws, or adhesive strips are the better fit, and how to press it on and take it down gently.
You may need a nail or screw when the wall has to support the item.
But if you only need to keep something light in place for now, hardware may be more than you need.
Think about what would happen if the item came loose.
A small display item that can come down later is a different job from something that would be a problem if it fell. The first needs temporary hold, while the second needs a stronger mounting method.
A nail or screw leaves a hole you have to patch later. If your item does not need that kind of support, mounting putty may give you a simpler way to display it without making one.
Mounting putty works best when a lightweight display item only needs to stay in place for now. If the item needs more support, use hardware or a strip-style mount instead.
Mounting putty works by contact.
When you work a small piece between your fingers, it softens enough to press onto the back of the item and against the wall.
Once the item is in place, the pressed wall mounting putty stays in contact with both surfaces and creates the temporary hold.
For a small display item, LePage FunTak Mounting Putty gives you a reusable, repositionable way to put it up without making a hole.
It holds differently from liquid glue or hardware: the hold comes from pressure, not drying time or a nail or screw.
That is why the item and the wall both matter.
Look at the item before you look at the wall. Wall mounting putty works best for a light display piece you may want to move or take down later.
The wall finish matters, too.
On an interior wall, a smooth, hard spot gives the putty the kind of surface it is made to press against. For now, you have a simple, useful check: the spot should be clean and dry.
If the finish is delicate or recently painted, test the putty in a hidden spot first. This gives you a read on the finish.
Even with the right wall spot, the item still has the final say. If you move it later, you can put it up with putty without committing to hardware.
If the item needs support or a more permanent hold, a nail or screw usually makes more sense than putty. Adhesive strips can help when the item does not call for a nail or screw, but it does need a strip or hook-style mount.
A picture frame usually calls for picture-specific no-hole hanging, not something you want to hold with mounting putty.
When putty is the right choice, how you press it on and take it down matters.
Once you have chosen the wall spot, use LePage FunTak Mounting Putty in this order:
1. Clean the spot. Wipe away dust and make sure the wall spot is dry before you press putty in place. If the back of the item is dusty, wipe that, too.
2. Work the putty. Pull off the amount you need, then roll and knead it between your fingers until it feels soft and warm enough to shape.
3. Press the item. Put the softened putty on the back of the item first. Press the item firmly to the wall so the putty sits against both surfaces.
4. Remove it gently. When it is time to take the item down, peel it away instead of pulling hard from the wall. If small bits remain, roll them off with your finger or lift them with another piece of putty.
What can I hang with mounting putty?
Mounting putty works for small, lightweight display items that only need to stay in place for now on a suitable wall spot. If the item has to stay fixed or would be a problem if it fell, choose hardware or another stronger mounting method.
Will mounting putty damage my walls?
Usually not, when it is used on a suitable surface and removed gently. Mounting putty helps you put up small items without making nail or screw holes. If you are unsure about the finish, test a hidden spot first and peel the item away gently when you take it down.
Is mounting putty better than adhesive strips?
It depends on the item and how it needs to sit on the wall. Mounting putty is useful for a small display item you may move later, while adhesive strips are useful when the item needs a strip or hook-style mount.